Paramhansa Yogananda Meditation (Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation)
Paramhansa Yogananda Meditation is a system of meditation techniques as taught by Paramhansa Yogananda and the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF).
Overview
Paramhansa Yogananda (1893-1952) brought Kriya Yoga and meditation to the West, establishing the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) in 1920. His meditation system includes a progression of techniques designed to lead the practitioner from basic concentration to advanced states of self-realization. The system is outlined in his Autobiography of a Yogi and in SRF lessons.
Method/Content
The SRF meditation system includes several key techniques: Hong-Sau (a concentration technique using the breath and the sound “Hong-Sau”), Aum (meditation on the cosmic sound), Kriya Yoga (the advanced technique of directing energy through the spine), and Energization Exercises (a set of 35 exercises for channeling cosmic energy). The practice is typically performed twice daily—morning and evening—for 30 minutes each. The SRF lessons provide a progressive curriculum of techniques to be learned over time.
Purpose/Benefits
Paramhansa Yogananda’s meditation system is designed to lead to self-realization—the direct experience of one’s true nature as pure consciousness. The techniques promote physical health, mental clarity, emotional balance, and spiritual awakening. The practice is believed to accelerate personal transformation and lead to the state of samadhi (union with the divine).
Verification Notes
- Taught through the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS)
- Based on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda
- Millions of practitioners worldwide have studied the SRF lessons