This tradition was begun by Master during his lifetime to honor the “worship of the formless Christ.” This simple, and seemingly innocuous phrase of his, masks the profound reality towards which it hints and at the breadth that it suggests for his very life mission.

Paramhansa Yogananda called his life’s work, the “Second Coming of Christ.” Even setting aside Swami Kriyananda’s speculation (or intuition) that Yogananda was Jesus Christ, the work of Kriya Yoga was born to initiate truth seeking devotees into the direct, personal perception of God through self-effort (i.e., Kriya Yoga). This work is, as he described it, a “new dispensation” given by God at the birth of Dwapara Yuga.

But how to go deep in a day-long meditation? We are not used to such long periods and can benefit from suggestions and the experiences of others. In the formative years of Ananda when Swami Kriyananda led the Christmas meditation, he counseled us to follow the natural flow of energy (prana) in its ebb and flow, by alternating techniques with periods of silent inner communion. To this end, we have at our disposal, not only the core techniques of Hong Sau, Aum, and Kriya but the supportive techniques of prayer, affirmation, visualization, chakra exercises and pranayama is helpful.

Here is a testimony from Dakshina Agee about her very first Christmas Meditation. She is also offering to share her print out of card-sized techniques. We will have a supply of these at the meditation, or, you can REPLY and request the complete file from her here at the Temple.

Here’s her story:
My first 8-hour meditation was the Christmas meditation in 2001. I had been with Ananda for 4 months, having just finished the fall Raja Intensive in November. The only meditation techniques I knew were what we learned in Raja. I didn’t know Kriya or the Aum technique. Just Hong Sau and a few pranayams. So I went through the Raja Yoga textbook and pulled out all the meditations, visualizations and techniques that I could find, and printed them onto index cards. I took those cards into the 8-hour meditation with me and when I couldn’t figure out what to do next, I would very quietly pull out a card. It was a wonderful day, and I felt the peace and joy very deeply. For those friends who might wonder what they will do for 8 hours of meditation, I offer the Word file from which I printed those cards. I still have my set of cards, and I plan to take them with me into this year’s Christmas meditation, too.