Sri Goswami Kriyananda at The Temple of Kriya Yoga Chicago

On Sunday, I went to the noon meditation at the Temple of Kriya Yoga in Chicago. This was my first time at the temple. I didn’t know what to expect when I walked up to the building, but when I walked in any anxiety disappeared. It was so nice to be surrounded by people who were on similar paths to me. There was such a great sense of welcoming and community!

My attendance was brought on by the visit of Sri Goswami Kriyananda, the Guru and Spiritual Preceptor of the Temple of Kriya Yoga.

Kriyananda is in town through the beginning of November and will be speaking at the temple on Sundays. You can find a full listing of topics at the temple web site.

Sunday’s meditation was, “Overcoming Obstacles on the Path.” Kriyananda spoke about these obstacles with humor and warmth. His words were encouraging and inspiring.

I would like to highlight some of the obstacles Kriyananda discussed and some of the ways he suggests to overcome them. The first thing we have to address is our body. A healthy body is essential to having faith in yourself. You must be comfortable in your body and within your own universe to reach enlightenment.

Secondly, Kriyananda points to laziness, what he likes to call confusion, as another obstacle. We must remove laziness from our life and never allow ourselves to become exhausted. This can be done with our attitude toward our work. We must find joy in everything we do. Ask yourself the question, “What do I want to accomplish in this lifetime?”

Thirdly, scattered thoughts and daydreaming can be an obstacle. By meditating and turning inward we can find what these daydreams are really saying and make our daily life more exciting. Kriyananda said to always keep one foot glued to the earth.

The fourth obstacle was mental chattering, similar to the previous obstacle. To overcome this we must, again, meditate. Kriyananda suggests spending time in meditation and said that if for just 48 seconds you can be comfortable within yourself, you have succeeded. If your are uncomfortable with yourself, you feel inferior and your bring your self to the lower chakras, further from enlightenment. Find your dream and your joy and follow it. Don’t feel like you have to go to some far off place to find it; make your home an ashram.

The fifth obstacle Kriyananda mentioned was doubt. Many people doubt God because of the modern churches. He points out that it is all about YOU. You are truth. Can you trust yourself? If you don’t, depression can set in.

Lastly, Kriyananda pointed out memory as an obstacle. He said we often hang onto negative memories and forget the positive ones. We are strong enough to not let these negative memories or those of others affect us. Do not let other people affect your. It’s about you and your reaction to the world. Choose to reverse your karma by reversing your reaction. Do not get caught up in others’ karma.

In summary, Kriyananda says that we are our obstacle. He said to be happy and be the master of your own mind. We’re all here to learn and to love others skillfully.

I cannot capture Kriyananda’s words in this small blog. If you want to learn more about his teachings, please visit the temple web site and check out Kriyananda’s videos on YouTube. Also, attend one of the Sunday meditations.

Namaste