Life Surrendered in God: The Kriya Yoga Way of Soul Liberation

Kriyas are the constructive actions we contribute to our total wellness and enlightenment, as well as the transformative actions which spontaneously occur within us as spiritual growth is experienced. Yoga can be defined as " procedure", "practice" and as the end result of successful practice - "wholeness". The last section of the book provides guidelines for recommended lifestyle regimens and instruction in meditation techniques and practice routines. Biographical information about the guru lineage of Mr Davis' Kriya Yoga tradition is provided in the appendix. A glossary of primary English and Sanskrit words is included.

 About the Author(s)

ROY EUGENE DAVIS is a direct, personal disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and a world-travelled teacher of meditation. He is the founder-director of the Center for Spiritual Awareness. He is the author of many bestselling books, including A Master Guide to Meditation.

I wrote this book for God-surrendered devotees of the present era and for truth seekers centuries hence. It should not be taken merely as an interesting treatise to read once and put away. Repeatedly examine its meaning until understanding dawns in the mind as a result of direct, soul perception.

A comprehensive, philosophical overview is provided in the first two chapters to prepare the reader to better understand the commentary on the Yoga Sub-as. Italics have generally been used only when a Sanskrit word is defined, and sometimes for special emphasis. Many Sanskrit words have by now entered into common usage in the West and do not need to be set apart by the use of italics.

The appended glossary can be referred to as often as necessary so that word meanings are clearly understood. Because of the frequency of use of keywords and terms throughout the text, an index is not included. Subjects and themes can easily be located by referring to the table of contents.

Some repetition occurs because of the character of the subject matter, and to consistently remind the reader of essential principles and procedures. Rather than only write about spiritual life, I have chosen to encourage readers to apply themselves to have their own experience of higher realities.

For optimum benefits, it is recommended that the reader examine the text to become familiar with it, then carefully read it through from the beginning. The repeated study should follow, with special attention given to the categories of cosmic manifestation in part one; the commentaries on the Yoga Sutras in part two; and the routines and procedures in part three. In this way, the information presented will be a dependable guide to resolved participation, psychological transformation, and spiritual growth.

Because this is a handbook for devotees attuned to the Kriya tradition most of the supporting quotes and references are taken from the Bhagavad Gita with random comments by Kriya Yoga gurus. However, the exposition of basic principles and guidelines will prove helpful to spiritual aspirants of any enlightenment tradition.

With the publication of this book, four decades have passed since I met my guru, Paramahansa Yogananda and was initiated by him into the practice of Kriya Yoga. Since then I have travelled the world to share this philosophy and science of God realization with thousands of individuals many of whom are today steadily advancing on the soul liberation path. I can testify from personal experiences and my observation of the changed lives of those who live in accordance with these principles that the information in this book is valid.

Editorial changes made for this second edition include several revisions for the purpose of clarification and some new additions to highlight certain themes.