Kriya Yoga Discipleship Training
As of this writing I have been practicing Kriya Yoga as I learned it from my teacher, Roy Euguene Davis, for twenty years. He, in turn, spent 70 years practicing and teaching Kriya Yoga as he learned it from his teacher Paramahansa Yogananda. I have done my best to ceaselessly practice as I learned from him, and to share the philosophy and practices of Kriya Yoga in accord with my current understanding and experience.
Over these past decades as a student of Mr. Davis I have been able to note what qualities are conducive to learning and those which are not. To be a disciple, simply means to be a student. Like anything else in life, certain qualities are required for success in certain fields. The qualities described below are applicable to success on the Kriya Yoga path regardless of gender, status, caste, time, place or circumstance.
Mr. Davis would often discuss many of these ideal qualities as necessary for a person to effectively learn and practice Kriya Yoga. These, I’m sure, were based on what Paramahansa Yogananda required of his own students. The following course synthesizes the characteristics described by Mr. Davis as well as my own observations over the years. If these characteristics are already present in your personality, that is good. If they are not present, they are to be cultivated.
The purpose of this course is to outline as clearly as possible the requirements to participate as a disciple in the Kriya Yoga Tradition or as a disciple with a living Kriya teacher. The course also explores ways to prepare for entering into a healthy, worthwhile teacher-student relationship.
This is a 52-week course of study. Completion of the first 8 weeks is required before applying to the Kriya Yoga Apprenticeship Program.
Curriculum
History
Ryan Kurczak was first introduced to Kriya Yoga through the book Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramahansa Yogananda. He had developed an interest in meditation in his late teens. After reading the book, a local hatha yoga instructor directed him to Center for Spiritual Awareness, where he met his teacher Roy Eugene Davis. Roy was a direct student of Paramahansa Yogananda, and he initiated Ryan into Kriya Yoga in 2000, and then later ordained him to teach in 2005.
Since his ordination in Kriya Yoga, Ryan served as a Vedic astrologer and a natural health consultant, while continuing to travel and give lectures and workshops on Kriya Yoga. Six weeks before Mr. Davis’ mahasamadhi, Ryan met with Mr. Davis and explained that his life was so arranged that he was now inspired to let go of his astrology practice and ready to dedicate his time to the teaching and sharing of the philosophy and practices of Kriya Yoga, fully. For many years, Ryan had mentioned this idea to Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis’ practicality shone through, as he always told Ryan it was good to have a vocation that was able to generate sufficient income for one’s living expenses. However, at this last meeting, Mr. Davis did not give the same response. Instead he said, “That sounds like a good idea.” This was around 18 years after beginning to practice Kriya Yoga under Mr. Davis’ guidance.
Ryan now serves full time as an independent representative of the Kriya Yoga Lineage as taught through Mahavatar Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaya, Swami Sri Yukteswar, Paramahansa Yogananda and Roy Eugene Davis. He is one of many students authorized by Mr. Davis to teach and share this Kriya Yoga tradition. Ryan works with students through the “Kriya Yoga Online” Patreon community, and more intensively with students of the Kriya Yoga Apprenticeship Program offered through this site. He is the host of The Kriya Yoga Podcast and also the author of several books.
It is with enthusiasm and great reverence that he serves in this role, as he is able, and as he was consistently encouraged by his own Kriya Yoga teacher.
The Kriya Yoga Apprenticeship Program
After completion of The Kriya Yoga Discipleship Course, interested students are encouraged to apply to the 2-year Kriya Yoga Apprenticeship Program. The Kriya Yoga Apprenticeship Program explores the depths of Kriya Yoga Philosophy to encourage lifelong practice.