The Torah, The Bible and Kriya Yoga (Metaphorical and Meditative Explanations of the Torah and the New Testament in the Light of Kriya Yoga)

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

About the Author Paramahamsa Prajnanananda is the current spiritual leader of the Kriya Yoga international organizations. These organizations were founded by his master, Paramahamsa Hariharananda, who spread the teachings of Kriya Yoga all over the world. Paramahamsa Hariharananda was Swami Shriyukteshwar and Paramahamsa Yogananda's most outstanding direct disciple, one of the greatest realized Kriya Yoga masters in the lineage of Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj and Shri Lahiri Mahashaya.

Born in Odisha, Paramahamsa Prajnanananda was raised in a profound spiritual environment that inspired his search for Truth. He received his higher education in Cuttack and became a professor of economics there. In 1980, while still a student, he met Paramahamsa Hariharananda, who initiated him into Kriya Yoga, then fifteen years later, into the sacred path of sannyasa. After only three years, at the early age of 39, his master conferred upon him the highest title of Paramahamsa, a designation reserved for monks and saints who have attained the summit of realization.

Enriched by his own direct experience, fathomless wisdom, and deep love for humanity, Paramahamsa Prajnanananda guides and inspires spiritual seekers, a living example of how to fulfill one's infinite potential. In addition to running the main ashrams in Puri. Cuttack, Vienna, and Miami, Prajnananandaji spreads spiritual knowledge and the ancient science of Kriya Yoga by holding seminars and retreats all over the world. Prajnana Mission, founded by Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, provides service to humanity with free medical assistance units and centers, residential schools for the poor, and many other charitable and educational activities.

Author of many books on the science of yoga, practical guidelines to the application of the wisdom of Vedantic philosophy, and insightful metaphorical commentaries on the major holy scriptures and world religions, Paramahamsa Prajnanananda binds and bridges Eastern and Western cultures with a harmonious, fresh, and non-sectarian approach.

Preface remember my days with my beloved guruji, Paramahamsa Hariharananda. His life was a living scripture. Well-versed in the scriptures of the world religions, he inspired us to study and meditate on the scriptural messages. During my early days in Europe, every evening before the meditation class I would take a few minutes to talk about the Bible and its practical message about meditation. Gurudev would sit silently and listen with his eyes closed. At times he would explain some deeper insights regarding this beautiful scripture of mankind.

In 1995 he told me to write a book about what I had been teaching. He directed me to finish this work in a short time. I accepted his wish as my command. I tried to undertake a comparative study of the Torah and the Bible and many yogic scriptures. We were staying together in Vienna during those days. Every day Gurudev asked about my progress. Whenever there was some difficult text, I consulted him for a practical solution. With his compassionate help, this book was presented to him on the occasion of Guru Purnima, 1996.

Many people sent compliments. Then, for some time this book was out of print. The book has been thoroughly revised and given a new shape. Some new chapters have been added, along with appendices of question and answers. Now through Gurudev's divine grace we can publish this new version during his birth centenary.

We hope this book will help sincere students study the scriptures and meditate deeply. Those who have worked hard to reshape this book will surely receive grace of God and gurus.

Note:

The biblical references in Parts One and Two are from the New International Version (unless noted in the text) and Part Three are specific questions from the King James Version.

Foreword The essence of all scriptures and teachings of prophets, saints, sages, and realized masters is to discover peace and love through proper understanding, prayer, and meditation.

Religion brings understanding, unity, and universal love. This work is a sincere effort to create universal spiritual understanding and experience the unity of all faiths.

All religions come from one source and lead people to conceive, perceive, and realize truth: as a result, spiritual seekers manifest divine love in their lives, which ultimately leads to complete transformation.

Kriya Yoga is the most ancient technique of metaphysical and transcendental meditation, and is the essence of all religions and the foundation of all spiritual practice. Through regular deep meditation, you can perceive divinity and develop love for God. The scientific technique of Kriya Yoga simultaneously develops body, mind, intellect, and soul-awareness within a relatively short time.

This present work is a synthesis of the spiritual wisdom of many religions, which was realized through deep meditation. Surely, readers will respond with extreme spiritual impetus for meditation and God-realization.

Introduction What is the Bible? Why should we read the Bible? Those who have read the Bible have rarely understood it. It is very difficult to understand its real meaning.

During my school days in India, a bell was rung before the beginning of an examination. After three hours, when the examination time was over, another bell rang. So the bell was rung twice, in the beginning and at the end. In the beginning of your life one bell rings, and at the end another bell rings, the death knell. In between these two sounds is your life. The Bible is the book, the knowledge, the experience that enables us to complete the examination of our life. At every moment we are appearing for the examination. Every moment is an examination -are we watching the breath or not? Are we giving love to God or not? To complete the examination we must discover how to fulfill our lives, using the divine knowledge in the Bible. The Bible is the book of fulfillment that can bring completeness in life.

The Bible derives from the Greek word biblios, which means "book." So the Bible means "the book," that is, the Holy Book. This book is not only written on paper or papyrus. It is the book of our lives given to us by God. It is a blank book. And God has given us the freedom to write something in the blank book of our lives. We decide what to write, the choice is ours. How many notes have we collected, inscribed in the book of life? Are these notes useful? We will not know until the book is finished. If the book of life is full of love and God consciousness, then it is a Bible. We should strive to make life as holy and divine as possible.

**Contents and Sample Pages**