Kriya Vedanta Gurukulam
A Temple of harmony
Overview
Paramahamsa Hariharananda founded the Kriya Yoga Institute (KYI) to disseminate the universal teachings of Kriya Yoga, an ancient science of meditation and living, to North and South America. Since 1976 the Kriya Yoga Institute has been dedicated to the service of humanity through spiritual, charitable, health, and educational activities. KYI promotes integrated growth—spiritual, physical, psychological, emotional, and intellectual—through meditation, yoga, prayer, study, and service. KYI centers create a spiritual environment of love, compassion, cooperation, and service for sincere spiritual seekers and for all of creation. Spiritual seekers learn the techniques of Kriya Yoga to further their spiritual growth and to implement Kriya Yoga in daily life, which helps them live healthy, vibrant, prosperous lives as world citizens who will strengthen communities and reach out to others.
Proposal
To help spread the teachings of Paramahamsa Hariharananda and his spiritual successor, Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the Kriya Yoga Institute is proposing to establish a branch ashram called the Kriya-Vedanta Gurukulam (Midwest) - A Temple of Harmony, which will be located in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. The plan is to create a beautiful landscape of trees, gardens, and pathways, providing a peaceful retreat for spiritual study, meditation, and prayer. This will be a place of nonsectarian worship dedicated to all the religions of the world, where people of different faiths may come together for worship and study.
The KYI philosophy is based on the universal teachings of Vedanta and the universal teachings of Kriya Yoga as taught by the unbroken lineage of Kriya Yoga masters, starting from Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj through to Paramahamsa Hariharananda and Paramahamsa Prajnanananda.
In Sanskrit, Kriya means “work is worship,” Vedanta means “path of knowledge,” and Gurukulam refers to an ancient system of education. An ashram is a spiritual retreat. Thus, the Kriya-Vedanta Gurukulam (Midwest) is a retreat where one strives to live by the principles of spiritual life in order to realize the joy of the Divine.
Objectives and Mission
Currently KYI centers provide only basic meditation guidance and support to one locality. The mission of the Kriya-Vedanta Gurukulum (Midwest) is to become a productive, regional community and family center. Emphasis will be on building an extended community of individuals who want to dedicate their lives to selfless service and create an environment of love and harmony.
Specifically, the Kriya-Vedanta Gurukulam (Midwest) will provide opportunity for Midwesterners to learn and practice Kriya Yoga and gain knowledge of Vedanta philosophy. Daily and weekly gatherings of the larger spiritual congregation will allow seekers to worship together, evolve, and plan and finance community and worldwide outreach programs.
Since Kriya Yoga is a universal spiritual platform emphasizing the common truths taught by all religions, understanding between religions of the East and West will be promoted. Interfaith seminars will provide a forum where those walking all spiritual paths, not just those interested in Kriya and Vedanta, can exchange ideas and work together to enhance Midwestern communities through charitable and educational programs. To meet the spiritual needs of children and parents in the community, educational classes will teach topics relating to spirituality, yoga, values, and life skills. At this facility, weekly, in-depth, adult educational programs and children’s Sunday school and other children’s programs will be possible. During the year there will be various children’s camps and meditation and Vedantic retreats for adults. Resident monastics will be able to travel to regional centers every month instead of only once or twice a year. As the center community becomes stronger and more cohesive, it will more effectively serve the larger spiritual community of the Midwest.
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