Seminary training introduction

The Kriya Yoga Seminary is a non-accredited theological school directed by the Temple of Kriya Yoga, a not-for-profit religious educational organization. Sri Goswami Kriyananda developed this program more than 30 years ago as a bridge between the Temple of Kriya and dedicated people like you who are called to a life of spiritual service — a life devoted to benefiting others.

One of the fundamental principles of Kriya Yoga is the understanding that each of us has the ability to be happy and fulfilled in this very lifetime. One of the best means of achieving this is to share our wisdom and compassion with the world around us. The Kriya Seminary is designed to provide you with tools and techniques that will guide you in this effort. It is a systematic course of study that will cultivate your spiritual unfoldment, prepare you for the priesthood, and help you to assist those who seek a deeper understanding of themselves, God, and Life.

The goal of Seminary study is to be ordained into the priesthood. It is our hope that the self-discipline and dedication that are required will inspire you to teach and become an even wiser and more compassionate soul who will share the sacred science of Kriya with others. However, as a swami of the Temple of Kriya Yoga you are free to express the priesthood through your own personality and talents. You will not be categorized or limited; each person must serve in his or her own way. Many of our priests teach hatha yoga, meditation, or philosophy. Others provide spiritual guidance through the Temple, privately, or in various institutions and organizations in their communities. Others may perform weddings, baptisms, death-rebirth rituals, or house blessings.

It is important to understand that a swami is a real person living in the real world. They often have careers and families. Their backgrounds and talents are diverse. Their goal is to serve the spiritual needs of the people whose lives they touch, to assist them in softening their own karma, and to guide them through the pattern of their lives to greater self-awareness, health and happiness, maturity, and freedom. The role of a priest is to help others to help themselves. The Seminary proverb is, “Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day; teach him to fish and he will eat forever.”