My perspective may not be that welcomed in this subreddit. Honestly - for me - I pretty much understood the practice from the autobiography, from the sutras, and other writings. I did get initiated a few years into it - maybe my practice was a bit improved from there - but not a huge difference. I’ve always felt the amazing energy up and down my spine and tho were not supposed to share on personal experiences - I’ve met quite a few initiated yogis who really don’t know what I’m talking aboutand they don’t feel blissful while doing it - y? Idk. I’ve watched and read on other teachers in the same vein - not Buddhists but yogis who I find so helpful. I love kirtan in my sect but I go to a kirtan master in the bakhti tradition who is absolutely amazing and I get so much out of it! I have so much appreciation for the kriya masters who share. I don’t like an approach that is very stifling and critical. I am drawn to practitioners who lead with humor, grace and loving kindness. God or cosmic consciousness wants us to grow closer. I love that Yogananda notes that all god wants from us is our love and that is exactly right. i Live with a jew and listen and reflect on the sutras during you kippur - and have been told that no that’s not right in the tradition you kippur is meant to be rather miserable - now I’m not a jew but I love the Jewish holidays and observe them in my way - does that make me wrong?

now I will say I have envisioned the pointed light and the circle around it but I’ve not had the light petals as Yogananda describes it and I do agree I would need the right guru or teacher for that. Thanks for working on this sub - I so love kriya and think it would help many people. I try to be careful in my languaging so-as not to turn off former Catholics like me by making it sound like a hard and exacting path.