In this episode of The Kriya Yoga Podcast, Kriya Yoga teacher Donelle Mason offers a comprehensive introduction to Samadhi, the highest state of meditation described in classical yoga. This talk was recorded during the Online Kriya Yoga Equinox Retreat and presents a clear, practical understanding of how Samadhi develops through consistent spiritual practice.

Donelle explains the eight limbs of yoga, including the importance of the yamas and niyamas as the foundation for meditation. She also breaks down the stages of Samadhi, moving from concentration on gross objects like breath and mantra to subtler states of awareness, including bliss (Ananda) and the sense of “I-am-ness” (Asmita). Common meditation challenges such as mental distractions, attachment to bliss, and the experience of blankness are also addressed in detail.

Listeners will gain insight into key yoga philosophy concepts from the Yoga Sutras, including abhyasa (practice), vairagya (non-attachment), and the role of disciplined effort in achieving deeper states of meditation. This episode also highlights how Kriya Yoga integrates meditation, action (karma yoga), devotion (bhakti yoga), and knowledge (jnana yoga) into a complete path toward self-realization.

Whether you are new to meditation or a long-time practitioner, this episode provides practical guidance on how to deepen your practice, overcome obstacles, and move toward direct experience of Samadhi.

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🌟 Stay Connected & Deepen Your Practice

If you’d like to participate in future live sessions, consider joining the Kriya Yoga Online Patreon Community or applying to the Kriya Yoga Apprenticeship Program.

📘 For continued inspiration and instruction, check out Ryan Kurczak’s latest book: An Essential Guide to Kriya Yoga Practice, available in hardcover and paperback on Amazon.

🧘‍♂️ Your host, Ryan Kurczak, is a Kriya Yoga meditation teacher and author, authorized to teach in 2005 by Roy Eugene Davis, a direct student of Paramahansa Yogananda.

🔗 Explore more resources:

• Patreon Community: Support the work & access live sessions 👉 https://www.patreon.com/KriyaYoga

• Kriya Yoga Apprenticeship, blog posts & books: 👉 https://kriyayogaonline.com

• Online Classes for All Levels: 👉 https://kriya-yoga.teachable.com/

• Hundreds of free videos on YouTube: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/user/KriyaYogaOnline

Thank you for listening, and may your path be filled with clarity, strength, and peace.

In this episode of The Kriya Yoga Podcast, Ryan Kurczak is interviewed by student and Kriya practitioner Pushya Mistry in a thoughtful, in-depth conversation that explores the inner mechanics of spiritual practice and the realities of walking the Kriya Yoga path.

Drawing from his own sincere inquiry, Pushya brings forward questions that many practitioners quietly carry—about technique, imagination, intuition, realization, lineage, and the long arc of spiritual maturation. Ryan responds with clarity shaped by a couple decades of practice, teaching, and personal experience, offering insight that is both grounded and reflective.

Topics explored in this episode include:

• The role of imagination and contemplation in meditation and higher states of awareness

• How and when to work skillfully with subtle inner experiences without falling into fantasy

• What enlightenment and liberation actually mean within the Kriya Yoga and Yoga Sutra framework

• The difference between momentary spiritual glimpses and stable realization

• The importance of lineage, fidelity to practice, and embodied understanding

• The most challenging and most rewarding aspects of a lifelong spiritual journey

• Practical guidance for both new practitioners and emerging meditation teachers

The conversation unfolds as a genuine dialogue rather than a formal Q&A, allowing Ryan’s responses to touch on loss, faith, discipline, discernment, and the quiet confidence that develops through sustained practice. Pushya’s questions give voice to the concerns of serious students navigating depth, distance, and devotion on the path.

This episode is especially valuable for listeners seeking a mature, unsensational understanding of Kriya Yoga—one that honors both inner realization and the patience, humility, and steadiness required to live it.

-

🌟 Stay Connected & Deepen Your Practice

If you’d like to participate in future live sessions, consider joining the Kriya Yoga Online Patreon Community or applying to the Kriya Yoga Apprenticeship Program.

📘 For continued inspiration and instruction, check out Ryan Kurczak’s latest book: An Essential Guide to Kriya Yoga Practice, available in hardcover and paperback on Amazon.

🧘‍♂️ Your host, Ryan Kurczak, is a Kriya Yoga meditation teacher and author, authorized to teach in 2005 by Roy Eugene Davis, a direct student of Paramahansa Yogananda.

🔗 Explore more resources:

• Patreon Community: Support the work & access live sessions 👉 https://www.patreon.com/KriyaYoga

• Kriya Yoga Apprenticeship, blog posts & books: 👉 https://kriyayogaonline.com

• Online Classes for All Levels: 👉 https://kriya-yoga.teachable.com/

• Hundreds of free videos on YouTube: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/user/KriyaYogaOnline

Thank you for listening, and may your path be filled with clarity, strength, and peace.

In this episode of The Kriya Yoga Podcast, we explore a question many meditators quietly wrestle with: Why does life sometimes feel less interesting as meditation deepens?

As spiritual practice grows, interests, motivations, and relationships can begin to shift. Activities that once felt exciting may lose their pull, while inner life becomes richer and more compelling. Is this a healthy sign of spiritual development—or could it be a form of withdrawal from life?

This conversation examines how to recognize the difference between genuine spiritual maturation and subtle avoidance. We discuss how meditation naturally reshapes priorities, why it’s normal to outgrow certain habits or environments, and how to remain engaged with family, work, and creativity while still honoring a deeper inner calling.

The episode also touches on the role of self-reflection, the importance of psychological healing alongside meditation, and how a balanced spiritual path allows both inner realization and meaningful participation in everyday life.

If you’ve ever wondered whether losing interest in the noise of the world means something is wrong—or whether it might signal a deeper transformation—this episode offers clarity, perspective, and practical guidance.

-

🌟 Stay Connected & Deepen Your Practice

If you’d like to participate in future live sessions, consider joining the Kriya Yoga Online Patreon Community or applying to the Kriya Yoga Apprenticeship Program.

📘 For continued inspiration and instruction, check out Ryan Kurczak’s latest book: An Essential Guide to Kriya Yoga Practice, available in hardcover and paperback on Amazon.

🧘‍♂️ Your host, Ryan Kurczak, is a Kriya Yoga meditation teacher and author, authorized to teach in 2005 by Roy Eugene Davis, a direct student of Paramahansa Yogananda.

🔗 Explore more resources:

• Patreon Community: Support the work & access live sessions 👉 https://www.patreon.com/KriyaYoga

• Kriya Yoga Apprenticeship, blog posts & books: 👉 https://kriyayogaonline.com

• Online Classes for All Levels: 👉 https://kriya-yoga.teachable.com/

• Hundreds of free videos on YouTube: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/user/KriyaYogaOnline

Thank you for listening, and may your path be filled with clarity, strength, and peace.