The Prayer and its power

The fact that the 'hesychastic practice' involves a breathing exercise with a tongue position, akin to that of Kechari Mudra.

After this initial step, one is encouraged to be tenacious in praying with the focus of concentration on the navel: «...(in this way) it is possible to find a joyless and lightless obscurity but, persisting, a limitless happiness will be reached». Once one gets over the obstacle of the navel, a whole path unfolds, leading to the heart. Unforgettable is the description of the Prayer entering the heart; the effects are strikingly similar to those of Lahiri Mahasaya’s Thokar! The hitting of the heart Chakra is obtained blending the perception of the throbs of the heart with the syllables of the prayer. The consciousness slips into it and there contemplates the "Uncreated Light" (obviously the light aspect of Omkar), which is considered the highest of the mystical achievements.

The art of Prayer is developed in an astonishing way in the Sufi path. There is no doubt that Thokar is the same process which the Sufis call "Dhikr". Interesting is to learn that Lahiri Mahasaya gave the Islamic Mantra Lâ Ilâha Illâ Allâh to his Muslim disciples to be practiced during Thokar.

We have not the exact details of that procedure but it seems reasonable that the Prayer was lifted (with or without the help of the breath) from under the navel up to the brain; after reaching the brain, it moved from the brain to the one shoulder, then to the other shoulder and then it hit the heart. A modern Sufi confraternity practices in the following way: "La" is placed in the head, "ilaha" (with head bending to the right) in the right upper part of the chest, "illaal" (with head bending to the left) in the left upper part of the chest, and "lah" (with head bending down) in the heart; then again "La" in the head,

while raising it....

I think that if one wants to follow the Sufi path by using the Kriya techniques, will encounter no difficulties whatsoever. Of course one should be endowed with a strong self-teaching spirit. As for the number of repetitions of each technique, one may abide by the numbers given in the Kriya schools or one can go beyond them in a completely different dimension. As the chant increases its intensity, a deep intoxication is felt in the heart: one may reach numbers of repetitions which are inconceivable for a kriyaban.

In the Sufi literature, any comment about "Dhikr" is most inspiring. Instruction is given to avoid distraction, in such a way that the heart is occupied with neither "family" nor "money". One begins the practice by uttering the Mantra aloud – this is the Dhikr of the tongue. One continues until a great absorption makes it impossible to go on in this way. «The rust upon the heart is burnt, the darkness turns into day and the candle of the mind is put out by the sun of the divine light (Qur’an)».

Source:  " Kriya Yoga Synthesis of a Personal Experience " - by  Enino Nimis