He still looks a little like the banker he used to be, but the Persian meditation and poet, Kambiz Naficy, no longer dresses like one. His embroidered Sufi outfit is comfortable, ideal wear for his Kriya Yoga sessions. His voice has an almost hypnotic quality, the perfect complement to his air of unshakable calm.

Through his organization, The Joy of Life Organization (www.joyoflifeorg.com), Kambiz teaches an unusual philosophy, one intended to bridge the worlds of modern science and ancient wisdom; linking his discoveries in the Yogic Vedic scriptures with cutting edge research in quantum physics, energy-field theory and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). Even his actual practice reflects this blend of traditional and contemporary approaches

It’s taken Kambiz over a decade to get here. In 1998, a young Kambiz was enjoying all the benefits of success in the Big Apple (Manhattan). With three Masters degrees under his belt, he was an international banker on Wall Street for American Express International Banking Corporation. He had the BMW, the designer suits, and the respect of his Wall Street peers. The only thing he didn’t have was peace of mind. “Everyone goes through what I call the dark night of the Soul—your old personality doesn’t fit into your present situation and your whole world falls apart because you can’t keep growing in the same mold as you have been up this point. That is what I was going through in my dark night. Struggling with disillusionment and heartbreak, he simply opted out of his life, and took a two-year pilgrimage to Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa. There he would spend two years in near silence, meditating on the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, Rumi, and quantum physics. When he came out, he was a changed man.

That very year, Kambiz would establish The Joy of Life Organization which currently holds workshops in Canada, India, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.S. Through his organization, Kambiz devotes himself to raising the consciousness of both individuals and management teams. Employing a psycho-spiritual approach to healing, part of his teachings are based on the practice of Kriya Yoga—“Kriya Yoga is the art of circulating vitalizing breath through 72,000 energy channels called nadis in the Indian Sanskrit language. These nadis are similar to the acupuncture meridians, and they exist at a subatomic level , invisible to the naked eye. The second foundation of Kambiz’ teachings are based on transpersonal psychology and reprogramming of subconscious negativities through NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming).

The actual practice of Kriya Yoga can have a profound impact on the body.” After 12 seconds of Kriya Yoga, your brain waves subside from 14 cycles per second (Beta Waves), down to 7 cycles per second (Alpha Waves); then another 12 seconds, and your brain-wave activity is down to 3.5 cycles per second (Theta Waves). Theta Waves are similar to the experience of very deep, nourishing sleep except that you are both relaxed and fully mindful of the present moment.” He says that Kriya Yoga breathing leaves the mind empty but alert. Reflecting this state, your respiration and metabolism slows down, your blood pressure drops, and the “net effect is you’re intensely present but very empty of fear and worry.” It is in this state that you are best able to perceive what Kambiz calls the God Force.

“At the level beneath the atom is the thinking Universe, there lies the God Force and that force is composed of pure and infinite intelligence. According to Kambiz and many atomic physicists like Neils Bohr and Heizenberg, the universe beneath the atom mirrors our beliefs, manifesting our thoughts and self-judgments into material reality. Talking about how we create the circumstances of our own lives, Kambiz says “what people don’t realize is that they are partnering with the God Force. This is what quantum physicists call the participatory universe.”

Kambiz likes to challenge people to spend 90 days repeating self-affirming mantras like, “I am worthy of a great life” to themselves. He says that the change at the end of that trial period is truly remarkable. “Their facial muscles relax, their luck has changed, they begin to find parking spots in crowded streets, they build loving relationships, and their income goes up. What people need to realize is that in a participatory universe, our thoughts influence the dance of the electron!”

For most effect, Kambiz combines his spiritual practice with psychological counseling. His 3.5-hour weekend workshop sessions are neatly divided into half, the first hour and a half being devoted to Kriya Yoga meditation and the remaining time being used to discuss what he calls the principles of Joyful living. Included in this, are healthy marital relationships, how to focus the mind, what self-esteem is and how to raise it, and how our childhood experiences affect our self-confidence.

Throughout, he emphasizes the importance of focus. “whatever you place your attention on, grows and prospers.” Yogic philosophy states that right behind your attention is the Life Force.” Should your attention focus on negative thoughts, you will find yourself weakened, not just emotionally, but also physically. The emotion that makes you strongest is love, and the ones that weaken you most are guilt and shame.” Most tantalizing of all, sincere practice of Kriya Yoga will lead to “happiness which is irrespective of your external issues and circumstances”, promises Kambiz Naficy ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnuksIhIz_o&t=11s)