Swami Muktananda’s teachings in the Siddha Yoga tradition revolve around the recognition that the divine Self is present within every human being. A central affirmation associated with his teaching is that God dwells within as one’s very own Self, and that the true purpose of life is to realize this inner divinity. Self‑realization, in this view, is not an abstract ideal but the direct recognition that one’s nature is pure consciousness, often described as Chiti or Shakti. From this standpoint, honoring the Self and seeing God in each other become natural extensions of spiritual understanding, rather than mere ethical exhortations.

A distinctive feature of his path is the emphasis on Kundalini Shakti and shaktipāt dīkṣā, the initiation through which the guru awakens the dormant spiritual energy in the disciple. This awakened Kundalini is said to purify the mind and gradually lead the seeker into higher states of awareness, especially when supported by steady meditation. The guru is regarded as a manifestation of divine consciousness and as an indispensable guide who both transmits spiritual power and interprets the disciple’s inner experiences. At the same time, the guru principle ultimately points back to the inner Self as the true teacher, so that devotion to the outer guru serves the recognition of the guru within.

Meditation and mantra are presented as the primary disciplines through which this inner transformation is stabilized. Regular meditation, oriented toward the inner Self and the awakened energy, is complemented by the repetition of mantras such as “Om Namah Shivaya” and “So Hum,” which are used to purify the mind and focus awareness on its divine source. These practices are not confined to formal sittings; they are meant to permeate daily life so that awareness gradually infuses every action. Living in this way encourages a stance of witnessing one’s thoughts and emotions without judgment, fostering the recognition that one is the observer rather than the changing mental states.

Ethical and devotional dimensions are woven into this framework as essential supports for realization. Teachings on truthfulness, non‑violence, selfless service (seva), and other dharmic principles are presented as expressions of a mind being refined by spiritual practice. Devotion, or bhakti, directed toward the divine as guru and as the inner Self, nurtures humility and receptivity to grace. Within this vision, the world itself is understood as the play of consciousness, so that the ordinary circumstances of life are approached as a sacred field for practice, where one learns to recognize the same divine presence in all beings and in every experience.