What IsAnanda?
Ananda is dedicated to the belief, born of experience, that you can live in joy. We teach effective techniques for expanding your sense of self, such as meditation, Kriya Yoga, spiritual Hatha Yoga, and divine friendship.
More about Ananda
Stay in Touch
Receive uplifting articles, videos, news updates, and advice to enliven your spiritual life, including opportunities to support and connect with Ananda.
Our Inspiration
Paramhansa Yogananda has been called the father of yoga and meditation in the West. His Autobiography helped spark and inspire a spiritual revolution across the world. Among the over three-hundred (influential spiritual voices) I interviewed about their key spiritual influences, a high percentage named a book, and by far the book most often mentioned was Yogananda’s unique memoir.Phil Goldberg, American Veda
At the request of Yogananda, Swami Kriyananda dedicated his life to lecturing and writing, and has also produced hundreds of pieces of music, to help others to find joy within. More
With the passing of Swami Kriyananda in 2013, Nayaswami Jyotish was named by Kriyananda as his spiritual successor. Jyotishji met Swami Kriyananda in 1966, working closely with him and his wife, Devi (who came to Ananda in 1969), to build Ananda’s work around the world. Both Nayaswamis Jyotish and Devi were named kriyacharyas by Swami Kriyananda, and disseminate the liberating and ancient Kriya Yoga technique of Paramhansa Yogananda’s lineage. More
Meditation & Kriya Yoga
Learn to Meditate
Meditation is a technique for personal growth that has been practiced for thousands of years around the world with repeatable results. There is no aspect of your life that cannot be improved by meditation, whether it be in business, relationships, or health. The highest purpose of meditation, however, is to discover your Highest Self.
We offer a free, five day email series for a basic overview of how to meditate, which includes posture, where and when to meditate, and a simple effective technique. It also includes a subscription to our monthly Daily Meditator newsletter and monthly Inner Light newsletter.
Kriya Yoga
Kriya Yoga is an ancient meditation technique of energy and breath control, or pranayama. It is also a comprehensive spiritual path, which includes additional meditation practices and guidance for living.
The Kriya technique is given through personal initiation by one of our Kriya Yoga teachers. Initiation requires preparation which includes the practice of other meditation techniques and study of Paramhansa Yogananda’s teachings.
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Community
Let us join together in this wave of social transformation, and through our practice of meditation create a spirit of global unity that can lead to lasting peace.Nayaswami Devi
Connect Online
Ananda is very active online: Live events, satsangs, group guided meditations, and personal support through email and chat. Learn More
Find a Local Center
Ananda has over 150 centers and meditation groups in over 45 countries which offer group meditations and classes. Learn More
Experience Community
Ananda has developed eight communities in the US, Europe, and India. Many offer internships where you can stay and experience community firsthand. Learn More
Be a Warrior for the Light
“God’s light is within me and around me. With the sword of faith in my hand, with the love of God in my heart, I am a warrior of light. I join my brothers and sisters everywhere to overcome fear with faith, hatred with love, and disease with health. We all are warriors of light. We fill the world with God’s light.”
A Call to Action
Nayaswamis Jyotish and Devi share about the need for positive action in this time of turmoil and crisis.
Join the Campaign for World Healing
Every Thursday at 8:00 am PDT / 5:00 pm CEST / 7:30 pm IST, Ananda centers in the U.S., India, and Italy host a gathering to meditate, affirm, and visualize light and harmony in the world.
What’s New
Recent Posts and Videos
In Meditation I Saw a Bright White Light and a Symbol. What Does It Mean?
Dear Tarushi, This bright light might indeed have been a true superconscious experience. Sometimes subconscious images can appear too, but yours feels like a true elevating vision. Various symbols can appear in meditation. Yours is not a usual one, so ... Read More
The Eternal Flame in Swami Kriyananda’s Moksha Mandir
Dear Kathleen, What you saw is the eternal flame altar which is mounted above where Swamiji’s body is interred in the Moksha Mandir. His body is actually placed under the floor of the Mandir. Please take a look at this ... Read More
Why Do Innocent Animals Suffer?
Dear Vidhya, Thank you for your heartfelt question. This is an issue that pulls at many people’s hearts with what seems unnecessary suffering of the animal kingdom caused by humans. There are many stories about the back and forth of ... Read More
Advaita vs Duality (Dvaita)
Dear Sukhmandeep, Thank you for your inquiry: it is an important and subtle question. Yes, the Self-realization teachings espoused by the line of Kriya Yoga masters (from Babaji to Yoganandaji) are deeply rooted in Vedanta: in advaita (non-duality). However, even ... Read More
In Meditation I Saw a Master. Later I Discovered He Exists. What Does This Mean?
Dear Carlos, If you saw this Master in meditation and later found out that he was a true guru from the past, it could indeed be that he came to you to bless you. Great gurus are ever alive. Since ... Read More
Can Someone Who Attains Nirvana or Moksha Also Enjoy Sense Pleasures?
Dear Friend, When one has at last found the finest, richest, most delicately flavored chocolate, why go back to store-bought candy for children? When the soul has reaped the harvest of eternal Bliss, of what use are the fleeting pleasures ... Read More
Which Direction Should Our Altar Face? Which Direction Should We Face?
Dear Tusha, When you pray or meditate, let the Gods (or Masters) face West, so that you are facing East. This is what Yogananda recommends. The reason for it, he explains, is that subtle rays of wisdom radiate westward over ... Read More
I Have Seen Only Misery in My Life
Dear Kumari, Thank you for your question. The world sometimes can be seen as only misery. Remember, you are never alone — especially when trying to improve your life. The Universe will respond in kind to any thoughts that you ... Read More
Does God Sympathize With People Who Die by Suicide?
Dear Niraj, The act of suicide surely generates sympathy and sadness. For the gift of human life is the most precious of all. For with the human body the soul has the potential to achieve the fullness of the divine ... Read More
I Saw a Blue Tunnel in a Dream
Dear Annie, When we go deep in meditation we may see all or part of the spiritual eye with our inner vision (not with our physical eyes). One component of the spiritual eye is a blue tunnel which the meditator ... Read More
Online Events
Treasures Virtual Satsang
Sep 21 5:00 pm PDT • Sep 22 00:00 GMT • Sep 22 05:30 IST
El Camino De La Felicidad: The Path to Happiness
Sep 21 6:00 pm PDT • Sep 22 01:00 GMT • Sep 22 06:30 IST
Meditate Daily: A Proven Path To Greater Joy
Sep 21 7:00 pm PDT • Sep 22 02:00 GMT • Sep 22 07:30 IST
Stretch, breathe, and meditate with Kyle
Sep 22 6:00 am PDT • Sep 22 13:00 GMT • Sep 22 18:30 IST
“Whispers from Eternity” — a Daily Broadcast of Inspiration
Sep 22 12:00 pm PDT • Sep 22 19:00 GMT • Sep 23 00:30 IST
Cantos para el Alma: Chants for the Soul
Sep 22 4:00 pm PDT • Sep 22 23:00 GMT • Sep 23 04:30 IST
Online Ananda Yoga and Meditation
Sep 22 3:15 pm PDT • Sep 22 22:15 GMT • Sep 23 03:45 IST
Cantos para el Alma: Chants for the Soul
Sep 22 6:00 pm PDT • Sep 23 01:00 GMT • Sep 23 06:30 IST
Conversations with Yogananda
Sep 22 7:30 pm PDT • Sep 23 02:30 GMT • Sep 23 08:00 IST
Whispers From Eternity: An Exploration of Prayer and Poetry
Sep 23 1:15 am PDT • Sep 23 08:15 GMT • Sep 23 13:45 IST
Weekly Guided Kriya Meditation
Sep 23 5:30 am PDT • Sep 23 12:30 GMT • Sep 23 18:00 IST
Featured
The Inner Hike
“Right now, my prized attribute is my willingness
to grow—to face into things that scare me.
To go on inner adventures that are filled with the unknown.”
~ David Eby
Your support is a blessing for all
Ananda is a beacon of light, breaking through the darkness of this world with the universal teachings of Self-realization.
Thank you for being a part of this community of souls who support each other on our path to God.
