Yogananda 100: Celebrating a Century of Spiritual Awakening
Paramhansa Yogananda’s arrival in Boston in 1920 marked the beginning of a new wave of spiritual consciousness in America and throughout the world. Join us for…
Sep. 19, 7:00 pm PDT (Free): Centennial Celebration with Nayaswamis Jyotish and Devi
Sep. 19, 12:00 pm and 3:30pm PDT ($20 suggested donation): Flower ceremony at Boston Harbor Pier followed by Keynote talks and Virtual Pilgrimage
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
“New World” Chanting and Kirtan!
Sep 18 5:00 pm PDT • Sep 19 00:00 GMT • Sep 19 05:30 IST
Meditación Guiada para Aprender a Meditar: Guided Meditation for Beginners
Sep 18 6:00 pm PDT • Sep 19 01:00 GMT • Sep 19 06:30 IST
Ananda Sacramento Satsang with Sam Podany
Sep 18 7:00 pm PDT • Sep 19 02:00 GMT • Sep 19 07:30 IST
Saturday Morning Yoga with Lynn
Sep 19 7:00 am PDT • Sep 19 14:00 GMT • Sep 19 19:30 IST
Satsang with a guest minister
Sep 19 1:30 pm PDT • Sep 19 20:30 GMT • Sep 20 02:00 IST
Chanting Worldwide with Ananda
Sep 19 8:00 pm PDT • Sep 20 03:00 GMT • Sep 20 08:30 IST
Experiencing Education for Life (EFL)
Sep 19 7:00 pm PDT • Sep 20 02:00 GMT • Sep 20 07:30 IST
Sunday Service at Ananda Washington
Sep 20 2:30 am PDT • Sep 20 09:30 GMT • Sep 20 15:00 IST
Sunday Service
Sep 20 10:00 am PDT • Sep 20 17:00 GMT • Sep 20 22:30 IST
Sunday Worship Service
Sep 20 10:00 am PDT • Sep 20 17:00 GMT • Sep 20 22:30 IST
Sunday Service at Ananda Village
Sep 20 10:00 am PDT • Sep 20 17:00 GMT • Sep 20 22:30 IST
Featured
Paramhansa Yogananda: Centennial Celebration with Nayaswamis Jyotish and Devi
Join us for Jyotish and Devi’s Celebration of Paramhansa Yogananda’s Coming to American in this free live, broadcast from the iconic Temple of Light at Ananda Village.
The Evening Event Offerings
• An Inspirational Talk
• Music
• Pre-recorded Talks with Other Ananda Communities
Saturday, September 19, 2020, 7:00 – 9:00 PM, Pacific Time
We Are Celebrating Paramhansa Yogananda’s Arrival to the US In Boston, Massachusetts, September 19, 2020
Paramhansa Yogananda first stepped foot in America September 19, 1920, Dwapara 320 at the Harbor Pier in Boston, Massachusetts. He arrived on the boat, City of Sparta, after a long journey across the oceans.
We invite you to celebrate Yogananda’s arrival to the West through our Online Virtual Retreat. The virtual retreat will take you through the most important landmarks of Yogananda’s time in Boston, as he built his work in the US from the ground up. We will be hosting the event and our speakers virtually and will share a special tour of pilgrimage places throughout Massachusetts (such as Trinity Church, the Boston Library, Copley Plaza Hotel, South Church, Symphony Hall, and more.)
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.
