What Is
Ananda?

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
Paramhansa Yogananda (1893 – 1952), best known as the author of Autobiography of a Yogi, was the first guru from India to make his home permanently in the United States.Paramhansa Yogananda showed how everyone, by means of meditation, can realize God in their daily lives as a tangible, loving reality. He taught an ancient meditation technique known as Kriya Yoga, by which one can quickly attain Self-realization. More
Swami Kriyananda (1926 – 2013), is a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda and the founder of Ananda’s worldwide movement.

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.
Learn More

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

Visit in Person

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

What’s New


Recent Posts and Videos

Do Astral Beings Eat and Discharge Waste?

Dear Frank, Yes, Sri Yukteswar explains in the Autobiography Of A Yogi that the astral body is the “exact counterpart” of the physical body. He also says that the astral beings eat “luminous raylike vegetables”. The waste from it must, ... Read More

20:18

When Setting out to Accomplish Anything

29:21

Spiritual Community Living

2:04

Yogananda in Samadhi

Nayaswami Jyotish in 1971, the early days of Ananda Village.

My First Day

4:59

My First Day

  AUDIO ONLY

A Mahasamadhi Miracle from Master

53:36

How to Live a High Energy Life — Questions and Answers

What Is Right Action?

Dear Ashutosh, I think the implications of your reference to the Gita are not correct. Lord Krishna, in fact, states in the Gita that He (and all who are wise) should continue to perform right action because lesser beings will ... Read More

19:07

A Day in the Life of a Yogi

How to Love God in Meditation

In a Special Meditation Experience, Was I on the Verge of Death?

Dear Karen, No, you weren’t on the verge of passing away. You just touched a bit of the other world, the world of light. The images you have seen might be real, or your mind created them, expressing in picture ... Read More

4:17

God’s Power – A Song for Self-Healing

3:17

A Century of Spiritual Awakening with Paramhansa Yogananda – Yogananda Fest 2020

Is Life as a Student and Yogi Compatible? (Managing Stress)

Dear Ashutosh, Ironic though it might seem, nothing could be more practical and useful to a busy person (yes, even a student under pressure; indeed especially a student or anyone under pressure), than to remain calm and unflustered. The time ... Read More

2:37

St. Francis and the Leper

1:21:05

Learning to Let Go

The Instrument Is Blessed

How to Avoid Pain When Concentrating at the Spiritual Eye

Dear Sara, Concentrating at the spiritual eye during meditation is very important, and it sounds like you are helped by trying to visualize the spiritual eye. But we must learn to put our concentration there without physical tension. The spiritual ... Read More

Jairam or Joe Hunt who is fighting for freedom from prison with Nayaswamis Jyotish and Devi

Who Is the Prisoner?

How Can I Love God More?

Dear Friend, A Christian saint in France (St. Jean Vianney, the Cure d’Ars) once said, “If you only knew how much God loves you, you would die for joy!” Swami Kriyananda, the founder of the worldwide communities of Ananda and ... Read More

How Do I Conquer Leftover Karma and Live a Life of Joy?

Dear Pooja, Thank you for your heartfelt question on how to remain strong in daily life. It is wonderful that you have the desire to hold to God. You are already creating a blessed life. Drawing upon inner strength and ... Read More

Prayers for Healing the World of a Viral Crisis

How to Use Your Smartphone for Spiritual Growth

Painting by Nayaswami Jyotish If You Call Me

Relax and Accept

Does God Help Reduce Our Suffering?

Dear Niraj, Yogananda-ji said he would sometimes argue with Divine Mother saying, in effect: “You (Mother) have created this illusion that tricks us into thinking it is real (and as a result, we suffer), you must free us!” But as ... Read More

How to Find a Spiritual Relationship and Partner

How Do Yogis Consciously Leave Their Bodies?

Dear Peter, To leave one’s body consciously one most have learned the art of consciously stopping the breath. The breath is the cord that binds the soul to the body. Breathlessness is learned by avanced pranayama techniques such as Kriya ... Read More

Weathering the Storm

How to Control Subconscious Impulses and Outbursts

Dear Carolyn, In the human mind there exists a large reservoir, a giant lake, wherein is hidden impressions, memories, the trace residue of countless impressions caused by one’s actions, emotions, thoughts and sense impressions. Compared to it, the conscious mind ... Read More

How Relationships Help Us to Grow – Even the Hard Ones

How to dissolve the ego

Dissolving the Ego

Experience Oneness With Creation

“Master, I Have Come!”

Enjoy Your Self

Om-Spirit-Bliss

The Nadi reader in Bangalore, India. The photo in the upper left corner is his father who trained him in giving readings.

Guru Seva

Paramhansa Yogananda said to those who think me near, I will be near.

I Wish I Had Met You

Rainbow reflecting the various colors of vibration in light and sound

The AUM Vibration

Ananda Assisi temple with friends from all over the world, Dhyana, Devi, Anandi, Dharmadas and Nirmala

Investment Tips

What Is the Difference Between Meditation and Prayer?

What is the Difference Between Contentment and Satisfaction?

What is a Soul?

How Are We Affected By Diet?


Featured

Upcoming Events

Ananda Village Internship 2020

JUNE 1, 2020 - OCTOBER 1, 2020
IMG-20190710-WA0003

Are you interested in having a transformative summer experience of spiritual growth, selfless service, community living, self-discovery and adventure?

Swami Kriyananda says that “Cooperative communities are a highly practical solution for everyone seeking true meaning in life.”

Come join the Ananda Village Internship Program 2020 and experience what it is like to live the teachings!

Path to becoming an Intern

March 9: The Conscious Passing of Sri Yukteswar, Incarnation of Wisdom

On March 9, Sri Yukteswar left his body in a mahasamadhi — a great yogi’s experience of union with God at the time of death.

Paramhansa Yogananda recounts the last days of his guru, and Sri Yukteswar’s premonition of his own death, in this excerpt from Autobiography of a Yogi.

Read the full story

Yogananda 100

A Century of Spiritual Awakening

Celebrating 100 Years of Yogananda’s world mission uniting East and West. Learn more.

Next Major Event

March 7: Yogananda Fest in Los Angeles — attend online or in person

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.

Donate Now