“Honey…David…wake up! Swami passed – he died tonight!” The words melded themselves into my dreaming consciousness, challenging my sleeping brain to accept the shocking news. Rising quickly out of bed, I honestly couldn’t tell if I was still in a dream or in some kind of altered reality. The clock read 12-midnight, and I closed my eyes and felt the … Read More
In addition to instructing teenage dancers in Ananda Yoga (Yoga for Teens Part 1), I also had the opportunity at Langley Fine Arts School to teach a group of beginners, grades 10 & 11, from a Western Civilizations Class who were already familiar with studying different cultures, religions, and spiritual paths. Because Ananda Yoga is richly filled with deep spiritual … Read More
Swami Kriyananda, the founder of Ananda and of Ananda Yoga, was a wellspring of wisdom and inspiration for teachers of any subject. His teaching style balanced deep insights with common sense, and inspiration with practicality—all delivered with delightful humor. I am endlessly grateful to him—and he in turn always gave credit to his guru, Paramhansa Yogananda. He even said, “Ananda … Read More
Swami Kriyananda’s Last Will, Testament, and Legacy states: “My spiritual successor shall be John E. Novak (generally known by his spiritual name, Jyotish).” Nayaswami Jyotish became a student of Swami Kriyananda in 1967 in San Francisco, California and soon after began assisting him in a variety of ways, including teaching meditation classes in San Francisco. Working closely with Kriyananda, Jyotish … Read More
It was the Tuesday after Swamiji’s passing and David Eby had organized an evening at Crystal Hermitage for singing and meditation. We gathered around the tulips, which were in full bloom, and sang in gratitude to Swamiji, God’s instrument to bring us such a wealth of inspirational resources. There was a beautiful energy flowing and some peculiar things were happening … Read More
I recently had the privilege of teaching Ananda Yoga and meditation to teenagers at my old high school in Fort Langley, BC— a private school uniquely designed where students major in one of the arts (Dance, Drama, Music, Writing, Photography, or Visual Arts)—and focus on that area of interest from grade 8 through 12. During my own years at Langley … Read More
Unlike the 1960s when many young people were drawn to Eastern teachers, few came to live in Yogananda’s monastery. And relatively few stayed. It was a life of long, daily meditation and service to others. But Walters blossomed. He had a natural capacity for long meditation, a deep mind, and an openness to learning. Yogananda knew one of his own … Read More
He was a young man of considerable intellect and a burning desire for truth that isolated him from most of his peers at the time. It was 1948, and life in post-WWII America was a desperate scramble for normalcy. Millions of young people were seeking home, family, and career—anything that could sooth the horrors of war and the insecurity of … Read More
To all my dear Ananda Friends, I know how much all of you must be grieving for your beloved Master but if its any consolation to you I just wanted you all to know that he passed away at a most auspicious time. The year is in Uttarayanam – the northward journey of the sun which is the auspicious time … Read More
As you probably know, Swami Kriyananda, the founder of Ananda, recently passed away. Since that fateful night, I have felt drawn to re-read some of Swami’s books. One in particular, Paramhansa Yogananda: A Biography, stood out to me. As I went over all those touching, charming stories, I reflected on my own relationship with Yogananda as my guru, and what … Read More
