What Are Spiritual Communities?

Spiritual communities are a place where people live together in the spirit of cooperation and friendship, dedicated toward a common goal. They invite spirituality into all areas of daily life, whether at school, work, or in the home. And at the core of spiritual living are central spiritual practices like yoga and meditation, as well as dedication to high-minded values such as kindness, respect, and simple living.

You can visit us and experience spiritual community for yourself.

Cooperative communities are a highly practical solution for everyone seeking true meaning in life. I say this from many years of experience, and after observing countless educated, intelligent, aware individuals in the conduct of their lives. With this ideal, I do indeed see hope — I say this with conviction — a better, happier, more peaceful world! Swami Kriyananda, Hope for a Better World

Ananda’s Residential Communities

From his youth, Ananda’s founder, Swami Kriyananda had dreamed of creating small communities based on cooperation and high ideals. When he became Yogananda’s disciple in 1948, he discovered that Yogananda, too, was committed to the concept of “World Brotherhood Colonies.”

Yogananda taught that what the world needs is a blend of the best qualities of the East and West: the spiritual insight of the East and the practical efficiency of the West.

One without the other leads to a society barren of human fulfillment, but a balance of the two can bring peace, harmony, prosperity, and happiness. Yogananda often predicted that world brotherhood colonies, based on the twin principles of “plain living and high thinking,” would be the social pattern for the future. Kriyananda vowed to do his utmost to make this dream a reality.

Below is a list of all the current Ananda communities. Ananda also has teaching centers, retreats, and meditation groups. Find Ananda Near You

Ananda Village

In 1969, Swami Kriyananda began the fulfillment of Yogananda’s vision with the establishment of Ananda Village. Ananda Village is situated on 900 acres amidst the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in northern California. Today, over 200 people reside here, including adults and children of all ages.

Ananda Village is also the headquarters for Ananda Sangha Worldwide and home to The Expanding Light retreat center. The Ananda Meditation Retreat, is located about 5 miles away.

Ananda Sacramento

Ananda Sacramento was established in 1977. It was the first community to be started after Ananda Village. Although the location moved several times, it is now it is a thriving urban community with a 48 unit apartment complex and a separate teaching center.

Ananda Palo Alto

The Ananda Palo Alto community is located in an apartment complex in Mountain View, California. Nayaswami Asha and David run the community along with a team of long-time devotees and meditators. Nayaswami Asha also travels extensively giving workshops and retreats all over the world.

Ananda Palo Alto’s teaching center is one of the oldest and largest centers for meditation in the Bay Area, and has trained thousands of students over the past 40 years. They offer classes year round and hold weekly Sunday Services.

Ananda Portland

The Ananda Portland Community is located in Vermont Hills in southwest Portland,
about ten minutes from the Temple and Teaching Center in Beaverton, Oregon.
The community is a fifty unit apartment complex on five beautiful acres next to a wetlands preserve, shared by residents who aspire to a life centered in spirit.

Ananda Seattle

Ananda Seattle consists of an urban community in an apartment complex, teaching center and temple, bookshop, school, and farm. It offers many courses including yoga teacher training and meditation teacher training, as well as Sunday Service.

Ananda Assisi, Italy

Ananda Europa was founded in Italy in 1983 and has been flourishing at its present location in the beautiful Umbrian hills near Assisi since 1986. There are about eighty residents at Ananda Assisi, some living within the community and others, including families and children, in homes nearby.

This Ananda community is also a retreat and offers many programs, including a residential karma yoga program, where guests can live and serve with community residents.

Ananda Delhi, India

The Ananda Delhi community is in a beautiful home run by spiritual directors Keshava, Daya, and Nayaswami Jaya. They also have a large teaching center with many classrooms and meditation rooms, and hold regular programs and events.

 

 

Experience Spiritual Community Living

Learn, Serve & Grow Spiritually at Expanding Light Retreat
In the Karma Yoga Ashram Program, you will get to serve in an uplifted spiritual environment at the Expanding Light Retreat with fellow truth seekers. In addition to reaping the benefits of joyful service, karma yogis can participate in sadhanas, spiritual classes and put to practice yogic principles.
Find your Inner Silence at Ananda Meditation Retreat
Located in the beautiful sierra foothills, Ananda Meditation Retreat offers you an opportunity to find yourself through joyful service in a peaceful, idyllic setting. In exchange for meals, lodging, and yoga classes, Seva Yogis serve 20-30 hours per week at the retreat.
Experience Spiritual Community at Ananda Village

A Program Especially for Ages 18 to 35!
Participate in service projects, and apply your skills–or learn new ones–in agriculture, community building, serving in the kitchen, and more. Study, practice and serve, surrounded by spiritually supportive friends. Learn Paramhansa Yogananda’s effective techniques for expanding your sense of self, such as meditation, Kriya yoga, spiritual Hatha Yoga, and divine friendship.

Find your Inner Silence at Ananda Meditation Retreat
Ananda Europa in Assisi, Italy offers a two-level karma yoga program for those who want to experience what it is like living in an Ananda community and following it’s path of service and meditation. The program’s focus on the practice of karma yoga, “dedicating your daily work, including thoughts and activities, as a spiritual offering to the Divine,” demonstrates that it is not so important what you do, but how you do it. In fact, any work can be of spiritual benefit, bringing us personal growth and joy, if it’s done with the right attitude.