This is addressed to my past self of December, 2004, just after I decided to move to Ananda Village.
A Place Called Ananda, Spiritual Community, Spiritual Growth
A Place Called Ananda, Spiritual Community, Spiritual Growth
Day by Day
These are thoughts of daily life are from over a year ago — I’m just now sharing them! This is an experiment, and I’d be glad to know what you think of this format in the comments. February 3, The Joyful Arts Center Right now I’m standing in the auditorium of the Joyful Arts Center, a 60+ foot high work-in-progress … Read More
A Place Called Ananda, Divine Love
The Prayer of Discipleship
Yogananda was a very playful soul at a young age. There’s a story of the time he used yogic techniques to play dead, fooling his entire family and household, and there are many others — but one stands out as a fascinating example of the relationship between the Guru and the disciple. The Guru is God in a body. Yogananda … Read More
A Place Called Ananda, Spiritual Growth
It’s Never Too Late
Wherever we are, no matter how bad our life might look, we can take a step forward. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done, what we forgot to do, or what other people think of us — our choice is basically the same: to go forward. At a Sunday Service several years ago I heard a story that was deeply moving … Read More
A Place Called Ananda, Spiritual Community
“I Will” – A Tribute to Nayaswami Maria
A shining light has passed out of this world, and into another. It’s joyful and sad at the same time. Maria and I worked together for the last five years, I supporting her role as the webmaster for Ananda.org and other Ananda Worldwide sites. What little I can share in words to tell you what she was like, I’ll try … Read More
A Place Called Ananda, Spiritual Community
Behind the Scenes of the “Rescuing Yogananda” Website
Several days before the release of Rescuing Yogananda, a friend emailed me a copy. I read the book through that same evening.
It was… well, the book was not like any other book that Swami Kriyananda has written. I didn’t know what to make of it. Initially, I felt uneasy.
A Place Called Ananda, Travel and Pilgrimage
The Trip to Los Angeles
This blog is a semi-live account of the Ananda Village monks’ trip to Los Angeles three weeks ago, on August 22nd, to hear Swami Kriyananda talk at a packed Ford Amphitheater.
It’s “semi-live” because I wrote the first half at about 2:30 pm. After that, I was writing more or less as-it-happens.
I hope you enjoy it.
A Place Called Ananda, Spiritual Growth
Are We Ready for This?
Yesterday was an interesting day. The morning at work began fine, outwardly, but my heart and mind were not in the right place. This showed up in a lack of kindness to some of my co-workers. In the afternoon, this lack of harmony, as if reflecting itself in the world around me, began to express itself: we found out that … Read More
A Place Called Ananda, Meditation
My First Three Months of Meditation
Seven years ago, unexpectedly, I woke up one morning with a strong desire to meditate. I’d thought meditation was a good idea for some time — but meditation was something that other people did. I’d tried it and it hadn’t worked out. But, here was this new feeling: “I must find God!” I struggled on my own for a month … Read More
A Place Called Ananda, Divine Love, Spiritual Community
Much More is Needed
After Yogananda told Nayaswami Kriyananda that his life’s work was “writing, editing, and lecturing,” Kriyananda asked, “But Sir, haven’t you already written everything that is necessary?” Yogananda looked shocked. “Don’t say that,” he replied. “Much more is needed.” Since then, Nayaswami Kriyananda has gone on to write almost 100 books. And even so, I doubt he has covered even a … Read More
