I was frustrated. A friend who’s a nutritionist had told me about two separate dietary systems, each of which appeared to be valid, yet they appeared to be in conflict. I wanted to enjoy the benefits of both, but I couldn’t imagine how to combine them. I went for a run and silently shared my frustration with God. Shy of … Read More
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
I was very inspired by Nayaswami Savitri’s talk for Inner Renewal week 2011, at Ananda Village, California. In it, she spoke of how important it is to live just outside of ones comfort zone; to push the boundaries of limitation just that bit further with each new experience. Since my husband and I made the monumental decision to move out … Read More
“…and I will enter, and take charge of your life.” These words, taken from the Purification Ceremony, can be liberating to our souls, but extremely threatening to our egos. Let’s face it – opening our heart to anyone, let alone ourselves, can be a very risky business. In my Junior year at college, I was confused as to my future … Read More
How can we love? I’m grateful to Swami Kriyananda for helping me deepen my understanding of this essential point of the spiritual path. For years, after I moved to Ananda in 1976, I felt painfully self-conscious at group gatherings. I wanted to fit in, but I didn’t know how. The place where I felt most uncomfortable was at “Swamiji’s” – … Read More
I had two titles in my mind for this blog post. The second one was to be something like, Riding the Wave with Yogananda. I went on a pilgrimage this past weekend to sites in the Los Angeles area made sacred by Paramhansa Yogananda. In some ways it was a very fast paced weekend trying to fit in visits to … Read More
If you listen to any of Swami Kriyananda’s talks or interviews, or have the blessing of being with him during his classes, you may have the same experience I do – an incredibly sweet upliftment of consciousness and expansion of the heart’s sympathies. I’m deeply touched to witness the compassion and kindness and wisdom I see expressed. But I realize … Read More
Often we remember GOD and GURU when are in trouble and many of us must have experienced during that tough time divine help as well as protection and guidance. But when I cultivated a habit of not forgetting master in everything I do he became like a living legend for me. Now…
Last week, Ananda Village and many fellow gurubais from as far away as the East Coast, and even via the internet, took time to go deep in spirit. This was our third annual Inner Renewal Week and it was hosted by The Expanding Light. Jyotish and Devi Novak came up from Los Angeles to share deep insights, laughs and spiritual … Read More
This month I wanted to give my best possible testimony to our awesome market here, which serves as an integral hub of our “downtown” activity. In this time of economic hardship, the market is struggling to make ends meet. Hearing this, we decided to try an experiment: make Master’s Market our first place to shop. After keeping track of how … Read More
