A few years ago a friend and I were traveling around Europe. One afternoon, we found ourselves lost somewhere in the French countryside. We had taken the metro to the end of the line and started walking, searching for our accommodations but ending up in a grassy field with few cars or people in sight. It was late afternoon, and … Read More
Pipe Down and Crack On
Ben and Tarka have just walked 900 miles to the South Pole. Now, they walk back. But let’s back up a bit. It all started when friends Koral and Suzanne Ilgun took a recent trip to Antarctica, sharing photos like this: Later, Koral mentioned a blog he’d been following by 2 British adventurers who are walking 1800 miles in Antarctica, … Read More
The Golden Temple of Amritsar
Originally written October 27, 2010. It takes less than six hours by train to travel the 450 kilometers northwest from Delhi to Amritsar in the state of Punjab. Gazing out the window at the passing landscape, it’s easy to see why this region has long been considered the “breadbasket” of India, tempting waves of invaders through the ages. Nature has … Read More
Going on Pilgrimage Everyday
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
Yogananda’s Flow of Divine Grace
Dear friends, On September 18th in Boston, 45 to 50 souls celebrated the 90th Anniversary of Paramhansa Yogananda’s arrival in Boston from India. Nayaswami Devarshi and Maria from Ananda Village shared this memorable weekend with us. My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to Yogananda for the great gifts of Divine awakening he brought to us through his grace, … Read More
Guru Night in Portland
Guru night is a devotional event that takes place annually at summer’s end. Ananda Portland has the tradition of having the festivities outside, and despite our reputation for rain, there has been only one Guru Night that had to be moved due to the weather. It is a night of pilgrimage; a rare opportunity to visit holy shrines dedicated to … Read More
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.
Living Discipleship
Lorna with the fellow trainees Once we are sincerely seeking God, and the longing for truth becomes stronger than the call of the material world, God sends a guru. When we feel that we can give our life to the spiritual path and the guidance of the guru, we become a disciple. When we become a disciple, life may change … Read More
My First Visit to Ananda Village
It has been several years since I made that first trip from Los Angeles to Ananda Village, but the experience stands out in my memory for several reasons. I still remember clearly the morning I stepped into the reception area of the Expanding Light Retreat. I don’t remember being ever greeted by strangers anywhere so lovingly, so warmly before. I … Read More
Yogananda’s “Higher Mathematics”
Often I tell Kriya Yogis, particularly those who are math-challenged, that there are only two ‘mathematical equations’ one needs to memorize in order to achieve success on the path of Kriya. The first I mentioned in my blog post “Kriya Yoga Plus Devotion Works Like Mathematics” The other equation is this: “Twenty-five percent of spiritual success comes by the devotee’s … Read More