Nayaswami Jyotish and Nayaswami Devi are accompanying Swami Kriyananda in Los Angeles, where he and the Ananda team launch the new expansion of our work.
This is the latest in their ongoing Ananda LA blog series — also see Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
Dear Friends,
Everything here in Los Angeles continues to move forward in exciting ways for Swamiji and Ananda. (By the way, quite by chance, we discovered that the origin of “La-la land” was LA. That speaks for itself.)
We’re experiencing a steady stream of people coming to see Swamiji — some old friends, and some new ones to help him in our work here. Last week, Anand (Anil’s son) stopped by for a visit. (See photo.) [Editor’s note: Anil is a long-time friend — many Ananda devotees on pilgrimage have stayed at his guest house in Rishikesh, north of Delhi.] He’s staying in Los Angeles temporarily, but his main focus now is building a yoga retreat on some property north of Rishikesh.
A few days later Swamiji had a lovely visit with a distant relative of Master’s, Sujon Datta, whose father’s grandmother was Master’s sister, Roma. (See photo.) Sujon is a radiant soul and a healer, and he did some very beneficial healing work for Swamiji.
We’ve also had interviews with three different publicists that Sean picked for us to choose one from. Our choice was a lovely woman, Jackie Lapin, who has herself written books on raising consciousness, and who should do a very effective job of representing Swamiji.
Finally, Swamiji had a great meeting with the production team for the film about Master’s life, The Wayshower. (See photo.) We’ll share some exciting news from them very soon.
On Sunday, September 19, Swamiji had his first satsang at the Regency Showcase Theater. Although we had no idea how many people would come for a Sunday morning satsang (11:00 am – 12:30 pm), we were pleasantly surprised when 225 attended. We hope to keep increasing the numbers until we can fill the 800 seats.
At the satsang, our Ananda LA choir sang beautifully, and Swamiji gave a wonderful talk and answered questions from the audience.
Last week there were a few glitches with very poor lighting and a high, difficult to access stage, but the Ananda LA team has been ironing out the wrinkles all week. We’ve purchased a small, lower, portable stage and better lighting, so this week’s satsang went beautifully.
Amidst all this, Swamiji has finished a screenplay based on his children’s book, The Time Tunnel.
Finally, Jyotish and I started our first six-week Raja Yoga course this week in Torrance, and had a great turnout of 35 students. (See photo.) Paul Fetler, an Ananda LA yoga teacher, led the students in the hatha yoga from 6:00 – 7:30 pm, followed by our class on yoga philosophy from 7:30 – 9:00 pm.
Turiya and Ashleigh Moore (see photo) have done a wonderful job of building the Torrance center for about nine years. Now they’re moving up to the Village for a period of time, and will be missed here.
On Monday, we need to return to Ananda Village for a week to take care of some things, so we’ll write again after we return to Los Angeles, or, as Master called it, “the Benares of America.”
With love and joy in God,
Nayaswami Jyotish and Nayaswami Devi
28 Comments
Thank You
Thank you, Great Souls. So good to hear from you.
Our love to Swamiji and to all of you.
byasa and janakidevi
I have watched Kriyananda’s comings and goings from the sidelines for 35 years, and he commands all my respect. He answers for his mistakes, calls a spade a spade, and demeans no one. I can’t believe how well Ananda hung in there all these years, through thick and thin, and none are mindless groupies.
No other ashram in America could compare with Ananda meditations. Pure and distinct.
Thank you for releasing the truth. I for one would most likely not have known of Yogananda if it I did not have contact with Ananda.
Your teachings, music, books and communities have brought many souls like myself to the wonderful truths taught by Yogananda, so I thank you again. It is hard to understand why certain people have made it so difficult for you to spread the teachings of Yogananda. The question “why” is often not answered, so I will not focus on it, but instead I will continue to be thankfull that NOW is the time for the truth to be released in a movie. This I want to see.
In Gratitude & Love, Joanne Joy Thomas
I so look forward to your blogs. I love that you share with us the current happenings with Swamiji and Ananda LA. Thank you. Many blessings to you both, Nancy
Thank you for sharing all the good news with us , your joy is contagious.I hope many more people will catch it in Los Angeles !
And many thanks to Swamiji for bringing the well needed fresh air .
With love !
Eva
Thank you for keeping us updated on all the wonderful and inspiring work being done. Bless you!
Thank you for the update and your loving attention to Swamiji. Wonderful to hear of Sujon Datta’s visit. We also appreciate the online videos and books. They keep us connected to Ananda’s energy! Jai Guru
Thank You for the updates on the work in LA. Your efforts are so very much appreciated and we send forth love and blessings to all!
Cheryl
Those souls on the path, in some instances for many years, develop individual attunement in the music, arts, and writing, by continued devotion to God and Guru. As people are more important than an organization, it perhaps is worthy of consideration for Ananda organizationally, at this juncture, to examine if and how to enhance its commerce, and inclusiveness, in widening its publication, recording, internet outreach to include devoted Ananda members in support of our worldwide Ananda community and those we serve.
Injoy,
eric richardson kriyaban
just a note to send you my Love and Blessings, from Las Vegas!
You are on my mind, and in my meditations…..God and Gurus continue to bless you Jyotish and Devi…you are very dear to me.
Give my Love and Devotion to our Swamiji…..Aum
In our One Beloved,
Brindey
Thank you for this very worthwhile communication. I gained much from reading it and my respect for Swami Kriyananda grew through considering all that was said.
Love to you all and may you continue to be blessed in your work!
Love,
Vonda
can we change the consciousness of the planet?
Dear Jyotish and Devi,
Thank you for your updates on the web and also on the new satsang recording. Our love and blessings to your team in LA and the next step in Anannda history.
The Hollimans