In The New Path, Swami Kriyananda writes: “I once had an interesting dream; indeed, it seemed to me more than a dream. I saw myself in another life, deeply devoted to a particular friend. He took advantage of my love for him, and treated me with an unkindness that fluctuated between condescension and outright contempt. In time, there arose in … Read More
During our first visit to Brindaban, we were told not to wear sunglasses. When we asked why, our guide explained that the monkeys might steal them. Recently we heard about this phenomenon in much greater detail from a friend who lives in that holy city. I’m not sure that I should share the sordid and disturbing details with such refined … Read More
Dear Friends, What a wonderful time in India this has been! It’s thrilling to see how each time we return, Ananda’s work, its leaders, new teachers, Kriyabans and devotees, centers, and all aspects have expanded and grown in size and attunement with Master and Swamiji. We landed running in Delhi with a lunch the day we arrived, hosted by Sri … Read More
There is a beautiful story about a devotee (let’s call him “Ramdas”) whose heart was pure, guileless, and filled with devotion for God. Every morning at the end of his meditation, he would pray, “Lord, whenever You call me to forsake this world, at that moment I will come.” Though God never called, Ramdas still offered this heartfelt prayer daily. … Read More
We have just finished an uplifting “Inner Renewal Week,” which we do annually in February at Ananda Village. In preparing for these classes, a formula for success clarified for me. These are not so much new ideas as they are a clear and simple presentation of them. You will achieve success in everything you do you when you apply this … Read More
“The Master would occasionally take some of us to the movies to get away from all the demands on his time,” a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda once told us. “Then, in the middle of the most exciting parts, he would tap us on the shoulder, point upward to the beam of light coming from the projection booth, and say, … Read More
Stories are great teachers. They involve the listener emotionally, and stick in the mind much better than mere concepts. For example, we all know that that we should think of others and not only ourselves. But the principle comes alive when packaged in a good story. Here is that same teaching delivered by Krishna and Arjuna. Krishna and Arjuna were … Read More
“I’m feeling so discouraged and anxious when I look at everything that’s happening in the world today,” a friend recently wrote us. It’s hard not to respond in this way when we see violence and hatred running rampant across the globe. But spiritual teachings are not just pleasant sentiments that we dust off and display on a sunny afternoon. They … Read More
Dear Friends, During the years that Swamiji was with Master, he often heard him speak with great power and intensity about impending world disasters. As we know, Swamiji took this to heart, and it was one of the prime motivators for him in creating communities and urging us to organize emergency preparation. At this point, we’ve made such preparations throughout … Read More
Many years ago I saw a bumper sticker that said, “Visualize Whirled Peas.” I’m afraid that this image, humorous though it was, is truer today than the actuality of world peace. We seem to be whirling around, splintered into frenetic factions.
Today is January 5, 2016—the anniversary of Paramhansa Yogananda’s birth. There are numbers that convey some of the historical significance of his life: 123 years since he was born; 100 years since he created the Energization Exercises for recharging the body with energy; 70 years since his spiritual classic, Autobiography of a Yogi, was published; and, in 2020, 100 years … Read More
There was a full moon this year on Christmas Eve, a relatively rare event that last took place 38 years ago. The full moon occurs, of course, when the entire surface reflects the light of the sun back to the earth. As the moon makes its monthly revolution around the earth, it passes through all its various phases, from the … Read More
It is a great blessing to live at Ananda Village, where its members have chosen lives of simplicity, selflessness, and dedication to God. At Christmastime, we often give each other little gifts that remind us of our shared devotion and that inspire us to seek God more deeply. This year two friends gave to everyone copies of a letter that … Read More
You must go so deep within the great silence that you feel the one life which pervades all creation. Then you will find the Christ Presence. —Paramhansa Yogananda We invite all of you to take a vow this Christmas season: I will prepare for the coming of the Omnipresent baby Christ by cleaning the cradle of my consciousness . . … Read More
We have a tradition at Ananda called World Brotherhood Day. Each year we gather together in a celebration in order to make the first gift of the Christmas season. We suggest that people give one day’s income to help spread the light of the Christ consciousness throughout the world. Paramhansa Yogananda explained that the Christ consciousness (in India it is … Read More
Our recent time in India was life changing in many ways. Over time we’ll be sharing with you some of our experiences there, but one of the inner transformations that occurred for which we are very grateful is a strong desire for longer, deeper meditations. This grace began during our seclusion in the Himalayas, and has continued upon our return … Read More
What an amazing day! Six of us were in Pench Tiger Reserve with Satya Prakash, a friend and gurubhai, and a very high official in the Indian Forest Service. He is one of the world’s top experts in preserving tigers. India has taken a lead in this area and is helping some eighteen other countries that have tigers still living … Read More
“I really didn’t want to come on this trip, because I like to be alone and not around a lot of people, but a friend convinced me to go, so here I am,” said the slightly embarrassed young man. It was a strange comment to make, and one that stood out in contrast to what others were saying at the … Read More
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to practice gratitude to God. Take the time to thank God for everything: review your life with gratitude for absolutely everything that has happened and been given to you. Also, be thankful for that which has been taken away from you, as an expression of Divine Love meant to free you from ego consciousness. —Nayaswami Jyotish Enter into this … Read More
As Devi and I took our morning walk through the countryside near our rural Pune Ashram, we were met with a scene that has changed little in the last thousand years. Crops have just been harvested, and the farmers are plowing their small fields with wooden plows pulled by bullocks. They wave as we pass, and we somehow bridge the … Read More