A Place Called Ananda, Music and the Arts

Become a Singing Spiritual Superhero

You have a self-realization superpower. The world is in dire need of spiritual superheroes, and Ananda Music is a key to unlocking your hidden abilities. Paramhansa Yogananda writes in Cosmic Chants that: Sound, or vibration, is the most powerful force in the universe, and music is a divine art, to be used not for pleasure but as a path to God-realization. Vibrations resulting from … Read More

A Place Called Ananda, Music and the Arts, Spiritual Community

Wishing You a Noble New Year

Fireworks were already booming from the surrounding neighborhoods as we entered the Portland community chapel last night for our New Year’s Eve ceremony. It was a blessed evening complete with purification ceremony, 108 repetitions of the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra and a deep meditation til midnight.  I was struck by the simple yet powerful contrast of the fireworks and my inner experience: the big loud outward … Read More

A Place Called Ananda, Music and the Arts, Spiritual Community, Spiritual Growth

The Light and the Bushel

Many of you are probably like me—you’ve got an average singing voice though nothing that’s going to win you a Grammy. So does that stop you from thinking that you have anything to offer? Years ago I found myself in the position to sing a solo in front of Swami Kriyananda. After I sang Swami Kriyananda remarked, “David, why have … Read More

A Place Called Ananda, Music and the Arts

Also Starring God (as Himself)

Last weekend marked the culmination of an extraordinary year as over 700 people filled the Del Oro Theater in Grass Valley, California to watch the debut screening of the film Finding Happiness. I had the great honor to be part of the cast and also produce the soundtrack for this exquisite film by director Ted Nicolaou which was based on … Read More