Blessings and greetings from Southern California. We are currently on the road (Hwy 99) on our way back to Ananda Village. We are basking in the glow of the wonderful weekend spent in the LA area with our divine friends and Swami Kriyananda.

There is so much to share. The talks Swamiji gave will be online soon. I encourage you to listen to them. They are different than some he has given recently. He answered questions from the audience. The questions asked were so deep and sincere and in turn the answers were very deep and sincere. Swamji spoke of very profound subjects, some very serious, but beneath it all was his bliss in Master that he shared generously with all of us.

There is hope and comfort in this path and Swamiji is such a beautiful channel of the divine light brought by our guru, Paramhansa Yogananda. You will feel Swamiji’s attunement with Master in every word and gesture.

I want to thank all the great souls in the LA family (the Torrence Center and the Santa Monica center) for hosting these amazing events.

I was mostly in the Santa Monica area where our hotel was located and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to walk a few blocks to a fantastic beach and walk long the bike path near the ocean. It was really a change from Ananda Village!

The weekend began on Friday with a fundraising event for Ananda LA hosted by one of our Ananda family who lives in Los Angeles. The garden was transformed into a haven of peace; with lights, comfortable seating, delicious food, beautiful flowers, excellent weather, wonderful satsang and Swamiji’s presence.

The evening began very casually with Swamiji greeting and mingling with the guests. The guests included people from all of the Ananda colonies on the west coast, our beautiful LA family, and many new and old friends. I had a great time taking some photos but I most enjoyed visiting with people.

Later, people were seated and we were entertained by the Ananda singers, Krishadas and Mantradevi introduced Swamiji who spoke and then sang with the choir. The evening ended with a fire ceremony.

I know everyone was grateful (I sure was) for the loving energy that went into making this a special event for all of us in attendance.

Saturday was a public lecture in a lovely conference room in Los Angeles. It was very well attended and the audience was very receptive. The choir sang, Swamiji spoke on the topic of success and then sang again with the choir. Questions raised by the audience were lovingly answered. People lingered for a long time afterward to visit.

Sunday was a real treat. It was my first time at the Santa Monica center—and it is worth a visit if you have never been there. It is on the 2nd floor in a building on Main Street. It has been very beautifully decorated and is very welcoming and calm. The calmness remained even though the placed was packed with people of all ages who wanted to hear Swami Kriyananda. I stood on a chair to get photos of the event!

Swamiji began talking of hard times to come. A serious subject indeed. He talked of the importance of searching for God as the only true solution and solace in hard times and of the need for community to help survive the difficulties in the physical world and to support our inner life. He invited questions. Again, the questions were so thoughtful, relevant to our times and sincere. They were answered with a such depth of understanding that I was in awe. The day was charged with spiritual energy and joy!

When asked what Swamiji felt about the vibration of Los Angeles, Swamiji stated: “Yogananda felt Los Angeles, despite all the busy-ness is very spiritual, that Los Angeles is the Benares of America. “I (Swami) can feel it when I get off the plane, there is something very spiritual here. You see it the interests that people have. I think this is where the spiritual center is in America. You (the audience) have a mission to fulfill for yourselves and for many other people.”

In a former age this was a very high area. There will be more and more spiritual energy in Los Angeles and I would like to see you all help bring about this resurgence of spirituality.”

THANK YOU to all you dear souls who attended the various events. You were very much a part of the magic of this very beautiful weekend of events with Swamiji. There is light in this world—I saw it in your eyes. After driving in the Southern California traffic I have a deep appreciation for your dedication and devotion to make the trip to the various events—some of my friends drove 80 miles to see Swami and be with us!

I have been on the road for twelve days and look forward to being back at the village, but being with Ananda family anywhere feels like home.

Bless you all!! There are a few more photos of the weekend, if you would like to see them click here.

PS. I am home now. It felt good to drive into the village and my own driveway. But I carry the joy of the two special weekends with me. Dave and I both feel changed by our experiences and time with Swamiji and our dear gurubhais in Palo Alto and Los Angeles.

I have to send my camera in to the shop to get a tune up! After 30,000 photos it needs some adjustments. I have to admit to feeling mildly apprehensive about letting it go. I hope to have it back in time for Spiritual Renewal Week!

It sounds as if The Expanding Light is expecting a very large turnout for this event. Many great things are planned including talks by Swamiji, and our other great speakers from around the world, Swami’s play “The Peace Treaty” and an Indian banquet.

I hope to see you there!

All the shining souls in our Ananda family from the Palo Alto area deserve a standing ovation for their tireless and joyful hosting of 3 days of wonderful events.

It was truly inspiring to see our dear friends in action and share in these amazing events. Instead of looking and tired and relieved to have survived all these events everyone looked energized and ready for more.

Here is a short re-cap: Friday was the incredible presentation of Christ Lives - an oratorio composed by Swami Kriyananda and performed by Swamiji and a 92 person World Brotherhood choir. The singers have grown in their skills and shared this sacred music with great devotion and feeling. Dave is working on uploading some selections for you to enjoy.

Saturday was a moving talk by Swamiji about how to find true happiness in this world. He said that this is an unsettled world and very likely to become more so, but that a deep attunement with God and Guru and a very clear connection to our divine center will bring us unshakable peace. It is the only place way we will find lasting joy. We will not find it in things, people, or circumstance—we will only find it in God.

Sunday the Palo Alto community hosted a lovely open house to celebrate Swamiji and Ananda’s 40th anniversary. It was very well attended—500 people at least. About 150-170 new people went on tours of the community. Everyone enjoyed yummy food and beverages, great company—it was very much like a reunion—and another great talk by Swamiji. Click here if you would like to listen to the talks.

There were also booths so people visiting could find out about the different aspects of Ananda’s work. There was a booth devoted to Ananda Music, Ananda schools, Community, Crystal Clarity publishing. There was a booth that shared information about Kriya Yoga and The Expanding Light Retreat. It was fun and colorful. The photos I am sharing with you are a hodge-podge from the day.

In this talk, Swamiji encouraged us to never give up our quest for the Divine and never identify with our mistakes. To our best ability we want to make right changes and choices in our life; choices that support our inner growth and spirituality, but never be discouraged if we temporarily falter. He said that spiritual community is very helpful to us on the path. And being connected with others on the path helps when things get difficult. I think of all our meditation groups and people who listen to Sunday Service and Swamiji’s talks on the web feel a connection through the air waves.

Swamiji walked through the gathering of people both before and after the talk. He gave people such wonderful energy. Everyone around looked radiant and so did he. People gathered around him for blessing and he seemed to have something sweet to say to everyone.

Right now I am in Los Angeles preparing for Swamiji’s visit here. There is a fundraising event Friday, Saturday there is a talk and Sunday an open house at the LA Center. God willing I will have photos for you!

For more photos from the Palo Alto events click here.

Blessings to you all.

Finding Peace in an Unsettled world was the title of the talk Swamiji gave at the Center for Performing Arts in San Jose, Ca. The talk was very well attended, at least a 1000 people were there. The talk is on the web for you to listen to.

Today is the open house at the Palo Alto community, I will be heading over there shortly. I wanted to post these photos for you and if you would like to see a few more click here.

Bless you all!!

Venue for Swami Kriyananda

Swamiji on stage at Center for Performing Arts

Swamiji onstage at Center for Performing Arts

Swamiji on stage, singing Peace with the choir at the end of the talk

Swamiji on stage singing Peace

Swamiji received a standing ovation

Last night, July 18, a beautiful event took place in Palo Alto, California. As part of Ananda’s 40th Anniversary celebrations the Oratorio “Christ Lives” was performed. This was a special performance in that Swami Kriyananda sang many of his divinely inspired songs. The collection of songs depicts the mystic life and teachings of Christ.

Swamiji introduced the Oratorio by saying that he had received this music after visiting and meditating in the Holy Land. Whenever I hear this music I find myself wondering again - who is this man who can channel songs of such depth and devotion?

I feel that I have an opportunity to commune with Christ when I listen to this music.

The music was even more powerful last night. The combination of a huge and talented choir, exceptional soloists and Swamiji’s presence resulted in an evening of music that was extremely uplifting and joyful.

This will be a weekend filled with special events and happy reunions with Ananda friends from around the world. I am posting some photos for you - with more to come soon. Click here to see more photos!

Bless you all from Palo Alto!
Love,
Barbara

I was sitting outside, feeling sorry for myself.

“Nabha, you’ve got to drive away the smoke.”

Huh? I looked up.

“Nabha, you’ve got to drive away the smoke!”

A friend at Ananda Village was saying this to me. With fires all over Northern California, even though none had come close to us, there had been smoke in the air for a week. This was an annoyance to some and had caused health problems for others.

But was he referring to the smoke in the air, or to the smoke in my mind – the bad mood? The metaphor seemed so apt.

“I can’t run with all the smoke in the air.”

I commiserated with him.

“So, you should drive away the smoke.”

I tentatively said that I’d try, still not sure what kind of smoke we were talking about.

“C’mon, you’re from Seattle, you should know how to control the weather.”

This last bit I found very funny. It’s always cloudy in Seattle. One year, it rained each day for over 90 days in a row. And I’ve been dealing with moods like this for years. Hey, I should know how to control the weather!

The conversation finished as my friend went inside. Whether intended or not, its unusual double-meaning inspired me to look at it more closely. Applying his words to my own inner climate, I came to feel that:

1. The mood I was in was essentially insubstantial (it was “smoke”)
2. With willpower (or “drive”), even if couldn’t purify the air of California state, I could change my inner weather
3. Exercise (such as “running”) would be a simple and effective way to do this – something I know, but often forget

My attitude changed. With a brisk walk and with God’s blessings, the mood lifted within the hour.

I occasionally have problems with moods. Long ago, I would have called them “depression,” but within a year after I started meditating, they began to pass quickly and be relatively easy to handle – which is what the word “mood” implies.

Previously, something I always felt during a mood or depression was that it was here to stay. I felt weighted down by the thought that “this is the way things really are.” But thoughts like this are based on a delusion.

For even if my moods last for weeks, or longer – which they have – what is that, in an entire lifetime? They have to go eventually. When that “eventually” comes, it will be now.

Another conversation I had on the subject of moods was with Nitai, one of the monks at Ananda’s monastery in America. When we spoke, I was having a difficult time.

A mood makes everything seem worse; in it, all events, which Paramhansa Yogananda said are in themselves neutral, take on a gloomy haze. In a mood, my thoughts continually forecast: “high chance of rain with possible lightning strikes.” During these times, I find it helps to follow a simple rule: “don’t trust the mind.”

All mental states, like the weather, are transitory. Nitai pointed out that a mood is like a cloudy sky. As clouds always pass, in time, so must any depression, mood, or “low.”

One thing I find helpful during tough times like these is the company of people with positive attitudes. At Ananda, people tend not to feed patterns of negative energy. Instead, they support positive activity, like a person’s meditation practice.

Another time, Nitai shared that though meditation is more difficult during a depression or mood, were I to stop meditating, all of my life would become much more difficult.

When the mood lifted, I saw he was right. Meditation only seems less rewarding during these times, but it isn’t, by any means.

For the mood I mentioned in the beginning of this post, meeting it by changing my attitude and through exercise helped me rise to a high level of energy. The mood was a blessing, disguised.

It isn’t the first time that a mood has become a source of joy. Inevitably I find that through perseverance, aspiration, and God’s grace, the dark skies of sadness burn away and disappear in a puff of smoke.

Related

• “Meet it ‘at the Crest’” (Clarity Magazine, page 24) – how an emotional catastrophe brought me to meditation and to Ananda

Over the past month or so Ananda Village has played host to disciples from all over the world. They came on several pilgrimages from 15 different countries. Words are escaping me as I try to describe the joy! The depth of the friendship that devotees can have is amazing. As the European pilgrimage left I was giving long heartfelt goodbyes and hugging people I had not known 2 weeks earlier. God’s love and joy permeated the air as we shared in this last farewell. I was almost in tears as they piled into their touring bus and pulled away. They felt blessed to be here and we were blessed to have them as our guests.

Having Fun on the 4th of July

How is such a depth of friendship possible so quickly? We all share something that runs much deeper than language, nationality, and race. We share a Guru. Sharing that devotion to one guru creates a deep bond and understanding among fellow devotees. This is especially true when devotees are so focused on finding their true Selves within them. That Self is one, and the more we identify with that, the less important the outer form becomes. We are able to dive into divine friendship.

International pilgrims with Swamiji

Seeing all these new, yet dear, friends come and go, I started to think about Paramhansa Yogananda’s ideal of world brotherhood. Looking at world events one could think it would be impossible. There is far too much selfishness, anger and bitterness for there to be any sort of world brotherhood. Yet standing there that morning watching these European pilgrims drive away, I was convinced it can happen. In my lifetime? Maybe. I sure hope so. If enough people are sharing love instead of fear and hatred, and if enough people are willing to give instead of hoard in selfishness, then it will happen.

Will it happen soon? Well, probably not. It won’t happen suddenly. Gradually as we of Ananda Worldwide, and others like us, inspire people to seek inner joy, and identify more with the infinite Soul within them, then, person by person, we will see a change. Am I just a dreamer? No way. It’s happening already.

I recently returned from a trip to the Morni Hills where the Ananda Solar team is installing their first wind turbines and solar panels in India.

Arriving Monday morning, June 16, after a 5-hour drive, I met my husband Tim and Jemal (also on the Solar team) on their way to the town of Chandigarh to run a half dozen errands. The half dozen errands took the predicted amount of time — long. We arrived back at the hotel at 8:30 that night. Granted the drive into town is an hour and a half one way, so 3 of the 10 hours were spent in driving back and forth.

Let me take a moment to clear up some of my misconceptions about this first project. Morni Hills is the “larger village” in the area where the solar team is working. Although they are staying at a hotel there, they are actually providing electricity to two smaller towns within walking distance – Chokli and Ramsar. Both of these villages currently do have electricity, but it is erratic and not always strong. What the solar team is providing will give each home more consistent power, enough for two lights and fan. Why, you ask, are they not providing electricity to some other village which has none at all? Because the project is partly government funded and this is where the team was directed to “show what they can do.” This will be the solar team’s showcase and reference for future jobs.

Daily at 7am, directly after morning meditation, the team eats breakfast at the dhaba (restaurant) down the street where the meals are tasty, if predictable. You get breakfast, lunch and dinner. The family-run dhaba serves whatever is cooking: tea and paranthas (flat bread) for breakfast, with lunch and dinner consisting of paranthas, dal (lentils), a vegetable dish, and yogurt. Occasionally, there is rice. Everyone has been drinking the “simple water” from the tap with no ill effects.

While the family members prepare and serve the meals they also chase off birds, dogs and monkeys looking for tidbits to steal. The birds like the jalebis (a deep-fried sweet), the dogs prefer paranthas and the monkeys will take whatever they can grab!

The team has been prepping, digging, and building for the past six weeks. They often refer to their days there as Groundhog Day (for those of you who saw that movie). Work begins at 8am. They return to Morni Hills for lunch at 12pm and are back at the work site by 1pm. The work day ends at 5 or 5:30 and they have tea, download, and then meditate before dinner, which is at 7:30.

The area around the wind turbines and where the solar panels will go up in July is wonderfully peaceful and green, at least by the time I arrived. On Tuesday, my eyes spent a lot of time framing photographs and taking in the vast vistas.

The tips of the foothills more or less float on a sea of clouds. That afternoon we had one of the frequent showers that descend on the area at this time of year. Rain showers begin with a few drops and quickly manifest as a tremendous downpour. Showers are sometimes brief, but once Tim had to duck into the work shed with two other men for four hours to wait out the chilly rain.

Now the reason that I made plans to go to Morni Hills on Monday was because the engineer from the company that provides the wind turbines was scheduled to arrive that day and guide the team on raising the first of two turbines on Tuesday. Naturally, there was a delay. One learns to expect delay in India as surely as the Ganges flows from the Himalayas into the Bay of Bengal. Aum.

The next expected date of the engineer’s arrival was Thursday. Well, being “Do It Now!” Americans and Ananda members, our team decided not to wait for the engineer. They would erect the first one and receive critiquing upon his arrival.

Wednesday afternoon, after only a couple of delays, the turbine went up under the watchful eyes of many residents of Chokli, amid little fanfare, but with the sense of a job completed and, perhaps, well done (waiting for the engineer’s stamp of approval – or not).

Thursday morning, while the others were getting ready to erect the second turbine, I decided to explore the village of Ramsar “across the way”—meaning I had to traverse fields and rocky paths. I’ve done a lot of hiking and am used to figuring out trails but this one was beyond me at places. Tim started me off before returning to work, but occasionally I would falter. However, lovely souls in Chokli shouted down helpful directions from the top of a building where they were watching my progress.

I never did get to see much of the village of Ramsar. Upon arriving, I followed a short path to a cliff and was blessed with yet another view of the foothills. Naturally, my progress through the village was watched by residents who nodded pleasantly as I passed. Returning along the path I stopped to take photographs of the children who were watching and running alongside me. (One of the best things about having a digital camera is being able to take photos of people and share them right there and then.)

After taking a photograph of two older ladies, a younger girl, and several of the children, the oldest woman invited me into her home. I declined, indicating that I wished to see more of the village and take more photographs. “Ek min, ek min,” she said (“One minute”). I figured my visit would be a cup of chai and I’d be on my way.

I was very pleased to be invited because although I’ve travelled to all points of India over the past four years, this was only my second visit to an Indian home in a small village.

The woman invited me to sit down and went into another room. She returned a few moments later with her husband who, it turns out, speaks English. As a matter of fact, he is a retired teacher and one of the subjects he taught was English. Thank you, Divine Mother. I’ve such a terrible time understanding accents and yet I could understand most of what this lovely gentleman said. He, of course, was happy to have someone to use his English with. Although many in the family speak English, they always like to practice with Americans. (Tim told me of a boy who a few days earlier asked if his [the boy’s] English sounded British or American and was very happy when Tim told him it was more American.)

They did indeed feed me—chai, water, biscuits, and a sweet dish.
Ved, my host, was very sweet and we had a pleasant time talking of religion, spirituality and the race for the American presidency. It turned out that his granddaughter, Tanvi, the girl I had taken photos of, also speaks English, but had been shy about speaking at first. She is 18 years old. While most of her grandfather’s children and grandchildren are teachers, she is studying to be a nurse. She and I spent an hour looking at photographs of her family—some very old photographs and also an elaborate wedding album of her aunt and uncle.

It was a kick listening to her describe her family. She would point to a photo and say, “And this one, he is my auntie.” Or, it was pronounced “moosey,” which is the mother’s sister. Apparently, there is another name for the father’s sister, but I quickly became overwhelmed by the differences. An Indian friend later told me that he gave up a long time ago trying to sort out the different names for different family members. So if he had to give it up, I don’t feel so bad!

Then she would point out her father’s older brother and “short brother” (meaning younger). And it took me awhile to realize that “her” in a photograph was Tanvi herself in younger years. It was really quite charming and, two and half hours later—with an invitation from Ved for Tim & I to return and stay overnight—I was able to take my leave with many sweet blessings seeing me on my way. A final blessing came in the form of a teenage boy that Ved sent to follow me so I didn’t stray from the correct trail. Glancing back from time to time at the outer path of the village of Ramsar I could see Ved watching my progress and we would wave and namaskar to each other.

His watchful eye brought back memories of being on pilgrimage four years ago and having a hotel employee follow me through the streets of Kolkata (without my immediate knowledge) to make sure that I reached my destination for which he had given me directions. I’ve noticed time and again in India that once you make a friend or a connection, even of the casual sort, they will look after you like family.

The engineer did finally arrive Thursday evening around 5pm. Our driver picked up the engineer at the train station. On the ride to Morni Hills our driver pointed out the wind turbine on the hill to the engineer. The engineer later said that he could not believe it was their turbine. How could they have erected it without his guidance?

He immediately wanted to see the site.

Watching them all get in the car at the end of another long day I just prayed that they hadn’t gone too far awry in their work. It was a prayer I am sure that they each carried in their hearts!

In brief, it turns out that after his inspection he stated that he had never seen a better assembly in his 15 years with Unitron, traveling and checking out these sites 52 weeks of the year. Except for a few minor adjustments it was perfect. He simply couldn’t believe it. And it was with relief and joy that they all returned to the hotel and dinner just an hour and a half later.Sad to leave, but needing to return to duties in Gurgaon, I left tranquil Morni Hills Friday morning. On the road from Morni Hills to Chandigarh you can almost imagine that you are in Northern California ~~ and then a monkey will dash across the road!

Arriving in Chandigarh, there was the usual commotion of rickshaws, three-wheelers, buses, trucks, cows, cars, dogs, children, vendors, beggars, and monkeys. Of course, there was also the inevitable road work. As we drove through the chaos in companionable silence (at least within the car), Dharana, commenting on the road work said, “I think India is constantly under construction.”

“On many levels,” I replied.

As this particular Ananda project nears its completion (with many more projects on the horizon), it makes me smile to think how many people’s lives will be enhanced by “two lights and a fan.” It may seem a small thing to those of us accustomed to the material comforts of the west, but to Indian children doing their schoolwork, mothers cooking for their families and fathers providing for the household these basic conveniences are life-changing. And it is a joy to know that as their quality of life is expanded and enhanced not only are lives changed, but the entire country benefits in ways that we cannot even begin to imagine.