Sunday Service
Schedule for Sunday Service in Bothell:
9:00a Fire Ceremony & Purification
9:15 am: Silent group meditation
10 am: Sunday Service
10:10am: Circle of Joy (Sunday School)
Sundays at Ananda Meditation Temple are the highlight of the week and are an excellent occasion for your first visit. Sunday Service is drawn from the ancient meditation tradition of the East and the mystical traditions of Christ, with scriptural readings from both the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita. Service includes music, chanting, a brief period of meditation, inspirational talk, and a beautiful ceremony called A Festival of Light.
Paramhansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi and guru-preceptor for the work of Ananda, encouraged respect for all religions and all forms of sincere worship, service, and meditation. His own line of guru-preceptors include Jesus Christ, Babaji (formerly Krishna), Lahiri Mahasaya, and Swami Sri Yukteswar. Therefore we show particular respect and reverence to Yogananda and these illumined souls who sent him to the West. But our devotion is essentially and always, as he taught us, to God alone, and to the manifest divinity in those whom God sends to earth in human form to teach and uplift others.
At Ananda, each person who comes and participates does so with his or her own, inner realization and recognition. No one form of reverence, belief, or personal relationship to God or the gurus is expected or assumed. All are welcome to the weekly services and meditations. The only suggestion we make is to come with an open heart and an open mind.
Families with children are welcome to come to regular Sunday Service at 10am. Shortly after the service starts, at around 10:10am, children will be invited to attend Circle of Joy (Sunday School) in the downstairs classroom. Circle of Joy is appropriate for children ages 4-10. Read about Ananda’s full children’s offerings here.
Past Recordings
How Democratic is the Truth? with Ethan Barker | Sunday Service at Ananda Washington
In this week's reading, Jesus warns us not to share high teachings with lowly souls, lest they turn and harm us despite our good intentions. An ironic teaching from him, since he himself was betrayed and crucified by the people he came to help.
In the Autobiography of a Yogi, Lahiri Mahasaya implores Babaji to loosen the restrictions surrounding the dissemination of Kriya Yoga, and Babaji agrees. In the same chapter, Babaji chastises Lahiri Mahasaya for sharing too much with nonbelievers.
How do we balance our desire to share with the necessity for discernment? Who are the actual swine and dogs we need to worry about? Join Ethan Barker of this fun and enlightening talk.
Ananda WASHINGTON is based in Bothell, WA at the beautiful Blue Lotus Temple on Bothell Everett Highway on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda and was founded by his direct disciple Swami Kriyananda in 1968. Learn more at https://www.anandawashington.org/paramhansa-yogananda/
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If you have been touched in your own journey by Ananda and our videos please consider making a donation so that we, as a spiritual family, may all continue to reach and inspire souls everywhere: https://www.anandawashington.org/online-donation-monthly/
Dive into Yogananda’s spiritual teachings with join a class or event: https://www.anandawashington.org/classes-calendar
Learn to meditate with Ananda Course in Meditation: https://www.anandawashington.org/learn-to-meditate/
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