The journey to find the missing link in my life began with a strong desire for something I KNEW was out there, somewhere. I didn’t even know what it was, but I wanted to find it. Most of my life was spent raising a family and doing volunteer work. My early spiritual life started out in the Dutch Reformed Church, … Read More
Articles, Supporting Our Spiritual Practices
Deep Concentration – Key to Meditation
Meditation is deep concentration on God or one of the 8 manifestations of God as per Yogananda’s definition. The key to this is “deep concentration!” We can be faithful and practice our techniques regularly but without deep concentration, we won’t be making a lot of progress. Master said, ”Mechanical practice is not enough. There must be sincere interest in what … Read More
Articles
Returning Home! Or, “Life is like Hot Sauce”
It is an axiom of yoga that we should live more at our own center, or as yoga teachers will sometimes say, “live more in the spine.” But in fact a little introspection reveals that no matter how often we leave our “home” in the spine we always return to it. For this is how we are made. Think of … Read More
Articles, Supporting Our Spiritual Practices
Meditation Tip from Paramhansa Yogananda
Sometimes (and sometimes a lot!) on the spiritual path, we experience times when we struggle with our meditation practice. This is not new to most of us who have been meditating for a while. During these times we need to do what ever we can to keep ourselves motivated and inspired. Make this a conscious choice. It is the desire … Read More
Articles, Supporting Our Spiritual Practices
The Flow of Blessings and Grace
I was raised in the Southern Baptist church, and even as a child I was expected to tithe 10% of every dime I received, from whatever source. As I grew toward young adulthood, I began to have serious questions about the religion of my youth, and ultimately rejected it in its entirety. My parents were never wealthy, but always had … Read More
Articles
Children of the Light
“It takes One to know One” One of the cornerstones of the teachings of metaphysics is that all creation, and each one of us, is an integral part of the Whole, of the One Spirit of God. It is taught, further, that God manifested this creation out of Himself. In the reading for a recent Sunday Service at Ananda, in … Read More
Articles
How I Walked Into The Heart of Ananda
The ways of life are wondrous and mysterious. In 1979 I was living in San Francisco going through the agonies of divorce and experiencing the joys of being a children’s librarian. It was at this time the Swami Kriyananda was looking to broaden Ananda’s spiritual work from Ananda Village — a rural spiritual community near Nevada City, CA — to … Read More
Articles
Glossary of Terms Frequently Used at Ananda
Confused about something you heard or read at Ananda? Visit this page to find a glossary of terms frequently used at Ananda. http://anandaseattle.org/blog/?page_id=229
Articles, Supporting Our Spiritual Practices
Spiritualizing Our Consciousness Regarding Money
Paramhansa Yogananda said, “Making money honestly and industriously to serve Thy work is the next greatest art after the art of realizing Thee.” Tithing spiritualizes our consciousness toward money, helping us to experience God’s presence more completely in all aspects of our lives. It also allows God to use us as instruments for his work in this world. This is … Read More
Articles
What is Simple Living?
Have you ever traveled for an extended time, perhaps camping, backpacking, or traveling on public transportation through many countries with only your rucksack to your name? Or alternatively, can you imagine the sadhus (wandering mendicants) of a bygone era, roaming the Ganges plains or Himalayan woods chanting God’s name, So Hum? Ah, what freedom compared to 401(k) plans, stock portfolios, … Read More