My first meeting with Swami Kriyanandaji was in December 2008 on Christmas Eve at the Gurgaon ashram. The atmosphere was filled with joy and positivity. He was addressing a group of devotees. I was sitting right next to Swamiji awestruck by the energy that he emitted. Here is an excerpt from a letter I wrote to a friend describing … Read More
Gratitude, Training, and Love of God
When I was thinking of how to appreciate Swami Kriyananda, I came up with sixty-eight points. But then I thought I should narrow it down to nine or maybe three. What follows are just three: gratitude, training, and love of God. First Meeting: The Gift of Gratitude When I first met Swami Kriyananda, it was in 1999. I had come … Read More
The Gift of Apples
It was that time of the year when the world was preparing to celebrate Christmas in 2012. Life at Ananda Pune was busy, joyful, and full of activity. The greatest blessing of all, of course, was Swami Kriyananda’s presence in Pune. From time to time we had the joy of seeing Swamiji at satsangs, recordings, and other public programs. One day I set aside … Read More
Swami Kriyananda: A Life of Discipleship
Swami Kriyananda’s Path of Discipleship I share with you, ways in which Swamiji’s life has been a life of discipleship. Swamiji said he had two goals in life; one was to find God and the other was to help others find God. These are two of the aspects when we make our vow of discipleship, and Swamiji has lived them … Read More
Cultivating Attunement with Swami Kriyananda
I would like to explore two vital principles from Swami Kriyananda’s tradition which can help us in cultivating attunement with Swami Kriyananda as a channel for Ananda Sangha and staying deeply in tune with the Master. I highly recommend reading the ‘Last Will and Testament’ he wrote before passing in 2013. In this Will, he covers a wide range of … Read More
100 years of “O God Beautiful”
In 1926, Paramhansa Yogananda stood before thousands at Carnegie Hall in New York and began chanting “O God Beautiful” — a sacred hymn originally composed by Guru Nanak. For one hour and twenty-five minutes, thousands of voices chanted in unison in “a divine atmosphere of joyous praise.” Even after Yogananda left the stage, the audience sat on, chanting. The next … Read More
A Tribute to Swami Kriyananda
My relationship with Swamiji has been one of giving, sharing the teachings, helping other people always, and through the particular vehicle of Kriya Yoga. When I first came, I was here for some time, and then I went to Italy. And Swami’s mantra was always: share and give to people. Then, at a particular time, I went to Africa—share and … Read More
Swami Kriyananda’s advice to the monks
In December of 2008, I attended a gathering where Swami Kriyananda was addressing the monks. It was my very first time meeting him alongside the monastic community. Swamiji spoke about many things, but one specific message burned itself into my memory. He shared that Paramhansa Yogananda (Master) had predicted a challenging future. Master warned that if mankind does not learn … Read More
They are disciples of Paramhansa Yogananda
In his autobiography The New Path, Swami Kriyananda wrote: “In the sixty years, now, that I have been on this path, I cannot recall to mind a single instance where a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda has failed to find protection in time of real need.” I’ve now been a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda for nearly fifty years. I too, have seen that same … Read More
Spiritual Healing with Kriya Yoga
In the beautiful book by Paramhansa Yoganandaji, called the Autobiography of a Yogi, there is a chapter on Kriya Yoga. Kriya Yoga is a pranayama which is given after discipleship and during an initiation. Yoganandaji called it the most advanced technique of Raja Yoga. It is a meditation practice – a pranayama where we control the energy in the spine. … Read More
Liberation through Selfless action
Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita , Shloka 2.40: “In this path (of yoga action) there is no danger of unfinished business, nor are there latent within it the opposite, canceling effects of duality. Even a little practice of this religion will free one from dire fears and colossal sufferings (which are inherent in the unceasing cycles of death and … Read More
Deeds versus Intention
I was really pondering on this topic. whenever we use the word ‘versus’, – it means that in our spiritual path as we ascend, they are two different things, which ideally it should not be. As Jesus emphasized repeatedly the Spirit, not the letter of the law. Even Swami Sri Yukteswarji in the Autobiography of a Yogi says, not the … Read More