Spiritual Community

One United Ray

The glue that holds Ananda together is one of friendship. Our entire worldwide work has no legal cohesion. We are not one legal entity, but many. Swami Kriyananda specifically wanted the communities to be run autonomously from one another. In keeping with this individualistic expression of Ananda, especially in each country, what, apart from the teachings themselves, will unite the … Read More

Discipleship

Making Our Name a Synonym for Goodness

Apart from a burning desire to find God, a common theme that animated the lives of Paramhansa Yogananda and his disciple Swami Kriyananda was an intense zeal to serve God and spread afar the message of Self-Realization. Master and Swamiji were also united in their energetic expectation that we, as disciples, have that same zeal toward this God-ordained mission. In … Read More

Devotee Selling Books
Spiritual Service - Karma Yoga

Ananda Seva – Practical Suggestions

Within our path of Kriya Yoga, we give great emphasis to balancing our lives: on the one side with the practice of meditation, deepening our inner life; on the other side, by doing service, spiritualizing our outward life. We have many teachings and materials on how to develop our inner life, but what does it mean to serve within our … Read More

Book Cover Swami Kriyananda A Life in God
Stories by Devotees

One Picture and a Thousand Words

There is an old saying: “One picture is worth a thousand words.” This blog tells the story of one well-known picture of Swami Kriyananda—that photo is also worth using a thousand words. As a photographer of many years, I would look at photos of Paramhansa Yogananda and wonder: “What was going on in the room during that photo? Why does … Read More

Original Letter by Paramhansa Yogananda
Letters by Yogananda

Letter to B. M. Catrill

To B. M. Catrill With prayer for all round welfare from Swami Yogananda Dec 8 1928 “There is an invisible cord which binds the east & the west and all strangers. Let the Eternal Song echo thru your mortal flute and it will be immortal” S.Y.

Poems

Dreamers All

I am only awake When I enter the chamber of slumber. Then I forsake all dreams of wakefulness Or nocturnal dreams of fancy. I am awake when I silence my mind And its dreams of this cosmic puzzle. The dreams of sleep are one dream for me And the dream of wakefulness is another dream. When both these dreams Disappear … Read More

Paramhansa Yogananda
Poems

Compassion’s Castle

While shots and shells of hate Fall around thee Remain castled in love. While bombs of misunderstanding Keep bursting Remain hidden ‘Neath the deep caves of compassion. While poisonous vapors of delusion Seek to choke the life of thy wisdom Mask thy soul with taintless love. For the castle of love divine Is a safe haven From temptation’s armies. Dig … Read More