Playground Seva

The kid's playground at the Ananda Community has been getting some much needed TLC recently. Last Saturday, a number of volunteers (of all ages) turned out to help with the renovations. We washed the playhouse and moved it to a new foundation, we sanded down the larger play structure to make it ready for painting, and we raked and weeded all around.

Washing the playhouse.

There's still more to do, though! More sanding and painting, and we'll be filling in a new sandbox as well. If you want to come help out, D'Arcy will be leading another Playground Satsang / Workday this Saturday, October 16, starting at 9:30 AM. Come by whenever you're able, for as long as you like. Snacks provided!

Sanding the play structure.

Sunday Service Schedule Changes

If you were at service this morning then you heard the announcement, but here are the details about what's going on. Please help us get the word out, and make sure all your friends know about it!

Here's what our Sunday mornings will be like, beginning on October 17th:

• [Note that there is no fire ceremony or purification ceremony.]
• 9:00 - 9:15, unguided meditation in the temple.
• 9:15 - 9:30, chanting.
• 9:30 - 10:45, service.
• Service is a bit shorter now, without the affirmation, and with an abridged version of the Festival of Light.
• 10:45 - 11:00, refreshments in the courtyard.
• 11:00 - 12:15 (approx.), Swami Kriyananda's LA satsangs, broadcast live on a large screen in the temple.

Obviously, the main motivation here is to make it easy for everyone to both attend service and tune in to Swamiji's talks, so this schedule is only in effect for as long as he is doing these satsangs in LA. That will probably be until sometime in March 2011. We'll go back to normal after that, and of course, if we make any further adjustments, we'll do our best to make sure everyone finds out about it in a timely manner. In the meantime, it'll be fun to get an extra weekly dose of Swamiji's vibrations!

Sadhana and Multiple Sclerosis

In 2008, Dr. Bryan Coleman-Salgado conducted a study examining the effects of Ananda Yoga, meditation, and the Energization Exercises on people with multiple sclerosis. The latest issue of Clarity Magazine has a great interview with him, describing the fantastic results he observed:

For persons with a chronic neurological illness, perhaps the most significant overall result is that participants not only did not get worse, but they all improved. In medical science, developing a therapy that slows the progress of a chronic disease is considered a huge breakthrough. If, as this study suggests, a regular practice of Ananda Yoga can not only stop a “progressive worsening” of a chronic disease, but can also bring about improvements, then Ananda Yoga offers potentially positive benefits for everyone.

Read the full article here!

Celebrate Ananda

Every year around this time we like to stop, give thanks, and just plain old celebrate the fact that we get to be a part of such a life- and world-changing movement as Ananda. This year, we held the festivities in the church courtyard, since one of the many things worth celebrating is the amazing transformation that area has undergone this year. Isn't it lovely? (More photos here. Update: and even more photos here.)

David addressing the gathering in our beautiful Italian piazza.

After some hors d'oeuvres and socializing time, David started off the program with the "Cliff's Notes" version of the Palo Alto colony's history, with hints at all the other fascinating stories that could be told about it. (Someone should get inspired to do a bunch of interviews with folks and collect all these stories, no?) We also got to hear from several Ananda members: Saranya, Karen, and Gary each spent a few minutes sharing personally meaningful and entertaining stories about some of their Ananda experiences.

Dinnertime at the buffet line.

And of course, what would a celebration be without good food and music, right? The main course was a tasty sandwich bar sort of buffet, which paved the way for a glorious array of desserts. And throughout the meal we had different groups of musicians and singers taking turns strolling around and serenading us. (Did you know Swami Kriyananda wrote a song in fake Hawaiian? He just has no end of surprises!)

 

The new color scheme is gorgeous at night, too.

Asha wrapped up the evening for us with some observations on what it's like to be a part of manifesting something like Ananda. One of our collective strengths that she conveyed particularly well was the way in which we are able to look at what other people might call "nothing" and just see an energy flow there that will eventually become a community, or a church, or a school. Time after time we've tackled apparently ridiculous situations, made it work out, and had a delightful time doing it.

So here's to the next 20-something years! Jai us!

Spiritual Renewal Week 2010

This past week saw hundreds of devotees gather at Ananda Village to recharge their connections with God at Spiritual Renewal Week. The talks and classes were broadcast live for members of the Ananda Virtual Community, and are now also available to download from Ananda.org. There are a number of photos from the week posted here and here, and also another blog post about it, so there are lots of ways you can share in the experience if you weren't able to be there in person.

But still, there's nothing like being there in person, and that comes from newbies and folks who have been attending SRW for decades. The theme this year was "The Age of Energy — Accelerating Planetary and Personal Evolution," and we could certainly feel the energy flowing joyfully the entire week.

Swamiji at his talk on Monday, accompanied by Mukunda the cat.

We had a concert on Monday night which started off with a few songs from Swami, who decided at the last minute to sing for us. We were also treated to a number of Swamiji's instrumental compositions, performed by a talented orchestra made up of Ananda members of all ages, who also accompanied the choir on a couple pieces. [UPDATE: David Eby posted recordings of the concert here.]

Performing "To Death I'm a Stranger," with choir and orchestra.

On Wednesday evening, we enjoyed a performance The Peace Treaty, Swami's play that embodies spiritual ideals and teachings through the reuniting of warring clans. There's a lovely write-up here, as well as lots of photos.

Ponder, Robin, Baltan, Merry, and the Hermit.

One topic that was on everyone's mind this week was L.A. Swamiji is heading down there for an event this weekend, and a group of devotees is moving down there to help him energize the work in that area. We called them up on stage before Sunday service on the last day, to send them on their way with blessings.



Were you at SRW? Have a story or experience to share? Leave a comment!

Manifesting Lessons in Poland

[The following letter is from Anna in Poland, who is following Asha's Manifesting Through The Power of Yoga classes via the internet. She wrote it after Padmini helped her with an issue regarding paying for the written lessons online. It's wonderful to see such an example of Dwapara Yuga energy getting these teachings across the world like this — thanks, Anna, for sharing!]

Thank you a lot for this nice surprise! I will tell you my opinion about the lessons for sure. Now, after such a gift, I know it is the right thing for me to work with, exactly at this moment.

Yes, the teaching is appreciated also far away from Palo Alto :)) I have listened to Swami Asha's classes which are available on your web site since a year and a half. They changed my life in tremendous way. Now I started the course Manifest Through the Power of Yoga and I decided to buy the written material to understand it better. English isn't my native language so I need to repeat each lesson several times. But it is always a pleasure as Swami Asha has an amazing way of speaking. Sometimes I listen to her just to lift my mood :))) She is so energetic and speaks about complex things with smile. I adore her with full respect.

I still feel I am the beginner on Self-Realization Path but I love going.

Maybe you will be interested in fact that are some books of Master available in Poland (The Essence of Self-Realization, Autobiography of a Yogi). There is also Raja Yoga by Swami Kriyananda in Polish edition.

Best wishes for the whole Ananda's stuff.

Anna

Farewell Concert for Chaitanya

As many of you have heard by now, Chaitanya will be moving to Ananda Village this fall, and so it was decided that a Summer Concert would be an excellent way to celebrate his 20 years here with us in Palo Alto.

Various soloists, small ensembles, and the full choir performed many favorite songs, mostly Swami Kriyananda's compositions. There were even several of his less-common but more humorous songs, like "Little Kathy," and "The Philosopher and the Boatman." Also added into the mix were "O Holy Night" (a classic Chaitanya solo), and some barbershop quartets.

Todd, Chaitanya, Dambara, and Nirmoha singing barbershop.

A surprise number that showed up in the middle of the concert was a farewell song for Chaitanya, sung to the tune of The God’s Blessings:

We’ve been blessed to have Chaitanya
To whom we say Sayonara

Now we thank him for his service

His leaving makes us nervous

David Eby lands a tenor
Who will make his choir better
He’s aware of what he’s getting
His departure we’re regretting

We will keep him in our hearts
and pray for our tenor parts
May he prosper at the Village
And no others may they pillage

Choir group photo.

As a member of the choir I'd like to say a very heartfelt "thank you" to Chaitanya. You've been a blessing to have in the choir, not to mention a musical life raft for some of us newer tenors. Having you conduct us in this concert was a delight, because we got to see the music flowing through you, as well as hear it. You've been a wonderful example and inspiration to us all.

(More pictures here -- thanks, Karen!)