Dear Friends, During the years that Swamiji was with Master, he often heard him speak with great power and intensity about impending world disasters. As we know, Swamiji took this to heart, and it was one of the prime motivators for him in creating communities and urging us to organize emergency preparation. At this point, we’ve made such preparations throughout … Read More
Nayaswami Jyotish and Nayaswami Devi
Spiritual Directors of Ananda Sangha Worldwide
A Touch of Light
World Peace
Many years ago I saw a bumper sticker that said, “Visualize Whirled Peas.” I’m afraid that this image, humorous though it was, is truer today than the actuality of world peace. We seem to be whirling around, splintered into frenetic factions.
A Touch of Light
Your Gifts to the World
Our recent time in India was life changing in many ways. Over time we’ll be sharing with you some of our experiences there, but one of the inner transformations that occurred for which we are very grateful is a strong desire for longer, deeper meditations. This grace began during our seclusion in the Himalayas, and has continued upon our return … Read More
Paramhansa Yogananda
Prayer-Demand Asking God to Be the President of the United States of the World
By Paramhansa Yogananda Our Father, President of the United States of planets, galaxies, stellar systems, and universes, Thy democratic rule of free choice and individual evolution is bringing Thy citizen-children nearer and nearer to Thy high ideals. Born in Thy states of democratic free will, we inherited our celestial birthright of eternal, everlasting freedom. But, alas! we squandered that inheritance, … Read More
A Touch of Light
Positive Thinking
Swami Kriyananda wrote an affirmation for positive thinking: “My outer life is a reflection of my inner thoughts. Filled with the joy of God, I express His joy and harmony in everything I do.” This affirmation is so powerful that Devi and I repeat it daily, and have suggested that others from Ananda use it as a “theme” for the … Read More
A Touch of Light
Does God Listen to Our Prayers?
“Considering the vastness of the universe, with its countless billions of galaxies, surely it is superstitious to believe that the Creator of this immensity listens to our prayers.” A scientist once challenged Paramhansa Yogananda with these words. The Master replied with profound wisdom, as well as gentle wit: “Your conception of Infinity is too finite! Although the Lord is infinitely … Read More
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A Touch of Light
How to Be a Channel for God’s Light
Helpless . . . hopeless . . . overwhelmed—it’s easy to get drawn into these negative emotions when we see so much suffering in the world around us. Whether through natural disasters or man-made conflicts, the result is the same: we feel people’s pain, but don’t know how to help them.
A Touch of Light
Getting Caught
Watching the sunset on the Pacific Ocean is one of the most beautiful sights in the world. Recently while in Pacific Grove, California, we enjoyed this experience — seeing the sun change its color from golden to pink to orange before slipping below the horizon. Gazing out at the ocean, I remembered another sunset I’d witnessed some years before — … Read More
A Touch of Light
The Power of Five Minutes
Have you ever finished meditating and then realized you’d been so unfocused that you could hardly remember what happened? Paramhansa Yogananda defined meditation as “deep concentration on God or one of His aspects.” In order to achieve this, we need to bring the consciousness to one-pointed attention at the spiritual eye. The first few minutes after closing our eyes is … Read More
A Touch of Light
Signs and Wonders
Recently I had a powerful experience of how God gives us “signs” to guide our lives.
Paramhansa Yogananda, Spiritualizing Daily Life
Make God More Real in Your Life: Five Key Practices
We are never separate from the Guru, just as we are never separate from God, but we must realize the Guru’s inner presence by opening our hearts to him and asking for his blessings.
Health and Healing, Meditation
The Five Aspects of Effective Prayer
Prayer helps us to open our consciousness to the flow of God’s grace. By praying, we make a conscious connection with God that otherwise wouldn’t be there, and thereby attune ourselves more fully to Him.
Happiness, Spiritualizing Daily Life
The 5-Minute Experiment
Swami Kriyananda recently challenged Ananda members to practice the presence of God for five minutes a day. It doesn’t sound like much, but this practice has the potential to transform our lives