Nativity scene
Celebrations

Transcending the Ups and Downs in Life

We are happy to post this blog by Anna-Kaisa Manolova, a kriyaban and qualified meditation and yoga teacher, who is courageously working to develop Yogananda’s work in Finland. As a child, I loved Christmas. It was a day when everyone was jolly and happy, and spent a day together as a family. Admittedly, I was most excited about the presents, … Read More

Christmas

The Nativity Scene

The Nativity Scene The Christmas crib, also known as a nativity scene or creche scene, was started by St Francis of Assisi in central Italy in 1223, over 800 years ago. Because of this act, devotion to the baby Jesus became more central to Christmas, helping people to feel the love, joy and peace that was not sufficiently present in … Read More

Christmas

The Christmas Mystery

The Christmas Mystery   “Who’ll tell to me this mystery:   How a tiny babe in a manger laid   Could so many hearts to love persuade?   This holy son of Mary.” This is the chorus from Swami Kriyananda’s song, The Christmas Mystery. In this song Swamiji tells the Christmas story, and as you see above, asks about the … Read More

Spirituality in Daily Life

Surrender

Surrender There is a beautiful part of Swamiji’s book In Divine Friendship that I have lately been drawn to. Rather than a written letter Swamiji sent, this is a verbal response he gave to a devotee who asked how we should relate to him.* Because of the impromptu nature of the setting, in his response he weaves through many different … Read More

Stories of Devotees

Brindaban and the “Stealer of Hearts”

Brindaban and the “Stealer of Hearts” Have you ever felt a call in your heart that was so strong that you had to follow it? So strong that even if you didn’t know why, you would turn every stone and move every mountain to answer that call? That is how I felt about Brindaban. Or Vrindavan, as they say in … Read More

Yoga Philosophy

Satya in the Digital Era

Satya in the digital era Truth is one and eternal. Realize oneness with it in your deathless Self, within. – Rays of the Same Light, by Swami Kriyananda Satya is a form of yogic discipline. As a principle it means truthfulness; as a practice it is often translated as non-lying. Indeed, such a discipline is important not only for those who practice yoga, … Read More

Spirituality in Daily Life

Becoming a Mother

Becoming a Mother Two years ago, I had an opportunity to go on a pilgrimage to Encinitas and Los Angeles. One of our stops was Ananda LA, where I emailed ahead and arranged for a kriya check. Before this, all of my interactions with Ananda had been online. I took the steps to kriya online, became a disciple online, and … Read More

Right Attitudes

The Widow’s Mite

The Widow’s Mite And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her … Read More

Facing Challenges

15 Minutes

15 Minutes There are some things in life that most people believe will never happen to them. I’m not talking about the personal beliefs that we come up against daily, according to our individual thoughts and habits: ‘Oh, I’ll never get a job,  I’ll never be able to afford my own home, lose weight, meditate deeply, relax…’ and so on. … Read More

Discipleship

BANAT BANAT BANJAI –
How to lighten our daily load

BANAT BANAT BANJAI – How to lighten our daily load Experiences and reflections from a disciple In the last blog, we explained that Lahiri Mahashaya‘s phrase: banat, banat, banjai (keep doing, doing, one day it will be done!) is his immortal promise for achieving our goals. We have seen how the four P’s: Passion, Perseverance, Patience and Presence, can lead … Read More

Celebrations

The Message of Easter

The Message of Easter “…hope for the highest and the best, for, as a child of God, nothing is too good for you. Keep on hoping. Move in that light until you travel through pathways of incarnations to your luminous home in God. Hope is born out of the intuitive consciousness in the Soul that sometime or other we shall … Read More

Discipleship

BANAT BANAT BANJAI –
How To Reach Our Goal

BANAT BANAT BANJAI – How to reach our goal Experiences and reflections from a disciple One day, I was asked to prepare a short speech for an evening dedicated to Lahiri Mahasaya, and comment on a specific phrase of his. I chose “banat banat banjai”: doing, doing, one day it will be done! I find it so encouraging and perfect! … Read More