Tag: ananda music

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Thinking of Swamiji on his Moksha Day

Collage by Dhuti 💖

Swami Kriyananda left his body on April 21, 2013 — eleven years ago today.

I didn’t respond well when we learned that he had died. We were living in the Ananda LA ashram and it was late on Saturday night when the email arrived from Lakshman. Ramesha read it aloud and I immediately replied: “NO!” — then repeated it emphatically again and again.

I just couldn’t believe it was true.

I still miss him very much, but at the same time I have moments of knowing that he’s with me just as much — or even more — than before.

The challenge is to be more aware of his presence from moment to moment, especially when I’m feeling confused or struggling to understand my next steps. Because when I consciously tune in, he’s right there…guiding me.

In fact, as we celebrate his life on the anniversary of his passing, I’m reminded that one of my intentions while we’re in Lugano is to find (or more accurately, take) the time to get still and ask Swamiji to help me find clarity about the top priorities for Ananda’s music ministry.

I’m definitely feeling an increasing sense of urgency to understand and then accomplish that which is truly mine to do in support of this gift to the world with which we’ve been entrusted — Ananda Music.

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My work history

During my walk today, I found myself remembering a few of the extremely varied places I’ve worked in my time. And as I thought about it more, I decided it would be fun to try and list all the jobs I held over the years.

Considering that the very first job I ever did for pay (besides babysitting) was when I was 15, this list covers fifty years of working. Yikes! (I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few.)

  • Orchard (I was 15 when I cut apricots for two or three weeks one summer)
  • Educational research firm (coding questionnaires)
  • Fabric store (retail clerk)
  • Pizza parlor (took orders and made pizzas)
  • J Paul Leonard Library at SF State University (shelved books)
  • SFSU campus bookstore (shelved and stocked books)
  • Dixon Landings; El Torito’s; The Cliff House; Joanne’s; The Courtyard; downtown SF espresso bar; etc. (food/cocktail waitress; bartender; barista)
  • Development office at SF Conservatory of Music (data entry & administrative)
  • Coordinator of volunteers (Unity Church)
  • Manufacturing plant (side door attendant)
  • Working for temp agencies (administrative assistant)
  • Orchestras; recording studios; recitals; weddings; parties (flutist)
  • Music stores, private schools, home studio (flute instructor)
  • Bookbuyers used bookstore (clerk)
  • Living Wisdom School in Palo Alto (school secretary; music teacher)
  • Conversational English lessons (while living in Lugano)
  • Development office at Ananda Village (clerical)
  • Human resources at Ananda Village (assistant)
  • Reiki Blessings Academy (administrative assistant)

Of course, there were years in there that I was doing music, or serving the music of Ananda in various places and ways, for very little or no compensation (otherwise known as “paying your dues”).

But it’s all good, because it all brought me to where I am now, getting paid to do the only thing I really want to do: promoting, championing, strengthening, performing, teaching, organizing, thinking about, directing, and pretty much living and breathing Ananda Music!

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Ananda Songbook: gamechanger for Ananda Music

So much has been happening lately in our Ananda Music world! The latest, and one of the most exciting, is our new Ananda Songbook!

All 190 of Swami Kriyananda’s vocal melodies, in a sort of combination hymnal/jazz fake book — meaning it’s just the melodies and guitar chords, conveniently spiral-bound, but with table of contents; index of first lines and titles; and songs listed by categories.

I explain everything I love about it in this short video.

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Works every time

Having fun during our April 14 Joyous Global Sing-Along!

What gets me back on track? Every single time? Singing Ananda Music. Playing it works, too, but not quite as infallibly.

Considering the crazy, hectic, push me-pull me times we’re in, this particular spiritual “tool” is like gold; it’s priceless. And it’s so important for me to keep it uppermost in my mind as I move through these challenging days.

Because, even though our twice a week sing-alongs can seem like a bit much when I’m in preparation mode, by the end of the thirty minutes I’m so glad I did it!

It’s like journeying back to the source, drinking deep from the waters, and being completely renewed! What a gift.

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For ME

Tonight’s global sing-along went really well. It was clearly meeting a need for many people…including me!

Later I was reflecting on how “healing” this music is. And I realized I should add “for me” at the end of that sentence. Because, in truth, there are many varieties of “healing music”; I’ve experienced that myself more than once.

But the music of Ananda — Swami Kriyananda’s music — is, for me, the ultimate healing music. Jeannie put it beautifully when she gave a class recently. I don’t recall her exact words, but she described how…out of all the possible sound vibrations… Yogananda, and then Swami, gave us the gift of music that is perfectly calibrated to Master’s ray, perfectly attuned to Swami and Ananda…and the creation of spiritual community.

So it’s not that I don’t appreciate and value “other” music. As a lifelong musician, I have been exposed to, and truly like, an extremely wide range of music (I think many of my current friends would be surprised if they knew).😎

It’s like Swamiji’s analogy about the futility of trying to decide who’s got the best mother: it’s not something you can weigh dispassionately — your mother is your mother. Of course you love her best. Same with your Guru; other people’s gurus are perfect for them, but your Guru is your Guru. Of course you love him best!

And that’s how it is for me with Ananda Music. It’s my music, in the sense of being my dharma and very possibly my surest path to God. Of course I love it best!

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Radio Ananda

It was a L-O-N-G time coming, but after years of intending but not quite doing, Ananda Music and Radio Ananda finally had a real sit-down meeting today! We’re excited to start dynamically collaborating and supporting one another’s ministry.

After all, what could be more natural? Both departments are all about Ananda’s music!

I invite you to visit the Radio Ananda website and download the Radio Ananda app.

Happy listening!

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“Yesterday”

It’s always a little scary going to see a movie that one’s friends have raved about, so I’m very happy to report that we loved it as well!

I enjoyed everything about this movie, including the fact that it really made me think. I’ve never been a huge fan of the Beatles, though of course I know and love their music. And that’s what’s so intriguing about this movie: it opened my eyes to just how much of the “soundtrack” of my life I take for granted.

I mean, can you imagine life without __________ or __________ (insert your favorite Beatles songs here)? It’s like the lead character, Jack, has been charged with an important mission: to keep that rich musical legacy alive and accessible for the world.

Of course, the music of Swami Kriyananda is something completely different (not least because it’s virtually unknown outside of Ananda!), yet I see parallels. It’s easy for us Ananda devotees to take the “soundtrack” of our spiritual life for granted, but can you imagine our lives without __________ or __________ (insert your favorite Ananda songs here)?

This movie left me feeling soooo grateful for all the powerful music in my life and that much more committed to keeping Swami Kriyananda’s rich, deeply inspiring, and uplifting musical legacy alive and accessible for future generations.

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Into the truth that we’re all one

Tonight’s session with the Living Discipleship participants was “beyond imagination of expectancy”!

They’re all so experienced and so committed, with most of them already serving as powerful leaders in their home communities. The majority already sing in (or direct!) Ananda choirs, and the ones who don’t (yet) are open and eager to sing with the group.

For a variety of reasons we went up with only a very loose idea of how the evening would unfold. So how did it unfold?

We sang a lot and laughed almost more than we sang! We had given them a handout titled “Music as a Spiritual Tool” and the group ended up spontaneously experiencing how humorous music raises energy in the spine and lifts us high above life’s challenges, where we’re able to see things from a positive perspective.

But the absolute high point of the evening for me came towards the end, after we sang Brothers. According to our outline the next song would have been Many Hands Make a Miracle. But we felt guided to sing O Master instead. Words are inadequate to describe the feeling as we sang the words: “…into the light, the inner sun, into the truth that we’re all one.” The sense of unity, of oneness, was palpable.

That was the end of the session, but no one wanted to be the first to break the circle. Finally, someone suggested we end by standing up to sing Thy Light Within Us Shining. So we did…it was wonderful…and we all stood there not wanting to break the circle!

Then someone suggested we really end with Peace and–my oh my!–the bliss level just went through the roof! I’ve had a lot of powerful experiences with Ananda Music in twenty years, but this was right up there in the top five. Unbelievable.

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The impossible question

“What’s your favorite piece of Ananda Music?” or “Which of Swami Kriyananda’s songs is your favorite?”

The short answer is usually: “Whichever one I’m singing (or playing or listening to) right now.”

The long answer is to explain that the best I can do is narrow it down to my top twenty favorites (which will probably be thirty or forty by the time I’ve finished the list!).

And that won’t include instrumentals…