(not necessarily in that order)
We spent most of the day up at the Ananda Meditation Retreat for the annual meeting of the Ananda Sangha Worldwide Outreach Ministries — always deeply inspiring and fun in equal parts!
It’s amazing what we accomplished last year and 2020 promises to be almost as eventful. 🙂
And it’s always a joy to spend time at the Meditation Retreat, laughing with dear friends like Durga and Vidura, and eating delicious food prepared by Lallah and Brannon.
All in all a lovely day. 💕
This afternoon was the annual Christmas party for Ananda Sangha Worldwide, headquarters of all the various outreach ministries of Ananda. It’s a time for eating and laughter and visiting with divine friends in the beautiful and uplifting environment of Crystal Hermitage.
But this year something happened which I hope to be able to convey in writing, though words feel rather inadequate…
One of the most well-known and beloved songs in the Ananda Music repertory is Make Us Channels of Thy Peace, Swami Kriyananda’s a cappella setting of the Prayer of St Francis. Arranged in simple two-part harmony, it so beautifully expresses the spirit of selfless service that is the foundation of our path that it is frequently sung at Ananda gatherings and even during Sangha meetings.
So it wasn’t surprising that Make Us Channels was the song chosen to bring the party to a close. But as we sang it — after an hour and a half of eating and chatting and enjoying each others’ company — the room instantly went still and the energy went deep. And despite the fact that many members of the Sangha outreach ministries do not sing (not at all!) the sound, the pitch, the phrasing, everything was perfection.
Why? I believe it’s because we don’t just sing the words, “Lord most high our heav’nly father, All our lives we dedicate to Thee”, we live those words. And as we sing together with deep attunement and self-offering, it’s like our individual voices are transformed into something, well…angelic!
Of course, this is what we aspire to achieve with our actual choir. Yes, we develop our voices and improve our listening and learn the notes and the rhythms…but only in hopes of becoming such pure channels that — with deep attunement and self-offering — we will find ourselves transformed!
Make Us Channels of Thy Peace
Lord most high our heav’nly father,
All our lives we dedicate to Thee:
All our labors, all our joys and woes,
All our pleasure, all our melody.
Make us each a channel of Thy peace:
When in darkness, guide us from above;
Where there’s sorrow may we sow Thy joy;
Where there’s hatred may we share Thy love.
Sangha is a Sanskrit word that means “association,” “assembly,” “company” or “community.”
One of the best parts of my job is attending once or twice a month “Sangha” meetings. Usually led by Jyotish and Devi, spiritual directors of Ananda Sangha Worldwide, these are basically large staff meetings — Ananda-style. 🙂
First we meditate together for an hour, followed by time for each department to share what’s going on in their world. Ananda Village is headquarters for all the global outreach ministries, so it’s very, very inspiring to hear all the ways that Ananda is reaching spiritual seekers with a wealth of support and resources.
But what I love most about these meetings is being part of the Sangha — looking around a room filled with people who have dedicated their lives to God and are making a very real difference in the world. What a blessing and a privilege it is to be “in association” with such great souls!