Tag: devotion

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The blessing of kirtan

My town errands took all afternoon and into the evening, so I arrived back at the Village just in time for the beginning of tonight’s Spiritual Renewal Week kirtan.

Ramesha organized it this year, so I really wanted to attend. However, I couldn’t stay for more than two chants (also because I had perishable groceries in the car).

But I’m really glad I made the effort. Largely because it was nice to simply sit in the audience and feel the joy and devotion without being in charge of any of it.

The kirtan is almost always Monday night, with the concert following on Tuesday. So, I’m usually up to my eyeballs in preparations and find it hard to make the time to go. But I’m going to try and change that next year.

Devotional kirtan and chanting to God truly is a wonderful thing.

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Celebrating Yogananda’s birth

Tonight’s celebration of Master’s birthday was perfect.

It was an incredibly beautiful altar; the choir songs and Jitendra’s chanting were filled with devotion.; the meditation was deep; and Jyotish and Devi gave inspiring talks.

What more could one wish for?

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Celebrating Lahiri Mahasaya

Tonight’s celebration of Lahiri Mahasaya was very inspiring, filling the Temple of Light with deep, deep devotion.

The first time I really tuned into Lahiri was the end of September 2001; someone had printed up cards with just the final sentence a longer quote (the full quote is below): Though man’s ingenuity for getting himself into trouble appears to be endless, the Infinite Succor is no less resourceful.

I found those words profoundly reassuring in the aftermath of 9/11 and they are just as meaningful to me in the crazy times we’re living in today!

Solve all your problems through meditation. Exchange unprofitable religious speculations for actual God-Contact. Clear your mind of dogmatic theological debris; let in the fresh, healing waters of direct perception. Attune yourself to the active inner Guidance; the Divine Voice has the answer to every dilemma of life. Though man’s ingenuity for getting himself into trouble appears to be endless, the Infinite Succor is no less resourceful.
— Lahiri Mahasaya 

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A beautiful Kriya

I’m feeling so grateful for tonight’s Kriya ceremony.

The Temple of Light was close to full; the inspiration level was through the roof; and the loving devotion in the room was palpable.

What a blessing.

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Something devotional to end the week…

One of my most favorite songs of all time (thank you, Maitri Jones!), made even more beautiful with the addition of the perfect images (thank you, Neha Chakravarty)!

Thanks also to my sweet hubby, Ramesha, with whom I get to make such glorious music.

And thanks most of all to Swami Kriyananda and Paramhansa Yogananda…for everything.

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I get a thrill every single time!

Singers from multiple locations in India, as well as New Zealand and Italy!

We just finished collecting the videos for our fifth version of the Ananda Worldwide Virtual Choir.

We’ve come a long ways in terms of figuring out the best ways to communicate with, make backing tracks available to, and collect videos from our global choir, but it’s still a very labor-intensive project.

In fact, it feels like pretty hard work….until the videos start pouring in!

I get such a thrill every single time I see the joy, devotion, and sweetness pouring through every singer. We’re spread all around the world, but I feel the reality of our oneness in Spirit each time we do this.

Truly, it’s one the best parts of my job!

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O Master

I am beyond thrilled to finally be able to share the finished video of “O Master”!

More than ninety singers participated in the Ananda World Brotherhood Virtual Choir… from Mumbai, New Delhi, Noida, and Pune (India); Tel Aviv (Israel); Milano (Italy); and California, Missouri, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington (USA).

The love and joy is palpable; devotees singing with hearts full of gratitude and devotion.

We’ll definitely be doing more of these!

Jai Guru! 💗

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Living for God

I really love this photo, which appeared on the Ananda Worldwide Facebook page the other day. For one thing, the photographer beautifully captured the deep devotion of these great souls, each of whom I happen to know and love.

It also strikes me as both sweet and powerful to realize just how much of the world is represented in this photo, as these individuals are from New Zealand, the United States, and India.

And that got me to thinking (not for the first time!) of just how international my spiritual family is! At Ananda Village alone we have members who are originally from Argentina, Canada, Colombia, England, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Laos, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. And that’s just off the top of my head, so I may have missed somebody.

But it’s not just that our community is filled with a wide diversity of people from so many points of the globe. It’s that all these people are dedicated to a spiritual lifestyle based on joy and harmony, consciously choosing a life lived for God. It’s amazing, really!