Tag: Jyotish and Devi

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Picking up the pace

Or maybe it would be more accurately described as scrambling to catch up — and then hopefully keep up — with a life flow that seems to get faster and faster!

What started as the usual full but fairly normal week has been gradually picking up speed with more and more wonderful, yet time sensitive and distinctly unusual activities.

We learned today that the music ministry is going to be featured in the next fundraising appeal (yay!), but need to get testimonials and photos to the development team by tomorrow (yikes!); we had a last minute photo shoot with the incomparable Barbara Bingham after tonight’s rehearsal; we meet tomorrow with the “big guns” about music department finances and budget; then there’s another Christmas play meeting; and to top it all off, we received a request (also rather last minute) to provide music for Jyotish and Devi’s “Touch of Peace” book launch on Saturday night.

We were also invited to lead a virtual satsang for an Ananda group in Singapore on Friday evening, but thank goodness we listened to our intuition and suggested they schedule us for another time. I’m pretty sure adding that into the mix would have tipped us over the edge!

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Happy Birthday, Swamiji! (a new beginning)

I wrote my first “Music. Life. Joy” post on Swami’s birthday last year, so today marks the beginning of year #2. I can hardly believe it…but I wrote something every single day!

In other news, we honored Swamiji with a beautiful event in the Temple of Light, led by Jyotish and Devi. Ramesha and I got to sing! And there was an amazing rainbow!

Now I’m going to get comfortable and read through the past year’s posts.

I did it! 😊

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An Easter like no other

This has been both the strangest and the best Easter ever.

I calculated that it was probably the first Easter since 1989 that I didn’t celebrate in church surrounded by spiritual family. Definitely strange…

Thank goodness I made up my mind the night before to get at least a little dressed up; it would have been just too sad to watch the Easter service online while wearing a grungy sweatshirt! I’m glad to say that Ramesha went along with me on this, so we were nicely spruced up for the holiday.

What made it the best Easter ever is the depth and generosity of what was on offer. From Andrea Bocelli singing in the Duomo in Milan to our very own Jyotish and Devi in the Temple of Light — and certainly in a multitude of other places — it felt like everyone was digging deeper than ever before and finding previously untapped reserves of love and joy and power to share with others.

Adrea Bocelli singing “Amazing Grace” in front of the Duomo

I was moved to tears again and again throughout the day. And I’ll be going to bed feeling more hopeful than I have in weeks.

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Saturation point

We’re at the midpoint of Inner Renewal Week and I’m already feeling “full up”!

Filled to the brim morning after morning with wisdom and inspiration from Jyotish and Devi. Filled with soul joy from so much singing. Filled with gratitude for opportunities to connect with dear friends — old and new!

So tonight is the moment to take a breather. Aaahhhh… 😎

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A Century of Spiritual Awakening

Inner Renewal Week is underway here at Ananda Village, focused on the centennial of Paramhansa Yogananda’s arrival in the West.

As usual Jyotish and Devi got the week underway with deeply inspiring talks that brought home to me just how much courage and commitment Yogananda needed to have in order to make the transition to life in America (not that I’ll ever really understand, of course!).

But boy oh boy am I glad he did!

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Doing “a Devi”

Perhaps my all-time favorite photo of Jyotish & Devi.

I’m still buzzing from this afternoon’s wonderful satsang in Crystal Hermitage dome, with Jyotish and Devi and thirty or so members of the “Next Wave” (“young” friends of all ages😄).

It’s always such a thrill being part of a gathering of such great souls — starting with Jyotish and Devi, of course, but including so many other divine friends who are shining so brightly!

My favorite moment of the satsang came when Devi was making a point about one of the hallmarks of how we “do” things at Ananda, which is to always be on the lookout for where energy wants to flow.

She shared how she was enjoying lunch in a restaurant with three women friends, but had noticed an older woman seated all alone at a table. When two of her friends went to the restroom Devi felt inspired to “do a Devi” (her words!), so she walked over to this woman’s table, sat down, and started a conversation with her.

I’m sure that woman is still feeling the joy of the experience hours later! Devi conveyed the story in such a humble and down-to-earth manner that one could (mistakenly) think it was no big deal. But I immediately found myself thinking of how beautifully she’s embodying one of Swami Kriyananda’s most endearing qualities — the ability and the commitment to see everyone as a friend, reaching out to them in divine love.

I’m sure Swamiji was very pleased. 🙏

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Ananda Kailash

Yes, I know I’ve missed my deadline but tonight I have a pretty darn good excuse: Jyotish and Devi gave a satsang about their time in Italy and India, and especially about the amazing project that is developing in Delhi.

I won’t go into details (since I’m on “borrowed time” here), but what I told Devi at the end of the satsang perfectly conveys how I felt (and still feel!): “Mind officially blown!”

This is huge, wonderful stuff; my spiritual family is doing it; and I can hardly believe I’m a part of it all!

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Jyotish and Devi are home!

Jyotish and Devi, spiritual directors of Ananda Worldwide

Jyotish and Devi have been gone since August, traveling for close to four months in Italy and throughout India. Tomorrow they give Sunday service and I can already feel the joy level at Ananda Village rising in anticipation…. well, at least it is for me. 😊

It feels perfect that they’re back just in time for Thanksgiving, because I am so very, very grateful for both of them.

Thank you, Jyotish and Devi, for all you’ve done and for all you’re still doing in service to God and Gurus, as well as for your Ananda family throughout the world. I’m so honored to know you and to call you my friends.

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Like old times

People relaxing in Crystal Hermitage lower gardens in celebration of Jyotish's birthday.

We celebrated Jyotish’s birthday in the lower gardens of Crystal Hermitage this afternoon. Choir sang a couple of songs; Anandi led blessings for Jyotish and then for Jyotish and Devi together (they leave Wednesday for Italy, then India); cake was served. Then (I can’t think of a better way to say this) Jyotish and Devi gave darshan.

This is one of the definitions I found when I went to double-check the meaning of “darshan”: an opportunity or occasion of seeing a holy person.

It felt very familiar to be in the astral beauty of Crystal Hermitage gardens; surrounded by great souls who happen to be dear friends and spiritual family; observing Jyotish and Devi as they interacted with person after person, radiating boundless love and deep wisdom. It brought back memories of birthday parties for Swamiji and I found myself thinking that it felt sort of like “old times”.

Thank you, Jyotish and Devi, for all you do to further the growth and expansion of Ananda, and for being our divine friends.

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Sangha

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!