Tag: Swami Kriyananda

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A walk down memory lane

We’re working with Crystal Clarity Publishers on an upcoming project and needed some detailed information about the “Joy Is God” recording that we did in Ananda Assisi back in 2005.

Our memories were fuzzy so I had to search and search until I found a copy of the CD with the original liner notes (it’s changed several times since it first came out). And what a find!

We were ensconced for two days in Swami Kriyananda’s home near the Assisi retreat center (he was in India). Our recording engineer drove down from Lugano in a van containing his mobile recording studio, which he parked outside Swamiji’s house.

The musicians were from Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and America — all of them dear friends and great devotees. I wish we could have remained close to all of them, but almost twenty years have passed and it’s not easy to stay connected when you lead busy lives on separate continents.

What I love most of all is this shot of Ramesha and me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen myself looking happier than in this photo.

Joy is God, indeed!

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Advice from Thelonious Monk

I was absolutely fascinated to stumble upon this page of “Advice” from the legendary jazz pianist/composer, Thelonious Monk. The soprano saxophonist, Steve Lacy, is the person who actually wrote these quotes down during rehearsals as a member of Monk’s band in the early 1960’s.

Reading these points provides an amazing insight into the mind of this creative genius. And, while I’m no creative genius, I do resonate with a number of his observations.

Check out this article to see the complete list typed out, but here are three that really got me:

Just because you’re not a drummer, doesn’t mean you don’t have to keep time.
The way I understand this is that every musician (or singer, if we’re talking choir) has got to be all in. Not just listening to someone else do it, but actually and actively fully engaged yourself.

Whatever you think can’t be done, somebody will come along & do it. A genius is the one most like himself.
Someone in the comments shared this quote by e. e. cummings: “The hardest challenge is to be yourself in a world where everyone is trying to make you be somebody else.”
Personally, I found myself thinking of how Swami Kriyananda encouraged Ananda members to be original, but in the true sense of originality: coming from one’s origin, from deep within, instead of from ego. In fact, one of Swamiji’s songs says, “Dare to be different! Dare to be free.”

(What should we wear tonight?) Sharp as possible!
I like this because it tells me that Monk saw himself as a serious professional and expected the same from his band members. I feel similarly with our music on Sundays: we should be “sharp as possible” because we have the privilege of presenting our music to the whole world as part of Sunday service. I mean, what an honor!

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Home Is a Green Hill (a great rehearsal)

We had a particularly wonderful ensemble rehearsal last night. We were working on two songs that get sung a lot throughout the Ananda world — Life Is a Dream and Home Is a Green Hill.

There have been moments when I’ve heard someone say that they get “bored” singing these songs, but I can’t for the life of me understand how that could be. It’s not just that the songs are beautiful in and of themselves; it’s the profound meaning in the lyrics and the deep consciousness that they convey.

As we worked on details and dived into subtleties — with various singers offering insights and making suggestions — it seemed that each song gradually yielded up its secret treasures.

And then it happened — that exquisite moment musicians live for: when the music itself takes over and you feel like you’re slightly outside yourself, observing the music happen through you. At least, that’s how it felt to me. I can’t speak for the other singers.

When we reached the end of that particular run-through of the song, there was only silence and stillness. No one moved for a glorious, blissful, eternal moment in time.

And that — to me — is the absolutely best kind of rehearsal.

Below are the beautiful lyrics to Home Is a Green Hill, followed by a recording of Swami Kriyananda singing it.

Home is a green hill, home is a wind
Blowing betrayal, far, far away.
Home is the knowledge heaven is near,
Home’s the end of the fray.

Home is my heart’s land, home’s where I am;
Nothing can dim the light of my soul.
Home is forever, home is today,
Home’s a heart that is whole.

Often I dream that life is a play:
Laughter forever and skies never gray.
But when I’m silent, freed from all care,
I discover my home’s everywhere.

Home is a green hill, home is a wind
Blowing betrayal, far, far away.
Home is the knowledge heaven is near,
Home’s the end of the fray.

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A European-style evening

The cheese selection at Back Porch Market

Earlier this week I was finally able to pay a visit to a local shop in Grass Valley called Back Porch Market. They specialize in many European-style, gourmet food items. But that’s not all.

In fact, a friend was recently raving about their cinnamon rolls, which was a large part of my motivation for going. I did eventually locate the cinnamon rolls, but not before browsing the whole shop at length.

Before I knew it, I had gotten inspired to surprise Ramesha with the kind of meal we would eat in Lugano — featuring homemade gnocchi and a variety of European cheeses (one each from Switzerland, Spain, and Italy).

So tonight we played a recording — An Evening in Italy — on which Swami Kriyananda sings mostly in Italian. Then we ate gnocchi with butter, basil, and parmesan, delicious cheese, and sourdough baguette.

It was a lovely evening!

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75 years ago today

Swamiji’s meditation room

The below excerpt was posted on Facebook today by a friend. I’ve read it before, of course, but it was especially powerful reading it today — the 75th anniversary of the day Swami Kriyananda took discipleship from Paramhansa Yogananda.

The accompanying photo of Swamiji’s meditation room in his apartment at Crystal Hermitage also touch me deeply.

So, I decided to share both in today’s blog post.

A devotee was marveling at Swamiji’s many accomplishments. “In one lifetime you’ve done the work of ten men!” she said.
“Perhaps you’re right,” Swamiji said quietly. “Nothing I have done is important, however, except to the extent that it has helped people individually to deepen their love for God.
“At the end of this life, the only thing that will matter to me is ‘Have I been a good disciple?’”
— From the final chapter of Swami Kriyananda As We Have Known Him by Asha Nayaswami

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Il Grand Café al Porto

Cenacolo Fiorentino

My friend, Graziella, posted this photo on Facebook today and seeing it brought back beautiful memories of being at a luncheon there in honor of Swami Kriyananda.

The room is the Cenacolo Fiorentino (which translates as the “Florentine Supper Room”) on the upper floor of the Ristorante Grand Café Al Porto, located in the historic center of Lugano.

If I remember correctly, it was May (I’m not sure what year) and Swami Kriyananda was relaxing for a few days in Lugano. In honor of his upcoming birthday, the leader of the Lugano meditation group organized a boat tour of Lake Lugano followed by lunch at Al Porto — one of Swamiji’s favorite restaurants in Lugano.

It was a beautiful day, now a treasured memory.

A photo of the Cenacolo Fiorentino from the restaurant website
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A story of true brotherhood

Carl “Luz” Long (left) and Jesse Owens

I first saw this as a post in Facebook. Curious to know more, I read a detailed article on a website about World War II history.

The enduring friendship that was forged during the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany between American athlete, Jesse Owens, and German athlete, Carl “Luz” Long was truly inspirational.

I highly recommend reading the full article, and especially the last letter that Luz Long wrote to Jesse Owens. It’s deeply touching and also a real testament to the truth of our oneness in spirit.

Reading and reflecting on this brought to mind a song by my friend, Greg Tamblyn (I mentioned him a while back in my blog post about “Unconditional Love”).

Titled “One Day On The Fields of France,” it’s based on a true story from World War I, and conveys a beautiful message of healing through forgiveness. At the same time it reminds us that wars and division and conflict are not our natural state.

“One Day On The Fields of France” by Greg Tamblyn

Swami Kriyananda also put it beautifully in one of the most beloved of his songs, “Brothers”:

Then brothers, why endeavor
To set ourselves apart?
The fences we’ve been building
Squeeze tight upon our hearts!
Come sing the truth that all men are brothers!
Come sing the truth that all men are—
Brothers!

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Just what I needed

Swami Kriyananda performing the Festival of Light

I always find Ananda’s Sunday service to be inspiring, but some weeks it is so deeply inspiring that I feel fully recalibrated by the end.

Today was one of those Sunday services, and it was just what I needed — exactly when I needed it! (Not to mention the lingering impact of the uplifting Sevaka Retreat that took place the day before.)

I’m so grateful to be starting Spiritual Renewal Week with a renewed awareness of — and strengthened commitment to — living my life in service to God.

I especially love the words in this portion of the Festival of Light that we hear every Sunday:

Many times has that light descended,
Drawn to earth by the call of aspiring love.
Your chosen people have always been
Those of every race and nation
Who, with deep love, chose Thee.

(The minister lifts the candle aloft with both hands to symbolize this choice.)
Please pray with me:

O Lord,
With all my heart,
With all my mind,
With all my soul,
And with all my strength
I choose Thy love,
I choose only Thee.

And so I do…again and again and again. 🙏

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Thinking about God’s love

Originally posted to Facebook by Ananda Kriya Yoga Home Study

I was pondering and pondering what to write tonight, but my jetlagged brain simply wouldn’t cooperate.

So I ended up scrolling through Facebook for inspiration and found this absolutely wonderful quote by Swami Kriyananda.

How comforting that the key to overcoming doubt is dwelling on the thought of how much God loves us.

It also reminds me of another deeply inspiring quote, this one by the French saint, Jean Vianney: “If you knew how much God loves you, you would die for joy!”

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Gratitude for a beautiful birthday celebration

This evening we watched the video of Friday’s very beautiful Ananda Village event celebrating Swami Kriyananda’s birthday.

Of course, it would have been lovely to have participated ourselves (if only we could have been at the Village and in Lugano at the same time!), but it was deeply satisfying to see how wonderfully the music is going in our absence.

Kudos and heartfelt appreciation to the entire music team!