(not necessarily in that order)
I’ve been catching up on my reading of several books about Swami Kriyananda (the founder of Ananda, who I also consider one of my dearest friends).
In the course of reading, many memories are surfacing. Some of them are quite precious and I’m hoping to dedicate more time to getting them down in writing in 2023.
This afternoon we celebrated World Brotherhood Day here at Ananda Village.
Unfortunately, it had to be switched to online only (due to a surge of COVID and other illnesses), with only the speakers, a small singing group, and three or four other guests in attendance.
But I found it as inspiring as ever to hear about Ananda’s outreach ministries and all the wonderful work they’re doing around the world.
In fact, I’m reminded of when I lived in Switzerland (from 2004-2006) and would receive Ananda’s annual appeal in the mail. I was still relatively new, and I remember being absolutely thrilled to know I was — in my own small way — a part of such an expansive work. I even sent a donation (though I’m not sure how I managed to afford it at the time!).
Of course, Ananda’s work has exploded in so many directions since then, and Ramesha and I play a much larger role in the worldwide music outreach nowadays. But the basic feeling is exactly the same as it ever was.
This quote from Swami Kriyananda describes it perfectly: “We are part of a great tide of loving, joyful energy that wants to give and give as long as people are happy to receive it.”
What a blessing it is to be part of that great tide of loving, joyful energy!
I’ve been on a roll with rearranging things in our apartment, which means going through boxes and papers and discarding a lot of unnecessary clutter.
I did finish in time to attend our first real Thanksgiving dinner since 2019(!), but I’m going to have to do post-Thanksgiving calls and cards.
However, while working, I was reflecting on all that I have to be grateful for…and it’s an extremely long list.
I give thanks to the Giver behind each gift, and to the one Giver behind all that I receive. My gratitude rises with devotion’s incense to the throne of Omnipresence.
— Swami Kriyananda
Tonight was the conclusion of our second annual “AUM Guru Chant Vigil” and I’m feeling particularly grateful for it.
Why?
Well, Ramesha and I were already tuned in when the vigil started (immediately after the event celebrating Swami Kriyananda’s 74th discipleship anniversary), and I listened to “Aum Guru” from then until bedtime.
Upon waking, the first thing I became aware of was “Aum Guru”.
We turned back on the vigil as we got ready in the morning and continued listening to it throughout our eight hours in the AIM clinic (more hydration!).
In fact, whenever I started feeling a little fed up with lying on the hospital bed connected to tubes for hour after hour, I would tune back into the chanting and think of Master and Swamiji and the many, many blessings in my life and I wouldn’t feel fed up anymore.
So, I feel like this chant vigil really did help me during an important moment in time. And I hope it did the same for many others as well.
Perfect timing as in the divine timing of being blessed to receive my high dose chemo on this auspicious date of September 12, the day in 1948 that Swami Kriyananda met Paramhansa Yogananda for the first time and became his lifelong disciple.
With Swamiji’s inspiring example before me, I recommit to giving everything to God — body, mind, soul, cancer, chemo, loved ones, music, attachments, favorite foods, past and future — EVERYTHING.
Thank you, Swamiji. 🙏
Our new singing motto seems to be: “Anywhere and anytime” — including the apheresis unit of UC Davis Cancer Center!
When you’re sitting around for five hours hooked up to a blood separating machine, there’s lots and lots of time for chatting with the nurses who are watching over the process. By the end of two days they knew that we were musicians and that we direct the music ministry at our church.
As we were preparing to go, we thanked them all for being so kind and upbeat, while they assured us that we had been the perfect patients — all in all, it was quite the mutual appreciation society.
So, when — in the midst of all the thanks and laughter — they asked us to sing something before leaving, we didn’t hesitate. Of course I wasn’t in full voice, but it felt like a perfect opportunity to share some of the blessings we were feeling.
One of the nurses grabbed her phone and took the video; unfortunately it ended up sort of blurry and sidewise, but you can still hear the song — “Make Us Channels of Thy Peace” by Swami Kriyananda.
We spent time in traffic on I-80 today, which we’re not used to anymore, so it totally took it out of us.
In fact, Ramesha went to bed at about 8:30 and I’m headed that way just as soon as I’ve finished this blog post.
Since all I can think about is saying “Good night,” here’s Swami Kriyananda singing “Good Night, Sweetheart.”
Enjoy!
I don’t really have much to say. I’m just happy to listen to Swami Kriyananda singing “Peace” — over and over again.
It helps me feel peaceful again.
And so ends another Spiritual Renewal Week.
Earlier tonight we enjoyed excerpts from the Peace Treaty, then there’s Sunday service tomorrow, and that’s it!
My predominant thought as this deeply inspiring week draws to a close is immense gratitude — yet again! — to Swami Kriyananda, for the gift of spiritual community, for the music of Ananda, and for the example of discipleship and a life lived for God that he gave us.
Thank you, Swamiji.
There was such a flurry of activity happening right around Swami Kriyananda’s birthday this year that I didn’t think about the fact that it was the third anniversary of this daily blog.
I started writing it on May 19, 2019 and — amazingly enough — I’m pretty sure I’ve managed to write something every single day since then.
Sometimes I think about switching to once a week or making some other alteration in the routine, but at this point it feels good to take a moment each day to reflect on something — anything — and then write about it.