Tag: Swami Kriyananda

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The long haul

There’s no getting around it: we really are in this for the long haul! And I’m struggling to comprehend the full extent of how this will impact our music ministry.

I almost feel guilty typing these words, when there are people facing issues of life and death or utter poverty as a result of the pandemic.

But the fact is that music has been a key element of Ananda from the very start. Swami Kriyananda composed over 400 pieces of music which, over the fifty years of Ananda’s existence, became like the soundtrack of Ananda throughout the world.

Participating in choir; performing for Sunday service; offering our devotion through chanting; singing before meals and before meetings…our lives have been permeated with the music of Ananda.

So what happens when we can’t sing together?!? Well, we’re about to find out. 😕

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Thinking of Swamiji

Hard to believe it’s been seven years since Swami Kriyananda left his body. On the one hand, I still miss him terribly; on the other hand, I feel him with me as much (sometimes even more) than ever!

Swami’s song Brothers (or Fratelli, in Italian) is one that really captures his essence as a citizen of the universe — at home everywhere and a friend to everyone! Swamiji truly “lived in many countries and mixed with many men,” touching thousands of lives along the way.

I’m so grateful he touched mine.

From the film “Finding Happiness”, Swami Kriyananda sings his song, Brothers, along with Ananda choirs from Italy, India, and the United States.
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For ME

Tonight’s global sing-along went really well. It was clearly meeting a need for many people…including me!

Later I was reflecting on how “healing” this music is. And I realized I should add “for me” at the end of that sentence. Because, in truth, there are many varieties of “healing music”; I’ve experienced that myself more than once.

But the music of Ananda — Swami Kriyananda’s music — is, for me, the ultimate healing music. Jeannie put it beautifully when she gave a class recently. I don’t recall her exact words, but she described how…out of all the possible sound vibrations… Yogananda, and then Swami, gave us the gift of music that is perfectly calibrated to Master’s ray, perfectly attuned to Swami and Ananda…and the creation of spiritual community.

So it’s not that I don’t appreciate and value “other” music. As a lifelong musician, I have been exposed to, and truly like, an extremely wide range of music (I think many of my current friends would be surprised if they knew).😎

It’s like Swamiji’s analogy about the futility of trying to decide who’s got the best mother: it’s not something you can weigh dispassionately — your mother is your mother. Of course you love her best. Same with your Guru; other people’s gurus are perfect for them, but your Guru is your Guru. Of course you love him best!

And that’s how it is for me with Ananda Music. It’s my music, in the sense of being my dharma and very possibly my surest path to God. Of course I love it best!

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Nutrient-dense music?

Spent another evening with the Living Discipleship program sharing Swami Kriyananda’s songs for children — a fun and powerful experience, as always! When I got home and started writing tonight’s blog post, I spontaneously decided to write out one phrase from each of the songs we sang.

Looking at the random selection of lyrics I’m struck by how these words are like the verbal equivalent of nutrient-dense foods. What a blessing for children to absorb such wisdom wrapped up in joyful melodies!

Sing out a blessing to ev’ryone!
Just live in joy, be free inside.
Let me feel Thy strength in me. Give me joy to share.
God is our dearest treasure.
Guide me, Lord, throughout this day; in all I do, in all I say.
All the world is my friend when I learn how to share my love.
Move, all you mountains that stand in my way, nothing can stop my progress!
Thank You, God, for your love.💕

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A song for the times

It’s in times like these that Swami Kriyananda’s song, Go On Alone, really speaks to me. We sang it for Sunday service this morning and I felt more strongly than ever the message of Truth that is so powerfully expressed through this thrilling combination of melody, harmony, rhythm, and lyrics! (The song is at approximately the 16:45 mark in the video below, if you want to listen to it.)

But what is that message? For me, this song is all about being in the spine. About standing strong and living life from one’s center. About having courage of conviction and feeling so secure in who you are that you can act with kindness and compassion towards others. Wow, that pretty much describes a hero/heroine, doesn’t it? Which is what I believe these times are calling us to be, because our world sure has need of more everyday heroes and heroines.

Swami’s brief introduction to the song pretty much says it all:
“The path to truth is not for weaklings!
Seek approval not from others,
But in your self, with God.
-Truth Can Never Die”

GO ON ALONE
Some men call it progress—
Down with those who doubt!—
To join the causes others join,
And shout when others shout.
CHORUS
Come, you’re a man,
No passive stone!
Stand up, and call your soul your own!
Go on alone! Go on alone!
Banish weakness: Go on alone!
Go on alone! Go on alone!
Don’t look back! just go on alone!

Some men lack the daring
Ever to be free!
They shun the heights, and crowd the depths,
And court security.
CHORUS

Cowards see but pride in
Singularity,
“Oh, never mind if men are wrong,
So long as they agree!”
CHORUS

Claim the power within you
Error to defy!
The world may change or disappear,
But truth can never die!
CHORUS

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I listened and love was there

I was thinking about Valentine’s Day….and reflecting on what — if anything — I wanted to say about it. And I realized I just wanted to share this about love…

Love is all I know:
Sunrays on the snow
Of a winter long
In darkness, without song.

Oh, my heart’s afire,
Burning all desire:
Only You remain,
And life again!

Too long I did stray,
Flung lifetimes away—
Imagined You did not care!
I know now Your smile
Was mine all the while:
I listened, and Love was there.

I can’t breathe for love!
All the stars above
Call to me: “Come home!
Life’s waves all end in foam.”

Only love can heal
All the pain I feel.
What a fool was I
To turn away!

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Getting still

Today’s Inner Renewal Week class was on “The Inward Path to Self-Realization: the Meditative Arts & Discipleship” and we were guided to start out with the perfect song: In the Temple of Isis. Jyotish even referred to the lyrics in connection with the need for stillness in order to meditate.

Isis is the Mother aspect of God in the ancient Egyptian religion; Swami Kriyananda wrote the song after meditating at the Temple of Isis, in Aswan. Below are the lyrics and also a recording of this inspiring song.

Still your mind if you want to pray.
Send all cares faraway.
Sing, then: Love’s ever near:
Isis comes, await the day.
Isis comes: await the day!
Mother comes: await the day!

Still your heart if you want to pray.
Send all cares faraway.
Sing, then: Love’s ever near:
Isis comes, await the day.
Isis comes: await the day!
Mother comes: await the day!

Still your soul if you want to pray.
Isis comes, await the day.
Isis comes: await the day!
Mother comes: await the day!

by Swami Kriyananda
In the Temple of Isis (The Harmony Duo)
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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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Was still…went deep…

…and now I’m home, practicing “no judgement”. 🙂

Here’s the phrase that popped into my mind as I was driving home from the Temple of Light after the first two hours of meditation this morning: “Whatever is, simply is; I cannot change it for the mere wishing.”

That’s part of the affirmation for “Truthfulness” in Swami Kriyananda’s book Affirmations for Self-Healing (I looked it up when I got home).

Lately it feels like “truthfulness” is a large part of the reason for this blog, which seems to exist largely as a way for me to practice (again from Affirmations for Self-Healing) “…seeing things as they really are, but then looking more deeply for ways to improve those realities.”

The truth about my meditation today is that it was deep and inspiring, but I can’t maintain the stillness for very long because of how much tension and dysfunction are present in my body. I was making progress on remedying this, but then I got super-busy with Christmas preparations and gave myself permission to not beat myself up about putting it on the back-burner for a time. Which was fine and necessary, but today’s meditation has made me super-eager to get back to it as soon as possible!

So…yes, it was a good meditation. And I’ll go back for the afternoon portion which doesn’t require as much sitting still.

The affirmation for “Truthfulness” ends with: “Fearlessly, therefore, I accept the truth, knowing that, at the heart of everything, God’s truth is always good.”

Or, as we would put it during our time in LA: “It’s all good!”