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Ananda Sangha of Portland
April 306 Dwapara (2006)
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In This Newsletter
Articles & Letters
Lead Article: Kriyananda Visits Portland
Easter, Great and SmallWho is This Son of Man? (by Kriyananda)
News, Events and Schedules
“He
is the kindest man I have ever met.” The sentiment expressed in this quote from
Louise Hay is echoed around the world, wherever Swami Kriyananda has traveled.
Perhaps the greatest gift of my life has been the opportunity to observe the process and phenomenon of discipleship first-hand.
I was born with a deep yearning to know and understand the mysteries of life. I had always believed that there must be a key to life’s secrets, a promise of wholeness under all conditions. I finally found someone who exhibited those qualities in Paramhansa Yogananda when I read the Autobiography of a Yogi. Better still, I found that he was willing to share how to find that wholeness for oneself.
Alas, I also discovered that such a gift was not to be lightly received. The more I explored, the more I realized I still needed a living example of what this might look like, and Yogananda had passed in 1952.
Swami Kriyananda discovered Paramhansa Yoga-nanda in 1948 and was accepted as a direct disciple. For 3-1/2 years he was guided by this great spiritual master. He has continued that discipleship through the years, and even now lives a life of complete self-offering to the guiding principles and teachings of Yogananda.
The fruit of that discipleship has been not only personal growth for himself, it has blessed the world with seven thriving cooperative spiritual communities (Ananda Communities), hundreds of meditation groups around the world, a school system that balances development of body, mind and soul, several hundred pieces of inspiring and beautiful music, nearly a hundred books, and thousands of insightful talks on spiritualizing every aspect of human life.
In addition, he has made himself available to people. There are thousands of souls who have been personally guided, supported and encouraged by him in their spiritual development. They, in turn, have served thousands of others in developing a deeper relationship with God inside themselves.
Swami Kriyananda, though currently residing near New Delhi, India, will be returning to the US this spring to celebrate his 80th birthday on May 19, at Ananda Village in northern California. He will be active also in the “Festival of the Joyful Arts,” an annual celebration of spiritualized music, dance, theater and fine arts, in early June. On June 3, he will release his latest book, The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita, in San Francisco. (Information on how to attend any of these functions is available through the Sangha Office.)
In addition, Swami Kriyananda will be visiting the Ananda Communities on the West Coast, passing through Portland to give Sunday Service on May 7. This is an extraordinary opportunity to share with this remarkable soul.
All are welcome. Stay posted to our website for times and details.
Blessings, eric and ingrid
eric & ingrid
Save the Date!
For Sunday, May 7th, we will be expecting a large crowd at service this day. Details at the Mandir may look a bit different.
Stay tuned for what time service starts and when you can expect the doors to open (to get the best seats), and opportunities to be part of the team making it all happen!
Also, please note that because of Swamji’s health, his visit could be revised or cancelled at short notice. Please call for last minute updates.
The
cherry trees are in full bloom, and though there is yet to be a fully sunny
spring day, life is awake and thrusting itself through every nook and cranny.
Springtime Portland is like an enormous garden, with nature’s glories
everywhere. I am spellbound.
Contemplating this powerful awakening expressed in nature, it is not surprising that God chose the springtime to play out those most dramatic final moments of Jesus’ life. Spring holds drama. Burgeoning life contends with late-passing snows that all but belie the promise of new life. Tender blossoms are beset with frosts that threaten the summer’s fruitful harvest. Blustery rain and wind not only hold off the blossoming of spring, but supply necessary pruning and moisture that allow spring, when it does appear, to fully express itself. And our hearts are ever more uplifted when a delayed spring is finally released.
The crucifixion of Jesus was as horrible a human fate as can be imagined, both physically and psychically. However, many in his time were crucified. It is not the crucifixion that gives blessings. Within the crucifixion, it is Jesus’ concern with others that guides us with a sense of life’s promise: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Some part of us yearns to be so free of self-involvement that in even the most severe experiences of life we may be a channel for grace and care for others. That life, even in the midst of winter’s greatest efforts, expresses beauty and giving of itself.
But even this is not enough. If Jesus had simply died from the crucifixion, even nobly, the promise of his life would have fallen short of what we know to be true—that somehow life itself is eternal. With Jesus’ resurrection, we find a living example that even death itself is a delusion. As with the coming of springtime, we rejoice with the reawakening, filled with renewed courage to meet life with fortitude and eagerness.
Jesus said to his disciples, about the miracles they witnessed, “...these things and greater shall you do…”. His message was that our own lives must emulate his, that this is the destiny of all who seek God.
If we wait for the big tests of life to express this level of grace, we are unlikely to be up to the task. However, we can (and must) practice in the small moments. When someone offends or insults us, when we receive an injury or loss, when life goes a different direction from what we know to be just or right, we choose either to yield to that force, or to continue to believe in life, in its indestructibility. When we choose life, we find the fulfillment of Easter’s promise in the midst of our own daily lives.
Happy and Blessed Easter,
eric and ingrid
-
Last call to visit Swami Kriyananda at Ananda Village by bus! There are
still a few seats left on the bus trip to the Village (May 18-May 22). If you
would like to be part of the group bus trip (which includes devotees from Ananda
Seattle as well) please contact the mandir right away! Cost for the
transportation on the bus is $125.
Lodging and event costs are
separate. -
Congratulations to Usha Dermond (director of our Living Wisdom School) and Lorna Knox (author of Scary News—12 Ways to Raise Joyful Children When the Headlines are Full of Fear) for a successful Mindful Parenting Symposium held at New Renaissance Bookstore. Over 46 people attended!
-
A special thank you to all the traveling Oratorio performers who visited in March. The special performance touched the hearts of all who came.
And let’s send special blessings to Marilyn Baughman and Satyaki Brockschmidt who will be traveling with the group on the first weekend in April for four performances in California including: Santa Rosa, Palo Alto, Sacramento, & Nevada City. -
Meditation Training—Our next Meditation for Starters class is April 13, 7:30-9pm; $40 (including materials). Our next Developing an Inner Life: Learn to Meditate (4 Tuesdays) class will begin April 18, 7-9pm; $150 (including materials).
-
Looking for a fun way to introduce a friend to Ananda? Try one of our Free Seminars! Check out Healing the Body of Pain & Tension, April 6 (7:30-8:45pm) taught by David Ramsden.
-
Last month over 15 Ananda volunteer meditation leaders attended a special Meditation/Sadhana Leaders Satsang at the Ananda Community. Our next meeting will focus on leading group chanting (taught by Satyaki). If you are interested in volunteering as a sadhana leader or leading group meditations please contact Eric Glazzard.
-
Kent Baughman invites you to a newly added evening meditation at the Ananda Community, Mondays, 8-9pm.
- The Essence of
the Bhagavad Gita launch is June 3rd! Rarely in a lifetime does a new spiritual
classic appear that has the power to change people's lives and transform future
generations. This is such a book. In this epic work, Swami Kriyananda shares the
deep and profound insights of Paramhansa Yogananda that will touch the hearts of
all truth seekers.
This revelation of India's best-loved scripture approaches it from an entirely fresh perspective, showing its deep allegorical meaning and also its down-to-earth practicality. The themes presented are universal: how to achieve victory in life in union with the divine; how to prepare for life's "final exam," death, and what happens afterward; how to triumph over all pain and suffering.
“This profound vision of the great yogi Paramhansa Yogananda opens a new window that lets the wisdom light of the Bhagavad Gita, the words of the Blessed One, shine as a source of sublime peace in the hearts of many.”—Tulku Thondup Rinpoche, author of: The Healing Power of Mind; Boundless Healing; and Peaceful Death, Joyful Rebirth
- Foot
Reflexology for the AUM fund—Jackie Saar, resident of Ananda Village and
Reflexologist, is offering special foot reflexology treatments during Swami
Kriyananda’s 80th Birthday Celebration and the Joyful Arts Festival at Ananda
Village to raise money for the AUM fund.
If you will be attending either of these events and would enjoy a special healing treatment, please give Jackie a call to book an appointment: 530-478-7577. Sessions usually last from 30 to 45 minutes and cost $35. 100% of the money earned will be donated to the AUM fund.
"Having a reflexology session with Jackie is a treat I love to give myself. After making sure that I'm very comfortably settled, she treats my feet to the most warm, nurturing attention that my feet have ever experienced. Beyond the absolute heaven of having someone pay such loving attention to my feet, I always come away feeling relaxed, refreshed and invigorated." —Patty McCarley, Ananda Sacramento
from Rays of the One Light by Swami Kriyananda
On Palm Sunday, the throng joyfully acclaimed Jesus Christ as he entered Jerusalem, casting palm fronds before him and singing, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! The Lord bless the king of Israel!” (John 12:13)
Jesus Christ had told the people, “The son of man must be lifted up.” His reference—so we are told—was to the mode of his impending crucifixion. Some persons on that occasion had asked, “Who is this son of man?”
Was Jesus a human being, merely? Those who, on Palm Sunday, called him king little realized the actual nature of his kingdom. He was far more than what they imagined. Yes, of course he ate, drank, walked, slept, and talked like others. His consciousness, however, was centered in infinity. Yes—again—he laughed like others: But his laughter expressed divine joy, not mere merriment. Again, he wept like them: But never with human grief. The tears he shed were for the sufferings of unenlightened human beings: Never were they shed in self-pity.
Jesus Christ was wakeful in God. Most people, by contrast, are asleep spiritually.
How strange to reflect that less than a week from that entry into Jerusalem—so joyfully acclaimed—he would be arrested, condemned, and crucified! Such is the bitter-sweetness of human existence: smiles of welcome one day—insults, even persecution the next. How few realize that Christ’s suffering would not be for himself, but for people’s ignorance—for those who had not yet understood the deeper reality that dwelt also in them!
Everyone is born “trailing clouds of glory,” as the poet Wordsworth put it. Even the meanest beggar has lived a story, or will eventually have lived it, more magnificent than the greatest epic ever written.
In the Bhagavad Gita, this dichotomy between the “son of man” and the inner “Son of God” is beautifully described. Sri Krishna, representing God in human form, reveals his true nature in infinity. In the eleventh chapter of that great scripture, his chief disciple Arjuna exclaims:
O Infinite Light!
Thy radiance, spreading o’er the universe,
Shines into the very
darkest abyss!
Thy voice o’erwhelms
the roar of cosmic
cataclysms!
Lo! the myriad stars are Thy diadem;
Thy scepter radiates power everywhere!
O Immortal Brahman, Lord of all:
Again and again at Thy feet of Infinity
I lie in prostration before Thee!
J. Donald Walters, also known by his monastic name of Swami Kriyananda, is a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda and the founder of Ananda. As a young man, Walters spent 3½ years living closely with the great Indian master up to the end of Yogananda's life. In the years that followed he went on to become vice-president of Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF), the organization Yogananda founded. After being removed from SRF in 1962, he began Ananda in 1968, recognized as the most successful spiritual community in the world.
Walters' books and music have sold over 3 million copies worldwide and been translated into 24 languages. His over eighty published works seminally explore the application of the teachings of Self-realization to daily life. Topics include leadership, education, creativity, and moral values. His best-selling titles include Meditation for Starters, The Path: A Spiritual Autobiography, Money Magnetism, The Essence of Self-Realization, Affirmations for Self-Healing, Education for Life, and his best-selling Secrets gift books.
A composer since 1964, Swami Kriyananda has written over 400 pieces of original music including spiritual folk songs, an oratorio, instrumentals, and music inspired by seeing the Divine in cultures throughout the world.
His music is soothing, uplifting, and inspiring. Many of his new albums are instrumental works that contain brief affirmations or visualizations. Chuck Dilberto, of Awareness Magazine says, "Kriyananda's words and music are full of his life and light. His sole intention is to heal, something we could all use during these chaotic times."
His recent albums include Secrets of Life, Mantra, Life is a Quest for Joy, and I, Omar. As a composer, Walters is best known for the top-selling albums Mystic Harp and Mystic Harp 2, featuring the legendary harpist Derek Bell, of the 5-time Grammy Award-winning group The Chieftains.
In seeking to fulfill Yogananda's insight that the world needs examples of how to live together in harmony in a complex and diversified world, Walters has founded intentional, spiritual communities in America and Europe which have grown and flourished, offering hope for a better world.
Walters is currently residing in Gurgaon, India (a suburb of New Delhi).
Want to Learn More About Swami Kriyananda?
Look for these books:
The Path: One Man’s Quest on the Only Path There Is—This is personal autobiography. Written by Swami Kriyananda.
Faith is my Armor—This is the story of a new kind of hero: a man who has achieved extraordinary victories in his life-not with weapons, but with moral and spiritual courage. Written by Devi Novak spiritual director with her husband Jyotish of Ananda Worldwide.
Also check out the website: www.swamikriyananda.org for complete biographical details, including a gallery of photographs taken throughout his life
Easter at ananda
“Christ was resurrected not only on Easter Morn, but He reanimates Himself in the dawn of each Soul’s awakening.” — Paramhansa Yogananda
Good Friday Kirtan and Meditation
Experience an evening of devotional chanting and meditation celebrating the rebirth of the Divine Spirit within all of us. Friday, April 14, 7-9pm, donations welcomeSaturday Easter Retreat
Join us for an Easter time of spiritual renewal. Today’s retreat includes, yoga postures, energization exercises, meditation and time for introspection. Saturday, April 15, 7am-12noon, $15Easter Sunday Service
Today’s Easter Service will feature music from the Christ Lives! Oratorio performed by the Ananda Portland Choir and an inspirational talk on “Resurrection for Every Soul.” Sunday April 16, 10amEaster Vegetarian Potluck Banquet
Join us at the Ananda Community for an afternoon of good food, friends, and fun! We’ll also have an egg hunt for children. Everyone is welcome. Sunday, April 16, 1pm. Bring a vegetarian potluck dish to share
Ananda
Yoga FundamentalsHave you ever thought about taking an Ananda Yoga class but don’t know anything about Ananda Yoga? Are you a beginner? Or a more experienced student looking to explore Ananda Yoga to deepen your practice?
In this two-week series, David Ramsden will explore the fundamentals of Ananda Yoga: including the basics of pranayama, the practice of typical postures (with an emphasis on safety and learning to work with your own body), the why and how of affirmations, and creating a place of relaxation even in the midst of effort.
2 Wednesdays, April 18 & 26,
5:45-7pm; $20 for the entire series
Students must attend the first class.
Healing the Body of Pain and Tension
Free seminar offered Thursday, April 6, 7:30pm
coming in may
How to Apply Yoga Principles to Everyday Life
“To all those who receive Him, to them He gave the power to become the Sons of God.” It is best to take on a single passage of Scripture each day and meditate on that one thought and meaning alone. Great illumination can come that way. Scriptures that are too hurriedly read do not reveal their inner regenerative significance and power.
Weekly Postures Schedule at the Mandir
|
Monday |
10:00-11:15am |
|
|
Tuesday |
5:45-7:00pm |
|
|
Wednesday |
Specialty Classes (see above) |
|
|
Thursday |
5:45-7:00pm |
3 Shane McCamey
Kathleen Hankins4 Bhima (Mark) Hill
12 Sandy Taylor
14 Timothy Knox
15 David Ramsden
18 Dwight Bartlett
23 Kent Baughman
28 Cori Wardle
Blessings to all these great souls! If you’re missing from our list, please let us know.
The secret of friendship is seeing God’s love behind the blessing of friendship.” --Swami Kriyananda from Secrets of Friendship
May 7
Sunday Service with Swami Kriyananda
May 9
Meditation for Starters
May 11
Free Seminar: Healing the Body of Pain and Tension
May 16
Developing an Inner Life: Learn to Meditate series begins
May 18
Class: How to Apply Yoga Philosophy to Everyday Life (2 week)
May 18-21
Swami Kriyananda's Birthday Celebration at Ananda Village
June 3
Launch of The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita in San Francisco with Swami Kriyananda
June 9-11
Festival of the Joyful Arts at Ananda Village with Swami Kriyananda
Details on these events will be in upcoming newsletters.
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