runbei

I’m rarely able to go deep in meditation. I was paralyzed from the chest down in my mid-twenties. After two surgeries, I began to recover, but my left leg still has lingering spasticity and my right leg is mildly paralyzed. The nerve currents on the left side of my body and brain dance and crackle. … Read more

When I moved to Ananda Village in 1976, I was offered a job at “Pubble,” the department where Swami Kriyananda’s books were published. Shortly after I joined the staff, Swamiji invited us to his home to discuss some projects. He lived on the other side of the ridge from the main “downtown” part of the … Read more

When I was in my early fifties, I signed up to run a 100-mile race in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. As a joke, I grew my hair long, thinking it would be amusing to start the race looking like an old-time mountain man. I had a difficult time during the race. On a … Read more

The doctors offered no hope for my chronic bronchitis. They stroked their beards and told me I would find it increasingly hard to breathe – I would end my life pulling an oxygen tank. In the final stages, I would lie in bed until I suffocated. I thought, “Stuff that for a lark, there’s got … Read more

Sewell (El Teniente), Chile at night, 1940s. by Nayaswami Rambhakta I was born in a mining camp at 7,000’ elevation in the Chilean Andes, on January 21, 1942. The underground copper mine where my father was employed as an engineer was the largest in the world and was critically important to America’s war effort. The … Read more

by Nayaswami Rambhakta The singers in the choir at the Palo Alto Ananda Sangha temple would meet early on Sunday morning to practice before the service began. I would attend the early rehearsal, then I would get in the car and drive for an hour on the back roads of the foothills and chant. I … Read more

by Nayaswami Rambhakta Author’s Note: I wrote this to demonstrate an important spiritual principle: that God’s guidance is always individual. In His efforts to bring us into ever-greater happiness and freedom from suffering, God is wonderfully creative in the way He makes use of the resources at hand. – Rambhakta I showered and shaved and … Read more

At 82, Rambhakta remains active in the music ministry at Ananda Sangha in Palo Alto, California. When I moved to Ananda Village in 1976, I was offered a job at “Pubble,” the department where Swami Kriyananda’s books were published. Soon after I arrived, Swamiji invited the Pubble staff to his home to talk about some … Read more

Dharmadas and his wife, Nayaswami Nirmala, are the spiritual directors of Ananda Sacramento. They provided invaluable service in the early days of Swami Kriyananda’s efforts to make Paramhansa Yogananda’s teachings known in his native India. Q: Tell us about your musical background, starting as early as you like. Dharmadas: Music has always been an important … Read more

Gitanjali serves as the main choir director in the music ministry at Ananda Europa in Assisi, Italy. She also assists Mantrini and Kirtani in directing a beginner’s choir. (Photo: 2000s) Q: Did you have an early background in music? Gitanjali: I sang in choirs in junior and senior high school, and I studied piano for … Read more