runbei

At the time of our conversation, Nivritti managed Crystal Clarity Publishers, the company that publishes Swami Kriyananda’s books and recordings. She later moved to Seattle, where she co-managed East West Bookshop, a metaphysical bookstore that she and two other women started in the mid‑1980s. Q: How did your interest in business begin? Nivritti: I can’t … Read more

Vasanta served for many years as a general consultant for the Ananda businesses. His job involved helping the managers and employees find better ways to do business while growing spiritually themselves. (Photo: 2000s) Q: Tell us a little about your background in business. Vasanta: I graduated in 1970 from the University of Utah with a … Read more

NOTE: This is a long, combined posting of two chapters in Gurudas’s life, before and during the years when he worked closely with Swami Kriyananda as manager of Crystal Clarity Publishers, the company that published Swamiji’s books. For readers who are interested to know what it was like to work as one of Swamiji’s “right-hand men,” … Read more

Tom Taylor managed Master’s Market, a small health foods store at Ananda Village. Under Tom’s sure hand the market steadily improved its services, adding a baking business that delivered fresh breads, cakes, and cookies to stores in the local area, and remodeling and expanding the premises to include a deli and indoor seating. Tom eventually … Read more

Gangamata managed Mountain Song, a successful women’s boutique and gift store in Nevada City that was owned and run by members of the Ananda community. When Mountain Song was sold, Gangamata worked in Ananda’s management office. She now serves with her husband Daiva in Ananda’s Portland ministry. Q: How did you initially get involved in business? … Read more

We spoke with Paula in 1987 when she managed Mountain Song, a popular women’s clothing store and boutique in Nevada City, owned and run by Ananda members. Paula passed in 1997. Her thoughts on spiritual consciousness at work are a testimonial to her bright spirit. Q: How did you come to manage Mountain Song? Paula: … Read more

Tim Kretzmann managed Ananda Woodworking for many years together with his partner, Rick Toles. Their primary products were fine hammer dulcimers, autoharps, and meditation benches. But what Tim and Rick really sold was something else entirely. Q: How did you get involved in the business of making fine musical instruments and meditation benches? Tim: When … Read more

In the 1970s, Ric Moorehouse left law school to study blacksmithing at Turley Forge in Sante Fe, New Mexico. He later moved back to the Bayou Country of his native Louisiana where he sought out and began studying with old-time master blacksmiths. Ric eventually moved to Ananda Village, where he built a small blacksmith shop … Read more

  Nitai: founded the Living Wisdom Schools in 1971 with six students, ages four to eight. The school grew gradually and by 1986 had ninety students in preschool through eighth grades. There are now Education for Life schools in America, India, Italy, and Slovenia. Q: Can you talk about your early experiences with Ananda, and how … Read more

Jaya has lived in the Ananda communities almost since the beginning. (The original community was started in 1968.) He managed the day‑to‑day operations and planning aspects of Ananda Village for many years, and now he and his wife, Nayaswami Sadhana Devi, serve as leaders of Ananda’s work in India. (Photo: 1990s) Q: This is the … Read more