runbei 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
We talked earlier with Jyotish about the beginnings of Ananda. Here, he shares his thoughts on work and the spiritual life. Q: Is it possible to do business in a spiritual way in the modern world? Jyotish: Paramhansa Yogananda came to this country to introduce an approach to the spiritual path that would be very … Read more
Q: The prerequisite for starting a spiritual cooperative community such as Ananda seems to be that a group of people must share high ideals. It therefore seems unlikely that the average urban neighborhood could become a successful community, because if there’s a single characteristic that stands out in modern life, it’s everybody’s willingness to argue … Read more
Vidura Smallen comes from a background in construction. At the time of our conversation he served as co‑general manager of the Ananda community in Nevada City, California, together with his wife, Durga. Vidura’s boundless energy and dedication to the spiritual values of kindness and service mark him as a “boss who never bosses,” and one … Read more
Although this talk by Vidura isn’t strictly about service, it’s included for its relevance to the spiritually relevant subject of staying inwardly centered while performing our outward roles. (Photo: 2010s – Vidura in India with friend Anil) About two months ago, I traveled to India to make some adjustments to the itinerary for our … Read more
Padma managed Crystal Clarity Publishers, the company that publishes books by Swami Kriyananda. Padma and her husband, Nayaswami Hriman, now serve as directors of the Ananda community and church in Seattle. Q: Can you tell us how you came on the spiritual path? Did you have a lifelong interest in spirituality, or did it come … Read more