runbei

(Told by an Ananda devotee) In the 1980s I got involved in a small singing group within Ananda. It was a time when Swamiji’s music had just begun to take hold, and all the “official” groups concentrated exclusively on the music he had written. This group’s stated purpose was to sing everything but Swamiji’s music. … Read more

A strange moral dilemma puzzled me for years, even though the problem was purely hypothetical, in that it could only arise if I were a prisoner in a concentration camp! Perhaps because I was born Jewish just after World War II, it seemed important to resolve. Finally I found the right moment to ask Swamiji. … Read more

Editor’s note: This book was published before Swami Kriyananda’s passing in 2013, thus Nayaswami Asha writes in the present tense. “Where is the bill for filling my propane tank?” Swamiji asked Seva. “It should have come by now.” “I already paid it,” Seva said with a small triumphant smile. “You shouldn’t have done that,” Swamiji … Read more

(Told by Bhagavati) As soon as Swamiji began to sing, it was obvious that the cough and sinus infection he had been battling for months had seriously affected his voice. I am a professional musician and my heart went out to him. I play the flute and I know what it is like to try … Read more

We were having dinner at Swamiji’s house, about six of us, all old friends who had worked closely with Swamiji for years. A married couple in the community had just announced that they were separating. It was sad news, though not unexpected; their relationship had always been difficult. “A few months ago,” I said, “I … Read more

“I feel more love from you than I do from my own family,” a retreat guest said to Swamiji. “How is that possible? We are meeting for the first time. You don’t even know me.” “You are right, I don’t know the details of your life the way your family does,” Swamiji replied. “My love … Read more

(Told by an Ananda devotee) In my secretarial jobs before coming to Ananda, it was my practice not only to type the letters my boss gave me, but also to edit them for clarity, grammar, and flow. I enjoyed having something creative to do, and the people I worked for appreciated my contribution. In my … Read more

A woman was betrayed by her closest friend. “I don’t want to blame him or live in the past,” she said to Swamiji. “I have to adjust to reality as it is now. So when I think of what happened, I tell myself, ‘It was just fine. It had to be that way.’” “No,” Swamiji … Read more

(Told by Nayaswami Lahari) My husband and I were in charge of setting up a lecture for Swamiji in April 2002 at his alma mater, Brown University. Everything went wrong. People we relied on didn’t keep their promises. Promotions didn’t go out on time. Even the beautiful spring weather turned suddenly cold and drizzly. Swamiji … Read more

A young man who called himself a disciple but who lacked the necessary receptivity was determined on a course of action that Swamiji thought unwise. When Swamiji hinted that perhaps it was not the best decision, the man responded arrogantly, “If Master doesn’t want me to do it, he can stop me.” After the man … Read more