“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
(Told by Steve Navisky) I was part of the Ananda choir tour to Italy in May of 2000. Night after night we performed the Oratorio Swamiji had written about the life of Christ to full houses of enthusiastic music fans. In each city, the audiences gave us standing ovations, then crowded around to talk to … Read more
In the summer of 1980, Swamiji spent most of his time in San Francisco helping to establish an Ananda Center there. Even with him spearheading the energy, it was hard going. The San Francisco Bay area, however, is the population hub of northern California. Swamiji felt we must establish some presence there, for the sake … Read more
One night, Swamiji was walking through an area of the Ananda community near his home. It was a picturesque scene—lights twinkling in the windows of several residences and faintly in the distance the sound of someone chanting. “For the only time in Ananda’s history,” Swamiji said later, “the thought crossed my mind, ‘I did this. … Read more
(Told by Jayadev) I was with Swamiji, having dinner with the family of an Ananda friend. They were educated, refined people, but not devotees, so the conversation was about art, language, politics—everything but God. It was interesting, but part of me kept thinking, “Here I am sitting next to Swamiji. How nice it would be … Read more
(Told by an Ananda devotee) I had to work closely with a woman I found overbearing and opinionated. Since I, too, have strong opinions, we often had a personality conflict. I asked Swamiji for advice. “She is the same way with me,” he said, “but I get along with her easily. When I am with … Read more