The thought occurs that a more accurate title for this book might be The Countless Mistakes of a Clueless Disciple. But then I reflect that the stories that most reliably move us tell how a person has erred, and through difficult life experiences has grown wiser. We see our lives in those stories. They tell … Read more
After the earthquake in Assisi, Italy in 1998, tourism dropped off for a while. Many small businesses went bankrupt. The Ananda community there is twenty miles outside of town on a rural road. A small restaurant, serving mostly coffee and sweets, opened on that road just after the earthquake happened. “When so many businesses are … Read more
Three times in the last 18 months, I’ve had an easy run. Woo-hoo! Isn’t that special?! There has been a pattern to the awful runs. Typically it goes like this. It’s a beautiful Saturday morning in the Bay Area, and I’m feeling wonderful as I drive into the hills, but once out on the trail, … Read more
A Kiss (Told by an Ananda devotee) The child was retarded, and the unaccustomed energy of having Swamiji and our whole tour group staying in her home as guests of her mother was making her loud and unruly. She was about fourteen years old and a formidable force in the middle of the kitchen where … Read more
In 1967, I joined Self-realization Fellowship and began studying the SRF lessons, which required that we submit regular reports on our progress. At the time, Brother Bhaktananda was the men’s course examiner. In response to one of my reports, he wrote: “Your practice seems good, but the thought occurs that you might not be getting … Read more
Swamiji was traveling with Lawrence* in Europe, when they went to dinner with a married couple who were friends of Swamiji’s, but not connected with Ananda. Afterward, Lawrence exclaimed, “What a relief to get away from those two! The negativity between them was so thick you could cut it with a knife.” “It was?” Swamiji … Read more
During his talks in the final years of his life, Swamiji often warned of severe economic hard times ahead. How will we live, if the material foundations of our lives should be shaken or removed? I don’t have a fixed answer, but I pray that the following stories will inspire the reader to consider that … Read more
(Told by Hassi) My husband was forty years old when he was diagnosed with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was a carpenter—a big, robust man. We have four children; the youngest was three. I knew the medical facts but I still found it impossible to imagine that my husband would never … Read more
(Told by Jayadev) I always tended to be a rebel, getting into arguments with teachers, neighbors, and anyone in authority. Even at Ananda I decided, “No one will boss me but God!” For a while I got away with it. No one interfered with my way of doing things. Then Swamiji appointed a new director … Read more
(Told by Liladevi) By the time I got to Swamiji’s lecture it was standing room only and I had to sit on the floor of the middle aisle. It didn’t matter where I was in the room, when Swamiji began to speak, I felt as if he were inside my spine, speaking directly to my … Read more