Sarah Landau is a long-time disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda. She lived in the Palo Alto Ananda Community for many years and attends the Ananda Church of Self-Realization in Palo Alto, California. Noted for her eternally bright and cheerful disposition, she is kind and treasured friend to her many fellow seekers. Occupation: Personal Assistant and Childcare. … Read more
At the time when she wrote her story, Lilavati taught Pre-K and Kindergarten at the Ananda Living Wisdom School in Palo Alto, California. As the school year starts (in August 2023), she is the second grade teacher. I was in acute emotional pain after the end of a twenty-year relationship with my then-husband and father … Read more
Kamaladevi Beswick was born in Marin County, on the rugged coast of northern California, across the Golden Gate from San Francisco. The coastal mountains encompass some of Earth’s most beautiful natural spaces, and Kamaladevi’s roots as a dancer are deeply connected with the ocean and forests of her native Marin. “I’ve always been dancing,” … Read more
Occupation: Middle School Science Teacher and Faculty Mentor for future science teachers who are getting their university credentials Children: Twin boys Hobbies: Yoga, meditation, bicycling, swimming, reading, hiking. Pets: Two cats (twin girls), a gecko, and a fish Favorite ways to spend time: Hiking or mountain biking on the SF Peninsula and in the Sierras; … Read more
Narya grew up in Venice, Italy. At age eighteen, he took over the family glassware business and built it into a supplier of custom glass to high‑end department stores worldwide, with a clientele that included Middle Eastern oil billionaires. In the late 1980s Paolo sold the business and moved to Ananda Village, where he lived … Read more
Asha Nayaswami is the author of Swami Kriyananda: Lightbearer, a 635-page book that reveals the life of a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda to whom the Guru assigned a many-faceted “great work” that included fulfilling his dream of creating spiritual cooperative communities, as well as showing how people everywhere can understand the relevance of spiritual … Read more
“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher,” Narani Moorhouse says with a quiet smile. It’s a January afternoon at the elementary school, on the grassy hill above the “downtown” part of Ananda Village, a thriving, fifty-year-old spiritual community in the foothills near Nevada City, California. The children have skipped down the hill after … Read more
When we spoke, Catherine Kairavi managed the fundraising department of Ananda. (Photo: 2012) Q: I wondered if I should talk to you, since your position as director of fundraising isn’t what many people would normally think of as serving others. But nonprofit businesses are proliferating, and donations may continue to provide an important slice of … Read more
For many years Latika was a financial coordinator for Ananda Sangha, a position that gave her unique insights on how Ananda’s businesses are run. She now works for the Sangha as a fundraiser. (Photo: 1998) Q: What were the particular interests that led you to your present position? Latika: Before I came to Ananda I … Read more
When Nakula moved to Ananda Village in the early 1970s, he started a small dairy that he ran for many years. In the 1980s he moved to Washington, D.C., where he operated his own construction company. When he returned to the community he managed the Ananda Builders Guild, a construction company that was started in … Read more