In the early days, Ananda was fairly crammed with Leos and Capricorns – the Leo leaders and their Capricorn implementers. In their company I always felt at sea – the plodding village idiot among the witty partygoers. Swamiji encouraged me to accept my nature – to be comfortable with it, and to understand that I, … Read more
When the formal interview was done, Steven, the journalist, began to ask Swamiji some personal questions of his own. “I am a Gemini,” Steven said, “and am curious about everything. It’s hard for me to stick to just one spiritual path. I feel like I might be missing something, so I keep jumping from one … Read more
I parked beneath an oak tree on the Stanford University campus at 6 a.m. and set out for a run. Six miles from Stanford, I turned onto a trail by a creek that flowed under shimmering leaves in the early morning sun. After a long climb to the ridge top, I turned north and jogged … Read more
(Told by Gyandev) I was one of fifty people from Ananda on a pilgrimage with Swamiji to Israel in 1985. One day we went to Nazareth and, after visiting the holy sites, we were moving through the lively street scene. Swamiji was enjoying the passing show when suddenly a young Arab man, apparently a Christian, … Read more
The Crystal Hermitage grounds are a delight. In the summer months, Swamiji would often invite the community members to the hermitage for a “garden party.” There’s a lovely, curved swimming pool that follows the contours of a grassy terrace. It has a blue-tinted bottom that gives the water a cool, refreshing look. At a garden … Read more
1. Age Difference Swamiji is 21 years older than I. When I became his secretary, I was just 25. Despite my youth and inexperience, I held strong views on many subjects and didn’t easily give in, even if it was Swamiji who disagreed with me. Decades later, when I began to work with strong-minded young … Read more
My former wife and I were at Swami Kriyananda’s to talk informally about our relationship. Swamiji gave us his wise counsel, then he began talking enthusiastically about how he had fasted for ten days, and how wonderful it had left him feeling. We listened politely, but in the back of my mind I wondered, “Why … Read more
(Told by Peter Kretzmann) I was born at Ananda and have lived here all my life. When I was six years old, Swamiji was in the dining room at the Retreat, and for some reason all the children started going up and hugging him. At first, I held back—I didn’t want to do it just … Read more
When people enter the spiritual path, they tend to take one of two approaches to their health. Some arrive at a comfortable accommodation with Paramhansa Yogananda’s common-sense advice: “Find a diet that agrees with you and forget about it.” Others search endlessly. At the Village, it seemed that a new health craze would sweep the … Read more
(Told by Sara Cryer) I have always appreciated the way Swamiji relates to children. He doesn’t patronize them, as some adults do. The soul is ageless, even if the body is young. But the consciousness of a child is different. Swamiji recognizes that and takes it into account. My son Rama was nine when we … Read more