Featured Articles, Courses, Events and Book Releases

Book Study — Kriya Yoga: Spiritual Awakening for the New Age

Free online weekly through May
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Starting Tuesday, May 3, 6–7 PM, Pacific Time

Both instructive and inspiring, Kriya Yoga: Spiritual Awakening for a New Age is a signpost to the aspiring devotee for how and why to take up the lifelong practice of Kriya Yoga. Simultaneously the book is a roadmap for the already practicing Kriya Yogi. 

Kriya Yoga teaches demonstrable principles to enable us to change our moods, calm the restless mind, control our emotions, and ultimately attain our highest divine potential. 

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Stories from India, Volume Two

Wisdom Stories series
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This volume picks up where Volume One left off: with stories shared by the great yoga master Paramhansa Yogananda and his close disciple, Swami Kriyananda.

Told for generations, these stories impart lifelong values of compassion and understanding, virtue, dharma, and ability to relate to another’s reality.

The tales are an excellent resource to turn to again and again for inspiration, sharing, and personal study, whether you are a teacher, parent, student, or devotee.

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Spiritual Q&A

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Meditation

What Is the Difference Between Meditation and Prayer?

Spiritual Growth

What Is the Difference Between Contentment and Satisfaction?

Yoga Philosophy

What Is a Soul?

Health and Healing

How Are We Affected by Diet?

Health and Healing

How Can I Calm My Anxiety?

I’m on the Spiritual Path, and My Friends Aren’t Interested

Dear Jaclyn, The dilemma you pose is one many spiritual seekers have to face. In some ways it is a temptation: “Oh they are good people why should I turn my back on them.” No doubt they are good people.

How Can We Balance Our Material Life and Spiritual Life?

Dear Friend, You raise a very insightful and important question: the relationship of the spiritual life to material life. It is a long standing belief, teaching and truth that righteous living brings material success. Harmony with nature, with people, and

What Is the Purpose of This Existence? Why Did God Create Us?

Dear Vishwesh, God created all this as a movie, in which He enjoys His ONE being in many, with colors, forms, drama, and a happy end. Why did He do that, with all the suffering involved? One day you must

I’m Frustrated with My Life. What Can I Do to Improve It?

Dear Friend, One good suggestion for you is to raise the level of your energy. You may learn the Energization Exercises of Yogananda, practice them regularly with vigor, and then try to put out the highest energy you can during

Unanswered Question

Dear Tony, Yes, it’s a lot. I would follow a succession which Swami Kriyananda taught. First step: Concentrate on the physical part, isolating the muscles, learning the movements, the double breath, the gradual tension and relaxation. Second step: Once you

Why Do I Cry in Meditation?

Dear Riya, If I understand you correctly, you don’t cry for sadness. That too can happen. But you cry for the immenseness and glory of the universe. That is good, it is an expression of devotion. The trick is not

Does Money Inhibit Spiritual Growth?

Dear Andi, Yogananda-ji never said that. He said enjoy all things with the joy of God. Krishna was a prince; so, too, Arjuna and King Janaka. There have been saints in Christianity, too, who were royalty. It is attachment to

Why Is the Middle of the Spiritual Eye Light Shaped like a Star?

Dear One, The star of the spiritual eye has five points. They represent the five elements of which our whole creation has been formed: earth, water, fire, air, ether. The star itself represents Cosmic Consciousness, or absolute Spirit. Out of

How Can I Balance My Spiritual and Material Goals

Dear Friend, There is a saying from long ago during wartime: “There are no atheists in foxholes.” This means that when we are desperate, we pray but when we get what we want, we no longer feel the impulse to

Is Moksha Escape from Maya?

Dear Vivek, Yes, remembering God all the time, with or without form, can definitely result in an experience of God. It is what great Masters teach. Moksha is not exodus, or escape from troubles of maya. It is much more.

My Father Is Having a Hard Time Finding a Job

Dear Liliana, I am sorry to read about your father’s difficulties in obtaining a job. Your calm support and encouragement is important at this time when he must be feeling very discouraged.6 Let your daily prayers and meditations conclude with

Why Do I Remember Situations from My Previous Lives?

Dear Anna, Commonly, a young child has image-pictures of their immediately preceding life. These memories fade as the child grows into their current life personality, circumstances, and influences. Like all memories, it’s often impossible to know why a memory “pops

After a Difficult Karmic Experience, How Can I Release the Anger and Move on?

Dear Friend, To continue with bouts of anger and resentment is to suffer multiple times: far beyond the initial crises. Even if you continue to feel justified in your anger, ask yourself: does my anger change what happened? how does

How Much Time Will it Take for Enlightenment?

Dear Abhishek, The path to enlightenment begins with our sincere effort and is unique to each of us. Some are born into a spiritually minded family. Others have an awakening as an adult, early or late in life. One often

Is there a Separation Between a Saint and God?

Dear Friend, I don’t have the advantage of reading the article but I would caution you from taking the exchange too literally. The phrase “surrender to the Divine” is something even great saints and avatars will express. In any case,

Why Should I Seek God in this Birth with an Unholy Past?

Dear Friend, Sanatan Dharma, taught in various forms and languages throughout the world, declares “Tat twam asi.” Thou art THAT. The life within you, the intelligence, and the feeling all are manifestations of the One. Why imagine you would want

How Can I Balance My Material and Spiritual Needs?

Dear Subramanian, Ah! The battle of life! Read the beloved Gita as often as you can. I can recommend my teacher’s magnum opus: The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita by Swami Kriyananda. Lahiri Mahasaya of Benares (1826-1894 approx) was a

I Am Pregnant. What Can I Do to Help My Baby Spiritually?

Dear Cookie, Congratulations! This period of time in pregnancy is very, very important spiritually for both you and the child: as you obviously know! Chanting aloud during the day and as part of your daily prayers and meditation is an

I Had a Dream of Babaji. What Does it Mean for Me and My Meditation?

Dear Sri, The experiences you describe are there to encourage you in the inner path of meditation. You need not be concerned; you are doing your meditation correctly. It takes time and practice to be able to calmly enter into

I Keep Wavering Between Two Paths

Dear Marcel, Yours is a curious situation. In such cases, however, ask Yogananda and the kriya masters for guidance. It’s not as if they have any exclusive claims. Their concern is only your spiritual growth. Yet they have appeared in

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Upcoming Events

Online Classes and Events

Keys to the Yoga Sutras

February 14, 5:00 pm PST

Asana Intensive for Yoga Teachers

March 10, 5:00 pm PST

Ananda Yoga Weekly Online Classes

March 29, 8:00 am PST

Saturday 3-Hour Meditation

April 28, 7:00 am PST

Ananda Village Sunday Service

April 28, 11:00 am PST

More events…

The Expanding Light Retreat

Sharing the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda – Learn How to Live!

Ananda Holistic Health Retreat

June 2 – 8

Kriya Retreat: Taking Kriya for the First Time

October 24 – 27

Ananda Yoga® Teacher Training

July 5 – August 4

Yogananda’s City of Angels Pilgrimage

July 30 – August 6

Ananda’s Karma Yoga Ashram Program

Ongoing

More events…

Videos

All Videos      Sunday Services

3:51

Celtic Moonrise

5:28

Past Memories

3:08

I Will Always Think of Thee

1:34:01

Spiritual Questions Answered with Nayaswami Shanti

26:25

Swami Kriyananda’s Beautiful Example of Discipleship

21:01

Renouncing the Ego (With Swami Kriyananda)

7:07

What is the Best Diet? Ask a Yogi

29:28

How to Work with Your Emotions (Part 2)

8:54

Is God Responsible for Suffering? Part 2 – Conditions of the Creation

The Mountain or the Marketplace

  AUDIO ONLY
3:58

The Hill That Was Tara

48:25

Awakening the Natural Love of the Heart

1:31:46

Journey Into Awareness: Exploring the 8 Manifestations of Consciousness

1:33

Praise Ye the Lord

30:52

How to Transform Intentions Into Actions

1:08:05

How to Live the Teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda

40:51

Communities: Paramhansa Yogananda’s Vision for the Future (Part 1)

33:20

Sunday Service with Nayaswamis Jyotish and Devi: We Are Children of Light

Children of the Light

  AUDIO ONLY
7:57

Guided Meditation by Paramhansa Yogananda: Going Beyond Thinking

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