“Good company is essential on the spiritual path. Whether your energy will move inward toward God, or outward toward the world, is determined, to a large extent, by the company you keep.”
—Paramhansa Yogananda

An invitation to membership

Has your heart has been touched by your experience of Ananda? Do you feel a connection with the people you have met? Perhaps you would like to make a deeper commitment to your spiritual life. If so, you are invited to become a member of Ananda.

 

What membership means

Membership in Ananda is an expression of your support for this spiritual work, and of your desire to join with others in spiritual community and fellowship.

“What is Ananda’s mission?” asked a visitor to Ananda. “To have fun,” replied Swami Kriyananda. Once people stopped laughing at this unexpected answer, he added, “What I mean by having fun is this: experiencing God within, enjoying His presence in one another, and sharing the Divine with all.”

 

Who may become a member?

All are welcome; Ananda has members of many faiths. You will find that most members are also disciples of Paramhansa Yogananda and practice the meditation technique of Kriya Yoga, but this is not a requirement for membership. Some Ananda members are disciples on other spiritual paths. What they have in common is this: their spiritual lives are nourished by their connection with Ananda.

 

Monthly giving

Members make a regular donation, usually monthly. The amount you give is up to you. Many members tithe 10%, some tithe a smaller percent, and others donate a fixed amount as they wish. The decision of what to give is personal and confidential. What is tithing and why is it considered a spiritual practice?

 

A gift to members

In thanks for your financial support, you may attend any class, special event, or banquet at reduced rates, or free, depending on your level of support. Members who tithe 10%, for example, may attend these activities at no cost.

 

How to become a member

It will be a joy to welcome you into the spiritual community of Ananda. Call to arrange a time to talk with Dambara Begley, minister, at (650) 323-3353, x202, or send an email.

If you’d like to complete your membership application before meeting, you may download it here, or complete it online.