“For three years I have been searching for a place of worship, a place where I could express my spirit. Here, I am finding answers to questions I have asked for decades. Thank you for shining your love like a lighthouse, guiding me home.”
—D. B. Palo Alto
Ananda is...
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a worldwide network of meditation and yoga centers serving tens of thousands of people for nearly forty years -
thoughtful people who are serious about their spiritual lives
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a joyful spiritual community of friends
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a place where people aspire to grow in wisdom, humility, compassion, and a sense of humor
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music, laughter, and fellowship
- a haven of peace
“Ananda offers some incredible tools with which to relax, feel peace and joy, and help you get the best out of life.”
— J.S., Palo Alto
Ananda exists to help people grow spiritually. We honor the truths that are the heart of the great religions — that every soul must seek inward upliftment and Self-realization.
“During the service, I experienced a wonderful peace and stillness, such as I have only read about, and until then, felt was only attainable by the great saints. It was a tangible experience of God’s presence in my life. You have taught me how to find God within, and have been truly divine friends along the way. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”
—J.N., Mountain View
The teaching at Ananda encompasses the essential truth of both of Western and Eastern spiritual disciplines, particularly the ancient, scientific practice of Raja Yoga from India and the original, mystic teachings of Christ. Ananda’s teachings are those of Paramhansa Yogananda, author of the spiritual classic, Autobiography of a Yogi, and his direct disciple, Swami Kriyananda, who founded Ananda in 1968.
“As a wanderer of the world, I have seen God in Nature in the far corners of the earth, I met him high in the Andes and he gently touched me in the depression of the Dead Sea. At Ananda, in a guided journey inside myself, He finally smiled at me and revealed Himself.”
— Mario M., Rome
Universal truths
The basis of this teaching is universal; all are welcome. Ananda is more than a physical location. It is a state of mind: the consciousness of inner joy. It is a growing awareness of the presence of God, touching every aspect of our lives.
To serve you...
Asha and David Praver are the spiritual directors of Ananda Palo Alto. Asha is the minister you will hear most often giving the Sunday sermon; she is a gifted speaker whose talks draw from deep inspiration.
“I am a professional speaker myself, and I have never heard a more captivating speaker anywhere. It is rare that I am not brought to tears during one of her talks. I have been listening to Asha speak for years, and have never failed to receive a jewel of spiritual insight.”
— K. K.
In addition to Sunday services, Asha, David, and a group of Ananda ministers teach classes nearly every night of the week and on Saturdays. They are available for counsel and support whenever you wish. Many of Ananda’s ministers have received personal training from Swami Kriyananda, some for more than 30 years.
