Ministers and staff

Nayaswami Asha (Praver) is the spiritual director of Ananda Palo Alto with her husband, David. She is one of Ananda’s principal speakers worldwide, and regularly gives Sunday satsang at Ananda in Palo Alto. She has been a student of Swami Kriyananda since 1970, and a founding member of Ananda Village. She served as Kriyananda’s personal secretary for many years. She is author of Swami Kriyananda as We Have Known Him (Crystal Clarity, Publishers, 2006), miracles and stories of an American sage, and the many lives he has helped to transform. What is a nayaswami?

Nayaswami David (Praver) is the spiritual director of Ananda Palo Alto with his wife, Asha. He has guided and developed many enterprises, including an alternative high school, a restaurant, Ananda’s publishing company, and Ananda’s guest retreat (now the Expanding Light near Nevada City, CA). He has been meditating for 30 years; he specializes in teaching advanced meditation and Yogananda’s Energization Exercises.

Dambara Begley has practiced meditation for 20 years. He is engaging and warm, with a deep sensitivity to the needs of meditation students, and a keen sense of humor. He has been one of Ananda’s principal beginning meditation teachers for many years. He is also a gifted soloist who performs regularly at Ananda events.

Nayaswami Chidambar (Bonin) is one of Ananda Palo Alto's founding members and long-time manager of the Ananda Community, home to more than 50 Ananda members who live together in an intentional, spiritual community. Rick teaches advanced meditation training. He also provides one-on-one support and mentoring for long-time meditators and those with a Kriya Yoga practice (Yogananda's most advanced meditation technique). He is wise, patient, and awake.

Gary McSweeney teaches at Living Wisdom School, specializing in the most fun, and perhaps most challenging time: middle school. He is loved and respected by his students, and has a gift for the discipline and support that kids that age crave. He was manager of the Ananda Community for many years. He has a terrific sense of humor and is a calm, unflappable fellow.

Helen Purcell is principal of Living Wisdom School and a teacher for many years in college and in secondary schools. She has lectured on Education for Life principles internationally. She has dedicated her life to helping children develop a lifelong love of learning, emotional self-mastery and character, and an inner life that honors values universal to all religions.

Shanti Rubenstone is a Stanford M.D. with a full-time medical practice who also finds time for regular meditation and teaching. Shanti teaches meditation, energy and healing, and what she calls ‘living wellness’. Brilliant and passionate, she is an energy dyanamo, and a lively and engaging teacher. She has the gift of a loving heart, one that always has room to give more to anyone in need.

Nayaswami Tushti (Conti) manages Ananda's East West Bookstore in Mountain View with her husband, Surendra. She is a long-time yoga postures instructor and enthusiast, with years of nursing experience. She is an radiant example of health and fitness, and a former marathoner. Her passion is yoga and holistic healing.

Nayaswami Surendra (Conti) manages Ananda’s East West Bookstore in Mountain View with his wife, Tushti. A gifted freelance writer for over 30 years, James has turned his love for creativity into a spiritual practice. He shares the joys of this practice in his class Writing With Spirit. He teaches meditation classes at Ananda.

Chaitanya Mahoney graces the mandir regularly with his clear tenor voice. He is a frequent soloist, directs the choir, leads special musical programs, and gives private singing lessons. He is also a skilled builder and studio engineer, crafting beautiful new recordings of Kriyananda’s music.

Anandaprem Diane serves as an administrator for the Sangha and is often the warm voice on the other end of the phone when you call for any reason. She is a counselor, a friend, and a support for all. She spent 30 years in high-tech electronics, raising 3 children as a single mother. Her passion is creating beautiful and welcoming environments for devotional celebrations at Ananda.

Pavani Mahoney has been integral in nearly every aspect of Ananda Palo Alto since the beginning, from working at East West Bookstore in its early years to teaching at Living Wisdom School. Her passion is the performing arts. She helps organize and direct many of our musical and artistic presentations.

Nirmoha Gladen, prior to becoming an Ananda Minister, served as a Lutheran Pastor for 16 years, mostly in Minnesota and North Dakota. He came to the Bay area to study Transpersonal Psychology, and discovered his true home in Ananda. He has been a student of Yoganada since he was 15, when he first read the Autobiography of a Yogi. Long familiar with the variety of roles played by a minister serving a church, trained and experienced in pastoral counseling and music, he brings diverse experiences to his service on our staff.

Stephen Manus has been applying spiritual principles in business and academia for many years, and has a Master’s degree in Urban Planning. He has been meditating for more than 15 years. He is a dynamic teacher with breadth of knowledge and depth of insight.

Amara Fiesterman helps to manage Ananda Community, home to some 50 Ananda members. She serves also on staff at Ananda's East West Bookstore in Mountain View. She teaches classes in healing and yoga, and is a warm, welcoming friend to newcomers.

Padmini Shuet is on staff at Ananda, and is one of the friendly voices you'll hear when you call to register. You'll meet her when you arrive for a class or on Sunday mornings for service. She handles mountains of paperwork and is a financial wizard. She was in high tech marketing before coming to Ananda.