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Dear Friend,
One Friday evening recently I worked in my office at The Expanding Light until I heard the dinner bell at 6:30. It had been a good day. I made progress on a lot of the issues on my desk. When I heard the bell I wondered down the hall into the dining room to see the room filled with joyful faces all turned toward the kitchen and the kitchen crew, ready to say a short prayer, learn what was for dinner, and enjoy eating together. My heart blossomed with joy on seeing all those happy people. My energy dramatically rose as I watched them experiencing joy. Everywhere I looked I saw radiant smiles and bright eyes. It came to me very strongly that this was the reason I had just spent those hours at my desk: That friends would come to join us in this blessed place, share in the uplifting vibration, and bring that joyful energy back into their daily lives – and into the world.
If I were more deeply connected to universal consciousness within myself I could feel that level of joy all the time. Let me say instead: When I am more deeply connected I will feel that level of joy all the time. That’s what we are working on here – for ourselves and for you, our guests.
A joyous experience happened here a couple of weeks ago when 44 people gathered for a Sharing Nature Training. They were outside together, with Joseph Cornell leading a Nature Activity, when a flock of white pelicans flew overhead and circled several times over them and The Expanding Light. In 40 years no one had ever seen pelicans here before! That’s powerful magnetism.
We all have joyful experiences. When our hearts open up we are being given a little taste of bliss. Joy is one of the aspects of God. We are feeling God.
For me, gratitude is the key that most often opens my heart. When we get deeply in touch with all we have to be grateful for, it opens the channel and grace flows. The more clear our realization that everything flows from Divine Mother, the easier it becomes to see that we can be grateful for everything. What we think of as ‘good things’ may seem easier to feel grateful for. But what might be considered challenges or problems came to us so that we have the opportunity to grow. Gratitude is entirely appropriate.
A recent guest wrote: “I thank God for The Expanding Light Retreat and the surrounding beauty. I love life and I am thankful to be alive.”
Come and stay with us. Let this environment, our staff, programs, guests and community help you connect with the joy in your heart.
 We hope you find a program that brings you to join us too.
Joy to you!
Timothy
Inspiration from Yogananda
“A rich man visited a farmhouse. The farmer gave him a piece of cake and boasted, ‘This is the best cake in the whole world!’ The rich man tasted it, and commented, ‘It is all right. I would like, however, to invite you to my home and let you taste the cake we serve there.’ The farmer returned his visit, later on. When he’d tasted the rich man’s cake, he exclaimed, “I never knew there was such good cake in existence!’
“The other replied, ‘I didn’t want to hurt your feelings, but you were familiar only with that dry cake of yours. I know many varieties. That is how I knew that yours was by no means the best in the world.’
“So it is when you get a taste of divine bliss: You know immediately that nothing else in existence can equal it. Temptation then becomes dry and loses all its attractiveness. The best way to conquer temptation is to have something better to compare it with.”
From Conversations with Yogananda - Stories, Sayings, and Wisdom of Paramhansa Yogananda published by Crystal Clarity.
Ananda is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its World Brotherhood Colonies on July 4, 2009. On this day in 1969 Ananda officially took over the property for this Community.
Paramhansa Yogananda envisioned such colonies and Swami Kriyananda founded Ananda Village as the first model – now a 40 year success! This 4th of July event provides a rich opportunity for you to experience a spiritual community yourself – whether it’s your first time or you’ve been to Ananda Village many times before.
We invite you to join us for community meditations, Sunday Service, Ananda’s July 4th Children’s Parade, a panel of speakers, a World Brotherhood Fair, Nature Games sponsored by Sharing Nature, guided Village tours, a World Kirtan on the Village Green, a NEW video of Ananda Worldwide and an uplifting Concert from the World Brotherhood Choir. Swami Kriyananda will join us if his health permits. Jyotish & Devi Novak, Ananda Worldwide’s Spiritual Directors will be with us. Starts the evening of Thursday July 2nd and finishes Sunday the 5th.
5 minutes of inspiration from Swami Kriyananda
How to Open Your Heart
Click on Treasures to learn more.
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