Coming again July 1 – 4, 2010

Ananda's July 4th Anniversary

Swami Kriyananda greeting guest
Visitors from around the world
Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty
Evening enertainment and performances
Swami Kriyananda giving a class in the Expanding Light amphitheater
You are invited...

Celebrating Ananda's
World Brotherhood Colonies

will be the main focus of this uplifting weekend. Ananda is celebrating its 40th anniversary on July 4, 2009. It was on this day that Ananda officially took over the property that has been developed into Ananda Village, the first long-lasting World Brotherhood Community as Paramhansa Yogananda envisioned them. The July 4th Weekend will provide many opportunities to experience first hand the meaning and value of Ananda Worldwide:

  • Uplifting accommodations
  • Community Meditations at Hansa Temple
  • A special Friday Anniversary Evening with the World Brotherhood Choir and showing of a new video about Ananda Worldwide
  • Class with Swami Kriyananda (health permitting) - morning talk on Saturday, Saturday afternoon comments, and Sunday Service
  • World Brotherhood Colonies: The Meaning behind the Movement - a Panel of Speakers at Lotus Lake Amphitheatre Friday morning
  • Guided Tours of Ananda Village Saturday, Sunday afternoon
  • A World Brotherhood Communities Fair See what Ananda is doing worldwide, after 40 years - what Ananda offers the world through our ministries, teachings, businesses, and as a communities model
  • Nature Games for children and adults hosted by the Sharing Nature Foundation staff
  • Picnic Dinner and Kirtan July 4th Evening
  • Peaceful relaxatation at Crystal Hermitage Gardens and Grounds

This date is also obviously linked to the birth of our nation, which was the first country founded on a principle – religious freedom – just as Ananda is founded on the principle of spiritual freedom. Both represent the emergence of the energy of Dwapara Yuga – a New Age – in which old political, social, and religious forms are replaced with a unified vision of life on earth where all live in harmony with the natural world, their fellow man, and with God. We hope you can join us for this special weekend!

Tentative Schedule:

Thursday, July 2
7:30 pmWelcome for guests and residents at EL Temple.

Friday, July 3

6:30 – 8:15 amMorning Meditation for community and guests at Hansa
6:30 – 8:30 amSadhana with energization and hatha yoga at EL Temple
8:30Breakfast at The Expanding Light Retreat
10:30 – 12:00Panel of Speakers share about World Brotherhood Colonies – The Meaning Behind the Movement (Amphitheatre)
  1. Jyotish Novak: “The Mission of the Masters – The Importance  of Communities in the World Today”
  2. Hriman McGilloway: “Home, Job, and Church in One Place – A  Unified Life”
  3. Asha Praver: “Plain Living and High Thinking – Simplicity and  Inner Renunciation”
  4. Ananta McSweeney: “Bringing Harmony to Our Planet”
  5. Devi Novak: “Ananda Communities – Shaping the  Future”
Childcare available at The Expanding Light (additional charge)
12:30 pmLunch for Expanding Light guests and for those from the community who have reserved ahead of time.
2:00pmMeet in front of Guest Services to carpool to Crystal Hermitage Gardens for quiet reflection time
4:30pmSadhana in Expanding Light temple
6:30pmDinner for Expanding Light guests, and others who have reserved, Expanding Light
8:00 - 10:00pmMusic Concert and NEW Video of Ananda Worldwide at amphitheatre

Saturday, July 4

6:30 – 8:15 amMorning Meditation for community and guests at Hansa
6:30 – 8:30 amSadhana with energization and hatha yoga at EL Temple
8:30 amBreakfast at The Expanding Light Retreat
10:30 – 12:00Swami Kriyananda—Ananda’s Spiritual Work and Communities, Amphitheater
Childcare available at The Expanding Light (additional charge)
12:30 pmLunch for EL guests and for those from the community who have reserved ahead of time.
1:30 – 4:00 World Brotherhood Fair, on the Market Green  
     Presentations and information about all aspects of Ananda World Brotherhood Communities
     Hors d’oeuvres served, complimentary cold drinks available, iced coffee & chai, and root beer floats available for purchase, Nature Walks by the International Sharing Nature Foundation, and music. 
     Activities will be available for children in the community center, at the Ananda Family booth. Parents can supervise their own children at the pool.
2:00 – 3:30Guided Tours of Ananda Village, by car. Meet at the Market Green
2:00 Crystal Hermitage Gardens and Shrine of the Masters open for quiet reflection and enjoyment.
4:30 World Brotherhood Fair closes
5:00 Evening Program begins – Choir sings, then Swami will speak briefly
5:30 - 6:00Buffet Vegetarian Picnic Dinner (Vegetarian burgers & hot dogs, potato salad, corn-on-the-cob, watermelon, and dessert is available for purchase. The market will also be open)
7:45pmOutdoor Evening Kirtan

Sunday, July 5

8:30 amBreakfast at The Expanding Light Retreat
10:00 Purification Ceremony in the Expanding Light Temple
11:00 Sunday Service with Swami Kriyananda, Amphitheater
Childcare available at The Expanding Light (additional charge)
12:30 pmLunch for EL guests and for those from the community who have reserved ahead of time.
1:30 – 3:30 Tours of Ananda Village available

For more information, please send us a Question or Comment:

Name:   Email:  

  Register now: 2 easy steps

Prices in the table below are all-inclusive and cover accommodations, meals, classes or activities, and course materials as appropriate.

July 4th Anniversary Celebrating Anandas Worldwide Spiritual Communities starts the afternoon of the first date listed and ends with lunch on the last date listed. Please see our Daily Schedule page.

See Transportation and Directions for maps and directions whether you are coming by plane, car, bus or train. Our Frequent Questions page answers many of the questions you might have about How to Go on Retreat.

To Register:

  1. Choose your accommodation type. Click here to view options.

  2. Click on Book Now below or call 1-800-346-5350
If you can’t find what you want online, please phone us at 1-800-346-5350. Only a small percentage of our rooms are available online.
You cannot reserve online 2 days or less before your arrival date or if you want a single shared room.

3-day weekend  
Tent /
RV		 Standard
Shared		 Standard
Private		 Deluxe
Shared		 Deluxe
Private
$330 $420 $600 $525 $750

Videos From 2008 Spiritual Renewal Week

SRW Principles that built Ananda Video

“World Brotherhood Colonies: Social Pattern for the New Age”
Swami Kriyananda
Spiritual Renewal Week
8/11/08
SRW Principles that built Ananda Video

“Principles that Built Ananda - Part 1”
Jyotish Novak
Spiritual Renewal Week
8/12/08
SRW Principles that built Ananda Video

“Principles that Built Ananda - Part 2”
Devi Novak
Spiritual Renewal Week
8/12/08