‘Art of Living’ Classes at Ananda Bothell

What is true friendship? How to cultivate true friends: in marriage, family, and daily life? How can we deal with loss and separation? Why is selfishness so destructive to friendship? How can we use the sex force instinct in a balanced and healthy way? These and many others are our topics in this central and vital topic.

In this class, David Eby explores with us how music affects our brain and consciousness. Learn how music—classical, rock, or spiritual — affects our consciousness, moods, and sense of well-being.

David Eby, professional cellist, singer, and director of music for Ananda Village, CA, will conduct a concert of music composed by Swami Kriyananda with the Ananda Seattle singers and musicians. Concert will include selections of instrumental and choral pieces reflecting different aspects of human consciousness and striving, a variety of cultures, and eras past and present.

Level 1, for beginning students: Experience the beauty and grace of Sanskrit, the timeless sacred language.  Learn to speak, read, and write the 50 syllables of Sanskrit devanagari alphabet. Learn to pronounce commonly used words and yoga postures. Experience Vedic chanting with pronunciation and meter, including Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and other Sanskrit sacred texts.

Presented by Madhavi Kondamudi, a lifelong practitioner of yoga and meditation, from India, and experienced Sanskrit teacher for Samskrita Bharati USA for the last 5 years.

What is success, and by what habits of thought and action can we overcome failure and achieve success? Concentration, magnetism, and willpower are essential, but the true secret of success lies in seeking divine contact first. Whether you are an employee or a business owner or partner, success and lasting satisfaction can be yours.

Experience healing energy flowing through the chakras from the astral spine—storehouse of our habits and mental tendencies, and karmic patterns. By attuning ourselves to the Divine energy that flows through these spinal centers from the deep spine, we can dissolve the “vrittis” and karma of past actions and attachments. Join us in practicing some of the vibratory healing techniques of Paramhansa Yogananda—AUM’ing at the chakras, music, affirmation, prayer, and visualization.

Back by popular demand, this course demonstrates that the secret of health and happiness lies in living each day with greater awareness, energy, and creativity. Learn to respond to the unique circumstances of your life with willingness and intuitive wisdom. Each week we will use chanting, prayer, and meditation together with techniques and experiential exercises.

Happiness is not dependent upon outward circumstances. It is a conscious choice. We’ll practice specific exercises for daily life to help us make this choice and fend off the “happiness thieves.”  

For graduates of the Raja Yoga Intensive, this long-awaited follow-up course will provide more time for discussing and practicing meditation and exploring deeper aspects of Vedanta teachings such as karma, death, astral life and rebirth, energy healing, cycles of consciousness and the current age, ego versus soul, and the higher stages of meditation.