The great and beloved scripture of India, the Bhagavad Gita, is a call to action: right action. In the inspired and immortal dialogue between Lord Krishna (God & Guru) and his disciple Arjuna (soul & ego), we are called to action, to stand and  be counted, to battle the lower forces within us (which  tempt us to live by desire and ego affirmation) with the power of the unbeatable, divine forces of God, guru, and soul. Periodically in the history of nations, the forces of light and darkness wage their unceasing struggle on a stage larger than that of the lives of separate individuals.


Our nation, and indeed the nations of this earth, face challenges the like of which have never been encountered in recorded history and the solution to which requires commitment and cooperation on a global scale. In addition to economic and ecological challenges there are forces which reject a global and inclusive perspective and actively seek to destroy this emerging consciousness in whatever form it manifests.


As the year 2009 dawns, we face a new and uncertain chapter in history. There are great minds and compassionate hearts working for positive solutions around the world in all areas of human activity, from science and the arts, politics, education, industry, and finance, to spirituality and religion. Ananda is working in the realm of consciousness and spirituality. Here in the greater Seattle area, Ananda’s work includes the East West Bookshops, Ananda Community, and the Living Wisdom School of Seattle. We believe that the changes so urgently needed in our world today can only happen through the awakened conscience and higher consciousness of individuals around the world. There exists no single military, economic, scientific, or political force which alone can impose change without individual initiative and the cooperation of millions of people worldwide. In this dawning age of individual initiative linked to power of universally available knowledge , “We”, as Mahatma Gandhi put it so well, “must be the change we seek”.


Thus the work of Ananda, and that of millions of truth seekers around the world, is to uplift and awaken higher consciousness at this crucial moment in human history. Behind the outer form of Ananda is the power and grace of a line of Self-realized masters whose role in humanity’s upliftment was established many millennia ago.


We invite you therefore to approach challenges, both personal and global, with faith founded upon an inner life of meditation and devotion, and expressed courageously, creatively, and cooperatively with others of like mind. Self-transformation begins with us and takes committed, personal effort. It finds support through Divine grace and through fellowship with others. As it flowers within, it expands outward in service to others.


At the East West Bookshops we express an appreciation and understanding of the underlying truth behind all forms of truth-seeking. For those working on staff at the stores, we have an opportunity to learn how to see work as service and to integrate successful work habits and skills with high ideals, learning how to cooperate and how to be true friends.

At the Living Wisdom School of Seattle, we seek to guide the new generation of children to express their highest potential by balancing feeling, intelligence, imagination, spiritual consciousness, and physical development to achieve true happiness and a sustainable lifestyle in the global village of Earth.


At Ananda and the Institute of Living Yoga we learn, practice, and share the practical disciplines of meditation and yoga, including raja, hatha and kriya yoga practices. At Ananda Community we seek to live these high ideals with simplicity, cooperation, moderation and divine friendship. Ananda Community offers a new form of modern “ashram,” which sees renunciation in terms of ego transcendence (rather than traditional monasticism). Residents there come from all walks of life.


Whether you are new to Ananda or a life-long member participating through service, support, study, fellowship, and meditation, we invite you to deepen your attunement through this ray of the divine light. The greatest protection we can have in this world of uncertainty comes from divine attunement, and that, in turn, comes most strongly in active association with others.


The challenges of these times are great opportunities for us to serve and grow in a divine way.


Blessings to all, and our prayers for an inspired New Year!
Hriman and Padma, for Ananda Seattle