“The old method of renunciation was world-negating; the new one is samadhi-affirming. One’s concentration, in other words, is on the joy of soul-freedom in God.
“The old renunciate order tended easily toward judgmental attitudes—of others, and (in some ways even worse) excessive judgment of oneself. The new renunciate order concentrates supportively on everyone’s soul-potential; it sees all beings as striving, each in his own way, toward union with bliss.”
— Swami Kriyananda
The planet has entered into a new age that Indian texts call Dwapara Yuga. Swami Sri Yukteswar, Paramhansa Yogananda’s guru, wrote about this new age in his book, The Holy Science.
Dedication event, led by Nayaswamis Jyotishji and Deviji, Dharmacharyas of Ananda Worldwide, under the two sacred trees, Peepul and Jamun.
Yogananda and his disciple, Swami Kriyananda, came to help usher in this new era, a time when many old and outdated forms would need to be brought into new or higher expressions. Ananda Sangha is to helping to bring these new ways into all aspects of life, including a new approach to renunciation.
Kriyananda wrote and spoke about a monastery that would draw on ancient traditions but with a more positive type of renunciation. He wanted his monks to live in what he called a Hermitage. He successfully established this new kind of monastery in his guru’s organization. Guru Kripa Forest Hermitage will follow his guidance.
Hindi Sangha monks with students
Ananda Sangha monks have a very active seva. They offer numerous online classes each week and travel frequently to lead in-person classes, workshops, and kriya initiations.
They direct three of Ananda Sangha India’s central vehicles of online outreach: Kriya Home Study, Hindi Sangha, and Kriya Sangha. That work has them traveling throughout southeast Asia. The inspiration for supporting and expanding that seva over the coming decades will come from the inspired inner life provided by the Hermitage.
The Hermitage will be unlike most traditional ashrams, where a steady stream of visitors becomes the restless driving force of the place. The Hermitage plans on hosting an open house for visitors a few times each year. Otherwise, it will not be open for visitors or guests.
Bougainvillea growing at the Hermitage
The Hermitage will also fulfill one of Yoganandaji’s most urgent wishes, to develop spiritual communities. A monastery is by definition a community of monks or nuns. It will be a living demonstration of Yogananda’s “simple living and high thinking” principles.
Learn more about Ananda monasteries.
“The first duty of every soul is to release the hold that ego-consciousness has upon it. All other spiritual practices are subservient to this one supreme obligation. I address ego-transcendence, therefore, as the first, and indeed the only, challenge on the spiritual path, whether one be a renunciate, a householder, or living for God in some other way.”
— from Sadhu, Beware! by Swami Kriyananda
