“Activities that are undertaken in a spirit of joyous service have the effect of putting one in tune with the infinite source of all power. The more consciously one acts as a channel for divine energy, the more he finds his inner powers actually increasing. If one expends his energy after uplifting it, his activities bring him more, not less, peace, freedom, and joy.”
—Swami Kriyananda
For a devotee, all actions can be a form of karma yoga when one does one’s duties with the thought of God flowing through oneself. Hence, no matter what we do, it can be a service to God: whether to our families, our work, our friends or neighbours. In the same spirit, one can participate at Ananda Chennai as a way to become more involved and to help build spiritual community between all our members.
Ways to Participate at Ananda Chennai
The central and core way to participate is to come to weekly Sunday satsangs. This is where members in all stages of practicing kriya yoga come together and share in a deep significant way through meditating, devotional chanting, listening to an inspirational talk on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda and Swami Kriyananda, and receiving a blessing at the end. We also encourage those who want to deepen their meditations and also help build the spiritual vibration of Ananda Chennai to attend morning sadhanas as often as possible—even once a week can be wonderful! On Thursday nights we also have a longer 3-hour meditation. Remember, you can come and go at anytime during any of these meditations — it’s not required that you stay the whole time.
What Seva Opportunities Are at Ananda Chennai?
There are many ways you can participate at Ananda Chennai. You can join as many “angel” seva groups as you wish or keep it spontaneous and just jump in and help whenever you can!
Ananda Healing Prayer Angels: Learn Yoganandaji’s techniques for healing at a distance and pray for individuals in need of healing on a daily basis. We currently have about thirty members. Each Healing Prayer Angel receives three names twice in a month and prays for them each day, for example, after his or her sadhana.
Ananda Choir Angels: We have a growing core of beautiful singers in our Ananda Chennai choir. Even if you are only a beginning singer you are most welcome to join our choir.
Swami Kriyananda has written over 400 pieces of music and that is what we focus on for our performances. The only requirements are to love the music that we sing and the willingness to practice on your own during the week, come to Sunday satsangs (choir has a brief rehearsal before satsang and then sings in the beginning of satsang) and attend rehearsals after satsang. Choir is a way to truly build community. The more we sing together, the more we attune to each other and develop harmony and a sense of spiritual family.
Ananda Altar Angels: If you have an eye for beauty, perhaps you would like to help decorate the altar in the temple and the healing prayer room. Every week everyone is invited to bring flowers of any sort to adorn the altars and the Masters with devotion and beauty. If you would like to take it a step further, we are in need of “Altar Angels” who would like to periodically change the altar cloths to create a new color “theme” as well as keep the altar and healing prayer room areas clean and bright.
Ananda Prasad Angels: Each week we serve prasad after our satsangs and periodically we have potlucks and birthday celebrations too. Please feel free to bring anything you would like to share after weekly satsangs to help celebrate and enjoy with others. If you would like to take it a step further, we are in need of people who can help in the kitchen, from making the beverage to serving the beverage and prasad. For potlucks, we need help coordinating who brings what so that a balanced meal is served. For monthly birthday blessings, it’s wonderful for someone to bring a cake!
Ananda Boutique Angels: Help keep the boutique’s energy magnetic and vibrant! We need people’s help with ordering books, stocking shelves, displaying gift items and photos, creating signs, thinking up new ideas for Ananda spiritual products to carry and keeping things clean and sattvic in our little boutique!
Ananda Dwapara Angels: Do you have a technical side, or are you willing to learn? Each week we need help with filming satsangs, processing audio and videos and uploading them to our website, answering the center mobiles when an ad is published, taking photos, sending texts, and generally helping when we have big events.
Ananda Supporting Angels: “The channel is blessed by that which flows through it.” Ananda Chennai is supported solely through its members’ donations. Donations to Ananda Chennai are eligible for 50% tax exemption under section 80G of the IT Act, 1961. Check with Nayaswamis Dharmarajan and Dharmini if you would like to become a supporting member.
How to Join In?
Just contact Nayaswamis Dharmarajan or Dharmini and they will be happy to welcome you to our seva angels!
“I will serve God through others, and by my service to Him release the hold the ego has on me. I am free in God! In God, I am free!”
—Swami Kriyananda
