|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ananda Cincinnati Yoga Meditation Group
was started in April, 2004 by Geoff Quinn, a long-time resident of Ananda Village and other Ananda Communities, after moving back to Cincinnati to be with his family in August of 2003. Missing the company of fellow "truth seekers" he contacted Ananda Village in hopes they might recommend some churches or spiritual groups in the area. To his surprise, they informed him that there were some people from Cincinnati on personal retreat at The Expanding Light (Ananda's meditation retreat).
The timing, and the unusual coincidence of 3 Cincinnati residents visiting Ananda all at the same time, turned on a light bulb in his mind, and he began to suspect that maybe something else was trying to happen – that maybe these truth seekers might want to continue their meditation practices, once they returned home.
Sure enough, Linda Healey was one of those folks and upon her arrival was on fire to continue and deepen the joyful experiences that had been awakened during her stay at Ananda. She contacted Geoff immediately and after a few logistical maneuvers, they began meeting and meditating together.
Our meditation group has been meeting and evolving ever since. Our goals are to continue to grow and support each other's efforts in practicing and living the yogic teachings. We welcome all like-minded souls who would like to join us on this path of Self-Realization – a journey of awakening to the highest potentials within us.
|
|
| Member Stories |
|
Stacia Iovine
About two years ago I read the book Autobiography of a Yogi, and felt a deep connection with the book and Yogananda. I wanted to learn more about these teachings, and I found the Ananda course,"Lessons in Meditation" and "The Art and Science of Raja Yoga" online. I ordered these, and began to go through the lessons. At that time, Krishnadas was the outreach minister for Ananda. I called and spoke with him for many hours about meditation, this path, and general questions relating to these teachings and Christianity. He also gave me Geoff Quinn's contact information for our local Cincinnati group. Over the next year I had many conversations with Geoff about this path, and was also able to meet Krishnadas and his wife, Mantra Devi, when they came out in the fall of 2005 for a workshop and lecture. I attended the spring 2006 Ananda retreat in KY, hosted by Diksha and Gyandev, and by then had learned enough to know that this was meant to be my path in life. I feel these teachings are the truth on how to practice right living, and how to become closer to God through our personal relationship with Him and through daily meditation. My heart feels such joy and expansion with being on this path in life. In the summer of 2006 I officially became a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, and when I am ready, I would like to receive the blessings of the Kriya yoga techniques.
Kevin Allen
Though I grew up in an active Catholic family, during and following college I gravitated toward Taoism and Buddhism, which to my understanding at the time seemd to match my personal answers to spiritual questions. I roughly considered myself a Taoist for many years, but kept having personal blockages regarding Christianity, the spiritual tradition of my upbringing. Starting around 2004, I became aware of a longing to be a part of a more active spiritual path/lineage/community, but any possibilities that came up never worked out or felt right. Then, in the early part of 2006 by a series of 'coincidences' I was led to first one book then to another that gradually opened me up some and made me ready when I came across Yogananda's teachings. From the very first moment of finding these teachings, I knew that this was my path. When I found out that there was an Ananda meditation group in the area, I nearly lept and wept for joy. As of Spring 2007 I am still working through both the Ananda lessons and the SRF lessons toward being able to receive Kriya Yoga. Though I instantly new this was my path, it took working through some personal blockages to get to the point of accepting Yogananda as my Guru. This path has made it possible to bring together the spiritual tradition of my upbringing and the experiences of my early adult life, and I can think of nothing more important or exciting than moving along this path towards fully realizing our oneness with God.
|
|
| Pictures |
|
|
 |
|
|
Premdas, Betsy, Judy, and Kevin at a group meditation
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Linda Healey & Geoff Quinn |
 |
Geoff & Sherry Fryman |
|
|
|
|
|
