It’s been about a year and half since Ananda in Texas found the Ananda Sangha House in Dallas and began to rebuild its community, our “sangha”, in person. During the pandemic, we became closer with our Austin meditation group and other devotees in Houston, and then as we came out of the pandemic, that bonding deepened as the result of the many retreats we enjoyed together. Out of that energy emerged another meditation group in Houston! All in all our Texas spiritual community has grown and the Ananda Texas Sangha House has become a gathering place—a beacon of light for yogis to come find sanctuary and joyous renewal.
With each retreat and each visiting teacher, it has been interesting to see the effect of the growing magnetism. New folks would appear following these special events and our community, little by little, has been growing. But as with everything after the pandemic, there is something remarkably different. We are experiencing on a new level, the true power of satsang —of like-minded souls coming together in support of each other in our spiritual practices and in our lives.
Our sense of community is deepening, partially because the new environment of the sangha house is more conducive. We can now hang out comfortably after our gatherings and get to know each other more personally, and the sangha house allows for a sense of common purpose: we can cook, we can garden, we can clean together, as well as come together for meditation and yoga. In short, the sangha house has become our spiritual “home,” we all take care of it, we all now are coming to feel more deeply the joy of doing seva together, as well as the transformative blessings of meditating together.
With such turmoil in the world, we need to find these places of light that can support and fortify our spiritual lives so that we all can be better channels of light into this world.The building magnetism of the Sangha House and Ananda Texas is a testament to the power of satsang. We are not meant to do this alone, with the help of God, gurus AND each other, not only do our personal lives become brighter and anchored in Spirit, but it also helps illuminate the way for others and the world.
There are many upcoming opportunities for you to experience this power of satsang. Come find out for yourself!
Gathering together for a better world,
Ananda in Texas
