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“Far into the night my dear friend-the first Kriya Yogi in America-discussed with me the need for world colonies founded on a spiritual basis. The ills attributed to an anthropomorphic abstraction called "society" may be laid more realistically at the door of Everyman. Utopia must spring in the private bosom before it can flower in civic virtue. Man is a soul, not an institution; his inner reforms alone can lend permanence to outer ones. By stress on spiritual values, self-realization, a colony exemplifying world brotherhood is empowered to send inspiring vibrations far beyond its locale.”
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-Paramhansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi
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Building Communities
The Ananda Institute of Alternative Living is the only college of its kind that offers a “major career focus” degree in Building Communities. Ananda has been building spiritual intentional communities since 1968, when J. Donald Walters (Swami Kriyananda) founded Ananda World Brotherhood Colony here in Northern California. Ananda Village is one of the most successful intentional communities in the world. Today, nearly 1,000 people live in eight other Ananda Communities in Assisi, Italy; Palo Alto and Sacramento, California; Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Rhode Island; Hawaii; and New Delhi, India.
Our campus is on the original site of the first Ananda Community, and just five miles away is the 780-acre Ananda Village, where 250 people live and work in community. Our location provides the ideal environment, a “living laboratory” with nearly 40 years of history and experience to offer students interested in exploring a career devoted to creating and sustaining intentional communities. Nevada County, where the institute is located, has one of the highest concentrations of alternative communities in the country. Students who choose the Building Communities “major career focus” receive a certification in the following areas:
 • Building Communities Specialist (degree certificate)
• Building Communities Practitioner (advanced degree certificate)
• Building Communities Contractor (apprentice & preparation for licensing)
Specialists, Practitioners & Contractors
The Building Communities Specialist (degree certificate) and the Building Communities Practitioner (advanced degree certificate) are drawn from the same curriculum, with the exception of advanced courses and more hours of training and internship completed by the Building Communities Practitioner. The Building Communities Contractor must complete the Building Communities curriculum AND the Contractor apprenticeship courses necessary for preparation to take the state contractor’s test.
Building Communities Curriculum:
• History & Evolution of Communities Through the Ages
• Simple Living & High Thinking: Yogananda’s Vision for World
Brotherhood Colonies
• Planning & Use Permits for Communities
• Understanding Legal Aspects of Communities
• Alternative Design and Building
• Vastu, Feng Shui, & Sacred Structures
• The Four Ashrams of Life for Communities
• Understanding “Building with Spirit”
• Practical Spirituality for Successful Communities
• Music-The Universal Language of Communities
• Service to Others-A Key to Success
• Envisioning & Manifesting Your “City of Light”
• Energy, Key to Success
• Creating a Dynamic Team
• Organic Gardening for Communities
• Creating Cottage Industries for Your Community
• The Art of Supportive Leadership
• Superconscious Living for Community Builders
• Understanding Meditation
• Sharing Meditation with Others
• Vegetarian Cooking for Health & Vitality
• The Builder as Channel
• Understanding People in Community
• “People are More Important than Things” Philosophy
• “Where There is Dharma There is Victory” Philosophy
• Carpentry Skills for Builders
• Designing Your Intentional Community
• Ethics for Communities
• Working with Architects & Contractors
• Working with Government Planning Agencies
• Environmental Concerns for Communities
• How to be a Holistic Builder
• Carpenter Apprentice
• Contractor Apprentice
• Community Planner Apprentice
• Creating Schools in Community
• Working with Neighbors & Others
• Creating Businesses for Communities
• Marketing & Developing Your Community
• Money Magnetism for Building Communities
• What makes a Community Successful?
• Building Communities Specialist Internship
• Building Communities Practitioner Internship
• Building Communities Contractor Internship*
Building Communities Contractor Internship*
The Building Communities Contractor Internship is offered through Ananda Design & Construction www.anandaconstruction.com and requires a private application and interview process. If you are interested in completing this certification, please write or contact:
Nakula Cryer
Ananda Design & Construction
14618 Tyler Foote Road, #142
Nevada City, CA 95959
npcryer@anandaconstruction.com
Study Abroad for Building Communities
Students with a “major career focus” in Building Communities must complete independent projects in their specialty during annual study abroad programs. These projects are determined with each student and the Building Communities Career Counselor prior to embarking on each trip. Study abroad Building Communities projects can be varied and creative, but must relate to a particular area of focused learning for each student.
Internships & Work Study
An important component to the certification process is the completion of a pre-determined number of hours spent working in various departments of an Ananda Community with leaders and residents who mentor and provide “hands on” training for students. These internships allow students the chance to work in “real life” Building Community situations while receiving invaluable support and guidance from institute teachers during the internship process.
Ananda Institute of Alternative Living
Location: Ananda Meditation Retreat 14618 Tyler Foote Rd., #114
Nevada City, CA 95959 (530) 292-3024, M-F, 9-5 PST
contact: registrar@anandauniversity.org
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