Jay Casbon is a Professor of Education and Counseling at Oregon State University.  He is also Visiting Senior Lecturer of International Programs at Regensburg University, Germany, where he was voted “Most Outstanding Professor” in 2012 by students and faculty.  Recently he has been associated with the University of Chongqing (China) serving as an advisor to the President of the university.  Jay embodies a wide field of experience and expertise in his educational career.  His most recent scholarly writing was a co-authored article published in March, 2013, in the Middle School Journal entitled, “Imagine a place where teaching and learning are inspirational: A decade of collected wisdom from the field”.  His current writing projects include a book chapter on exemplary international rural schools for Corwin Press, and a book based upon his art course and European teaching experiences to be entitled: “Experiencing Sacred Art with Body, Mind, and Soul”.

Dr. Casbon has over forty years of educational experience which includes teaching, educational leadership, and writing.  He worked directly with Swami Kriyananda on two books: Education for Life and Crisis in Modern Thought (wrote the Forward in both books).  Here in Oregon, Dr. Casbon served as Dean of the Graduate School at Lewis and Clark College, in Portland, where he tripled the endowment and secured the funding to build a new campus for the Graduate School.  He was also the founding CEO – Provost at Oregon State University, Bend Campus, where he doubled program offerings and tripled the enrollment in five years.  Jay and his wife, Caryl, live in Bend, Oregon, on the Upper Deschutes River.

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About her painting process, Eri says, “I did not think I would be an artist when I was growing up, especially a Japanese calligraphy artist. I felt calligraphy was not for fun. I thought it was practice to write neat and beautiful characters. Characters had to be perfectly straight, spaced and sized. However, through my experiences beyond Japan, traveling the world and living in the U.S., I learned what calligraphy means to me. These experiences did not necessarily relate to calligraphy directly, but they guided me to discover how calligraphy exists in my mind. Meanwhile, I kept feeling ‘something is missing…’

“One day, I was painting without a text. I was painting with constant rhythm, then my body started to move with my brush like we were one—all of a sudden, I felt true oneness with the brushstrokes and the energy flow around myself. I had never felt it before. I was so focused in the moment that there was no distance between me and my art. It was like I had one of those dreams that was so vivid I was not sure whether the dream was real or just a dream. In this case, it was real! This is the invisible oneness that comes when the soul finds joy, peace and harmony.

“Since then, Japanese Calligraphy became my way of meditation and expression of this invisible oneness. Traditional exercises helped me to improve various techniques, but the oneness with the brush and its energy came to me when I felt the free brush flow. Dance, music, martial arts…all the arts share this oneness of energy. I express it with this tool: Japanese Calligraphy. It guided me to see who I am and my relation with the nature of our universe. I hope you can feel it through my artwork. I use color and layers of papers etc…so that we can feel the flow and more dimensions through the harmonious blends of the elements.”

A few titles of Eri’s paintings (which are for sale) include “Nothingness,” Gate to the Dreamworld,” and “Wind, Wind.”

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Come talk to students and faculty from the college and learn how their theme of “higher education for higher consciousness” translates into actual classes and degrees.

College Tour Schedule

Saturday, June 1: Novato, CA

2pm at Novato Charter School, 940 C Street

Sunday, June 2: Palo Alto, CA
11:30am at Ananda Mandir, 2171 El Camino Real

Mon-Wed, June 3-5: Los Angeles Area
Tuesday, 7pm: 3774 Pacific Coast Hwy, Torrance 90505
Wednesday, 7:30pm: 1832 Virginia Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90019

Thursday, June 6: Nevada City, CA
7:30pm at the Ananda Village Living Wisdom Center, 14618 Tyler Foote Rd.

Friday, June 7: Ashland, OR
7 pm at the Ashland Library, 410 Siskiyou Blvd.

For details call 503-985-0030

“This opportunity means so much to me, deeply, deeply from my heart. I am offered a curriculum that works with me instead of against me; challenges me but does not overwhelm; teaches me academics but also more about my self and soul.”

–Current Student

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A great spiritual light and world teacher, Swami Kriyananda, passed away in Assisi, Italy Sunday, April 21 at 8 a.m. Swami was 87 years old and was a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, author of “Autobiography of a Yogi,” since the age of 22. Swamiji was a beacon of inspiration for many thousands throughout the world. His many books, musical compositions, recorded talks, and the Ananda communities he founded continue to be a source of upliftment and illumination for our time, and for future generations.

Swami Kriyananda served his Guru, Paramhansa Yogananda, with a depth of devotion and humility that inspired thousands of people throughout the world to dedicate themselves to spreading Yogananda’s universal message. Writing over 150 books, Kriyananda was tireless in his efforts to show the relevance of Yogananda’s teachings to every aspect of life, and how living by spiritual principles brings the happiness everyone is seeking.

One of Kriyananda’s greatest gifts to the world – one that brought him deep joy – is his music. He often said, “If you want to know me listen to my music.” Through music Kriyananda conveys the essence of spiritual quest: the soul’s quenchless yearning for God, the inevitable set-backs, and the deep fulfillment that awaits those who live surrendered to God’s will.

Kriyananda signed his letters, “In Divine Friendship.” Kriyananda saw God in everyone, friends and strangers alike. The friendship he offered was to their souls not their egos, and he inspired others to meet him on that level. Always loving, compassionate, and forgiving, he gave others the confidence that they, too, could overcome their limitations and realize their highest potential.

Perhaps Kriyananda’s greatest legacy to his many followers is the understanding that divine friendship transcends time and space, and that he will be with them always, continuing to guide them on their individual journeys to their home in God.

Swami Kriyananda was on the Advisory Board of Ananda College, and for the past 10 years guided the college on the subtle academic and spiritual expressions of higher education for higher consciousness. He was a close friend of the college founders, Nischala and Nakula Cryer, who have been part of the Ananda Sangha for 43 years. The college is the first in the U.S. to offer an A.A. and B.A. in Yoga Philosophy. Ananda College recently moved its campus from California to Oregon, 45 minutes west of Portland. The college is approved by the state of Oregon Office of Degree Authorization to offer B.A. and A.A. degrees in 8 different areas of study.

For more information about Swami Kriyananda and his passing, visit anandaportland.org or ananda.org.

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Education for Life (EFL) is an educational philosophy that translates ancient Eastern truths into modern terminology. Using her background in Education for Life, Ananda College instructor Usha Dermond has co-written an innovative Sunday school curriculum for the Center for Progressive Christianity. The curriculum, titled A Joyful Path, allows children to experience the core concepts of Christianity in an expansive and nondogmatic way.

A Joyful Path is a curriculum written for the Progressive Christian audience but as Usha describes, “it’s about underlying principles such as the sacredness of all life, unconditional love and compassion… It’s spiritual rather than dogmatic.” Stories from the Bible are combined with opportunities to experience and develop self-awareness, meditation, positive affirmations, respect for nature, and inner wisdom.

“We used a lot of the Education for Life principles in writing it,” says Usha. “For example, we used all four Tools of Maturity. It’s also very experiential. It’s about giving kids experiences rather than just verbal knowledge.”

Usha says of the project, “It shows that principles of our system of education [Education for Life] are broadly applicable and appreciated by people [of all faiths].”

“Working with the board members of Progressive Christianity, the artist and everyone involved has been delightful. It has been fun and rewarding to discover both our small points of difference and how like-minded we are.”

A Joyful Path, Year One has been enthusiastically received by over 500 churches around the world. Usha and her co-authors Lorna Knox and Carol Malnor have recently completed A Joyful Path, Year Two which will soon be available through ProgressiveChristianity.org.

Educator Usha Susan Dermond is the co-director of the Education for Life Foundation and founder of the Living Wisdom School in Portland, Oregon. Usha is currently a faculty member at Ananda College of Living Wisdom where she teaches Education for Life teacher training. She is also the author of the book Calm and Compassionate Children.

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These are just a few of the types of questions facing young people of all ages. We get to explore these questions, plus much more, at Ananda College. There are courses of study here that you will not find anywhere else on the planet, and this is a good thing.

The Yuga Cycles of Time

Ananda College is the only college offering advanced study in the Yuga Cycles of Time. Scholars and saints tell us that in Treta Yuga (one of the world cycles) we may no longer require words— that telepathic communication will become the norm. Air travel and transportation in the Treta Yuga will drastically change as well, as we discover the secrets of harnessing energy. Could transporter systems, like those used on the television series Star Trek become as common as kicking a football?

Forward thinking scientists, astronomers and physicists are taking huge leaps in our understanding of today’s world view of history, quantum healing, our past, present and our future. Three of these great minds will be presenting at Ananda College this winter and spring.

Faculty member David Steinmetz will lead with an exploration into the Yuga Cycles during his foundation 7-week course in World Cultures & Consciousness beginning January 14th. Along with Joseph Selbie, Steinmetz co-authored the recent book “The Yugas: Keys to Understanding Our Hidden Past, Emerging Present and Future Enlightenment.”

According to David Frawley, one of the world’s leading Vedic scholars, “The book covers all aspects of the yugas, including the secret of what world age humanity currently resides in and what we can likely expect for the future. The book casts an important new light on the history and evolution of the human race and the mysteries of the great cycles of time that we all must honor. All those who want to understand our species and the hidden cosmic influences that govern our lives will benefit from its detailed examination. Those who study the book carefully will come away with a transformed vision of our world and its spiritual potentials.”

Consciousness of Past, Present & Future Civilizations

Today’s view of history cannot account for ancient anomalies, such as the Pyramids and advanced knowledge, but one scientist has helped piece together these mysteries with many exciting books and discoveries. March 11-15, Dr. Robert Schoch (Boston University) will offer a program at Ananda College that will lead us on an adventure from Egypt to Easter Island and other ancient sites around the globe. While the world was stunned by his research on the true age of the Sphinx that re-cast world history, his latest book on the role of solar outbursts in our past and future offers more compelling evidence that other things have been going on in our past that perhaps we need to be aware of sooner—not later!

Quantum Physics

The world has become smaller, quicker, more hyperactive. We can hold our office computers in the palms of our hands and someday we may well hold them in our minds.

Today, a revolution is going on in science: a genuine paradigm shift. While mainstream science remains materialist, a substantial number of scientists are supporting and developing a paradigm based on the primacy of consciousness.

Following Dr. Schoch’s appearance at Ananda College, world-famous quantum theoretical physicist Dr. Amit Goswami will lead a special Quantum Activist Weekend (Mar 15-17) followed by a 5-day program (40 hrs) entitled “The Quantum Doctor—Healing & Consciousness.” This is a rare opportunity to spend five days with someone who has been described as an “Einstein” and one of the most brilliant minds in science. Dr. Goswami was featured in the film “What the Bleep Do We Know?” as well as his own award-winning documentary, “The Quantum Activist.”

A New Paradigm in Education

Beyond offering a full curriculum in Consciousness Studies, Ananda College is the outgrowth of over 40 years of experience pioneering Education for Life (EFL) principles in our Living Wisdom Schools throughout the world. EFL is a philosophy of holistic higher education that emphasizes practical skills for helping students become more successful and happy. Using a customized approach to learning, the college focuses on the holistic growth and development of each student, attuning to their innate abilities, passions and creativity to direct their course of study. Our EFL Tools of Maturity ™ provide a foundation that is the polar opposite of traditional, assembly-line education and online learning modalities.

During the college years, the intellect yearns to be stimulated. In traditional higher education, excellent intellectual stimulation is favored over a balanced approach to living. Ananda College supports a balanced life: mentally, physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. Students here learn the secrets of happiness and how to be successful in life and career.

Our Education for Life (EFL) Teacher Training program is ideal for those wanting to teach in schools or apply these unique principles to leadership and business environments.

Come Visit Us

Check out upcoming events listed on our home page and mark your calendar for our Gala Visitor’s Weekend May 3-6, 2013. Discover what Ananda College can offer you.

In Divine Friendship,

Nischala Cryer
Ananda College
Chair, Board of Directors

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Students often cringe at the thought of studying mathematics. This is not true for Ananda College students who are joyfully participating this semester in our “Holistic Mathematics” course. They are discovering that mathematics, as it was originally defined and taught in the ancient mystery schools, is exciting, inspiring and highly relevant to one’s spiritual and natural life. In “Holistic Mathematics” we are exploring the secret side of mathematics previously revealed only to highly-evolved spiritual initiates.

The course is called holistic because it spans the range of topics from secular to sacred mathematics with a strong emphasis on the neglected sacred. Secular mathematics, which is virtually the only kind taught in mainstream colleges, is concerned almost exclusively with calculating quantities useful in predicting, manipulating and merchandising human behavior, matter and energy in the physical world. However, sacred mathematics involves the experiential discovery of meaning, purpose and joy in life through the archetypal qualities of numbers and geometric shapes and their unfoldments.

In our course we are becoming aware of the ubiquitous presence of sacred mathematics in art, architecture, music, nature and in physical, biological and psychological processes. Furthermore, we are discovering that numbers can be keys to unlocking the deep, hidden spiritual meanings in the Holy Scriptures of both East and West – thus transcending surface differences. A common, mystical ground is revealed through numbers that can lead to inner experiences of transcendence and oneness in diversity.

Upon learning of this innovative course at Ananda College, a number of visitors have enquired about participating in this metaphysical adventure. To help fulfill these aspirations the course “Holistic Mathematics” will soon be available from the College via the internet for those unable to attend in person. You can receive more details about the course through the contact information below.

John R. Francis, PhD recently retired from nearly thirty years of teaching theoretical and applied mathematics at the mainstream, college level. During this time he also engaged in a scholarly and mystical exploration of sacred mathematics as an avocation. His formal, academic education encompasses physics, mathematics, psychology, religious studies, engineering and metaphysics. This eclectic background has proven extremely relevant to synthesizing a deep understanding of the mathematics and metaphors that can reveal the underlying nature and purpose of life. John is the author of numerous metaphysical articles, a book entitled “The Mystic Way of Radiant Love” and is currently writing a book on the sacred geometry of spiritual living.

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Ananda College at Laurelwood, Oregon campus

This 5-day program is offered for both Ananda College students & the public.

Presented by: Dr. Uma Krishnamurthy, renown transpersonal/yoga psychologist & child psychologist

• Psychology East & West, an overview
• Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras & the Analysis of Suffering
• Psychological Insights from Mystics & the Healing of Emotions
• The Upanishads & The Psychology of Happiness
• Mantras, Meditation & Healing
• Reconnecting to the Sacred & Healing of Emotions
• Yoga & Positive Mental Health
• Mudras, Movement & Healing
• Individual Counseling Sessions for students
• Evening Performance of Indian Classical Dance

This course is ideal for teachers, students and professionals.

Tuition: $450

Room & Board: Laurelwood Center double (shared) dorm room, bath down the hall, includes all meals (vegetarian, buffet style) $60 per night, single dorm room, bath down the hall, all meals (vegetarian, buffet style) $80 per night. Day guests welcome. To reserve your space for this course, contact nischala@anandauniversity.org

About Dr. Uma Krishnamurthy: Dr. Uma Krishnamurthy is a gifted and insightful teacher who brings grace, compassion and intellectual clarity to the field of Yoga Therapy. Dr. Krishnamurthy is a renown yoga psychologist and child psychologist whose spiritual roots stem from being born into a family of Indian Theosophists. Dr. Krishnamurthy will lead experiential sessions using yogic tools such as hatha yoga practices, chanting of mantras, meditation, and classical Indian dance, allowing us to explore the realms of superconscious states.

Dr. Krishnamurthy comes from a well-known Theosophical family in South India and was blessed to have a spiritual training from early childhood, giving her the opportunity to meet living masters & yogis. She is a psychiatrist by training with many years of experience in the healing of emotions. She is a pioneering researcher in evolving a new paradigm of healing using guidelines from yogic masters, mystics and ancient yogic texts. She has been traveling worldwide for the past 12 years conducting workshops on yoga and positive mental health. She is also an exponent of Indian classical dance and has researched on the mystical symbology of dance. She brings a unique blend of all these disciplines into her presentations on yoga psychology.

About the Program: Who can be called mentally healthy? This is, indeed, an interesting question. The ancient texts of yogic philosophy, such as the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras have addressed it admirably and are loaded with psychological wisdom. Their rich insights can help deepen our understanding of mental health. Embedded in these ancient texts are practical psychological guidelines that can enhance positive mental health and stabilize us in happiness and wisdom. The psychological insights from the great yogis and sages, both ancient and modern, can bring the ancient texts to life and further enrich this process. In this seminar, we will discuss the implementation of these sychological practices in our daily life. We will also compare their rich insights with those of Transpersonal Psychology.

In this seminar, we will focus attention on the psychological skills imparted by yogic masters that can help us in counselling, yogic healing or transformational work on ourselves. To reduce suffering in others, we need to work on ourselves also. The mystic Ramana Maharishi has hinted – when you are free of sorrow, those with whom you interact will also be set free.

Sri Aurobindo said, “All life is yoga”. Every event in our daily life is an opportunity for us to evolve and grow. He gained mastery over his mind by the practice of psychological vigilance. Ramana Maharshi overcame the fear of death by enquiry and vigilant observation. If we apply the skills in daily life, our suffering gradually diminishes. The teachings of such mystics who transcended all shades of suffering can help promote our mental health.

Today, we are in a position to integrate the rich psychological wisdom of both East and West. Psychological suffering is unnecessary, according to the ancient sages and can be overcome by wisdom. The mystics and yogis view suffering as an opportunity to evolve into higher states of consciousness. This is clearly seen in the Bhagavad Gita. Lord Krishna is the divine psychotherapist who skillfully helped Arjuna overcome his acute mental distress by broadening his perception and lifting his mind to loftier heights. His divine presence and yogic wisdom helped Arjuna understand the ingredients of right action and mental equanimity.

Much of our psychological stress arises because our mind lacks direction. Ramana Maharishi has suggested that we reduce the restlessness of our mind by providing it with a goal. We are at times confused and indecisive. This is mainly because our mind is not receiving guidance from our discriminative intelligence. It is perhaps cloudy because of impure motives and excessive emotions. We will discuss the yogic skills and suggestions given in the Bhagavad Gita to purify our motives and deal with emotions that obstruct our judgement and prevent us from effective functioning.

Abraham Maslow, the founder of Transpersonal Psychology, suggested that most of our emotional disorders are due to the contraction of our personality. We are not expressing our human potential enough. He has suggested widening our perception, to include the dimension of the sacred. We will explore the possibility of perceiving the eternal in every temporal event. This quality of perception helps us to live life with dignity and also to express our potential. When we start using our hidden strengths and potential in a constructive manner, our mind gets healed.

Lord Krishna has expressed similar sentiments in the Bhagavad Gita. He urged us to discover and give expression to the unique properties of our soul, that we are destined to fulfil. He warns us not to waste away our life in performing the duties of others’ but instead focus attention on our own duty. In that lies our contentment. This is a key contribution of the Bhagavad Gita to healing our emotions and manifesting our potential. Ramana Maharishi has mentioned that the performance of destined duties should not create distress psychologically. However, when we perform actions that are not in accordance to our temperament we tend to suffer. We will try to find out whether we are fulfilling the evolutionary plan of our life or whether we need to study and tap our potential better. If we are experiencing a lack of fulfilment and direction in our life, we need to study our personality at a deeper level – our aspirations, desires, ambitions and so on.

The Bhagavad Gita also offers guidelines on preventing psychological suffering in the future by discussing actions and their consequences in depth. Jiddu Krishnamurti, addressed the very important question – what is right action? When we act from a fragmented state of mind, our actions will inevitably lead to suffering. We will study ways and means of overcoming fragmentation of the mind. Many of us are unable to implement the values and ideals that we deeply cherish into our daily life. This creates inner conflict. We will study the teachings and practices from yogic psychology that can help integrate our personality and reduce such conflicts.

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“I visited other schools, but I felt at home at Ananda. The beautiful retreat grounds emanated such a sweet and nurturing energy. It won my heart instantly.” Ryan– student at Nevada City (Lake Tahoe, CA)

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