As many of you know, the Ananda NZ Centre is also my home – a lively hub of activity. We are blessed with spare rooms that allow friends and devotees to come, stay, and soak in the vibrations built over more than a decade of meditations and satsangs.
This Christmas was no exception. I had the joy of hosting Sellam from Ananda Singapore; Rahul, one of our bright young devotees; our dear friend Euan from Christchurch (visiting his brother in hospice); and another close friend.
The home was full of life—food, laughter, stories. I truly enjoy the bustle, yet there’s always a part of me that craves a little solitude too. So when a friend asked if I could dog‑sit in her peaceful home, I said “yes” immediately. I’ll be here for New Year’s Eve and the first few days of 2026.
To be honest, it won’t be the complete seclusion I dream of. There are still Instagram reels to make, meetings to attend, and new programmes to organise! But doing this service in a quiet space feels like a blessing in itself.
When I arrived this morning, my friend handed me a bag of keepsakes she had cleared from her late mother’s home (her mother was a long‑time devotee). After dropping her at the airport, I sat down in quietude to look through the bag and found this picture of Master with just the right message for the New Year!
“The centuries of human years are but little days—nay, a few hours—in God’s consciousness. Wake up! Arise from dreams of limiting mortal boundaries to the realisation of the vastness of the immortal soul within you.” – Paramhansa Yogananda
As we step into the new year, may we rise ever more fully into the awareness of our soul‑nature.
Wishing you a very happy New Year filled with that vast realisation.
Kavita
Kavita serves as the Centre Leader for Ananda New Zealand. Her home acts as a vibrant hub for the sangha, hosting regular satsangs and visitors. She balances the busy life of service with her own deep practice of Kriya Yoga.