Stephanie Rofinot

I finally felt I had found my spiritual home when I moved into the Ananda Community in Mountain View 6 years ago. Seven years before that my life fell apart in graduate school and I began my search for healing and more meaning in my life. I delved deeply into many paths including Unity, Psychic Development, Emotional Healing, and Shamanism. Each thing I did significantly helped me along the way but I kept searching for deeper meaning.

I had heard of Ananda through a friend a couple years before I moved in. Almost simultaneously I found the Autobiography of a Yogi on a boyfriend’s book shelf (Our conversation went: "Is this a good book?" "Yeah, it’s OK except it’s hard to believe what’s in it." I loved it!) I came to a kirtan and a service and thought they were O.K. but I still didn’t understand the guru concept. So, I didn’t come back immediately—although the seed was planted.

The year before I moved in, a bunch of spiritual teachers came into the area all at once which my drumming circle friends and I lovingly called "The Guru Circuit." Gurumayi, Ammachi, and Thich Nat Han touched me deeply. I could feel their wisdom and their spiritual vibration and I wanted more.

I remember being in the parking lot of my apartment in Walnut Creek and thinking of a quote from somewhere that a friend had told me ‘When the student is ready, the teacher appears." At that moment I sent out a deep, desperate prayer: "I’m ready for my teacher!" I began thinking about this all the time. I felt a longing I thought could never be quenched. I wondered, if others had teachers, why not me?

Then my friend, who invited me to Ananda the year before, took discipleship and invited a few of us to come and support her. I was surprised that this was happening. She didn’t talk about Ananda much because, she said, it felt so precious to her she didn’t want to be open to criticism. Looking back, that was a wise choice. The discipleship initiation was very powerful and beautiful and I couldn’t stop weeping. I developed a strong connection to Master and a knowing that I was in the right place. I also felt a connection to the people here more than at all the other places I had been.

What "sealed the deal" to move in was seeing the Oratorio with Swami in it. I felt an instant connection to Swami and a knowing that he was my teacher. I moved in a couple months later and Swami came again to the community for Easter. This time I was introduced to him. I was so happy to meet him. I happened to cross his path later while on a walk and spoke briefly to him about how much I appreciated his music. He invited me to play my flute for him and to join in on the recording session they were having. I was thrilled. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I was so glad to just have the opportunity to be near him. I could feel his powerful vibration and knew that it was good for my soul to be in the presence of this soul and his wonderful example of discipleship. This also began the connection I feel to the music here at Ananda. Words can’t describe how deeply instrumental it is in one’s spiritual life here. Our music permeates everything we do and expresses everything we are.

When I moved into the community I had been an electrical engineer for more than five years. I had been feeling for some time that I wanted to make a change. So I thought I’d meet with David Praver about whether he thought I should go into marketing or teaching. He asked me if I had thought about working at an Ananda business. No, I hadn’t thought of it at all, at least not for the near future. So, I thought about it and about 24 hours later I felt like it was absolutely right for me. Six months after I moved in, I was working at East West Bookshop and loving it. I’ve now been working at the Mandir almost 4 years and I haven’t looked back,

Living in community is wonderful but not always easy. When we move into community we don’t make some instant 180 degree shift from who we were and suddenly become a saint (I wish!). It is extremely helpful living with gurubais who support us spiritually. We are often, however, required to face ourselves more than before because of the bright light that shines through ourselves and our gurubais. This can illuminate the things we would rather hide. "Yikes!" might describe it at times. However, we have a wonderful opportunity to learn compassion for ourselves and others through the experiences here. Most of all there is a predominance of profound joy as well as fun in our community.

I am grateful to all who are a part of this path. Together we are building a beautiful work that touches thousands (or more) in many different ways. May Master bless us all and guide us to our true home.