Calendar of Events

Celebration of Joan Suval’s Life

Sat, Aug 28 to Sun, Aug 29

Sat 3:00 PM – Sun 5:00 PM

By Open Donation

 
or register for Saturday or Sunday only:


Celebration programs are open to Day Guests, with limited weekend overnight stays available at the Ashram. Once you have registered for the program, you will receive an email with a link to reserve overnight lodging, available for Friday to Sunday only (2-night minimum).

  • Proof of full vaccination is required for adults and children age 12 and older. Masks are required indoors, as well as outdoors if within 6 ft of another person.
  • -- CELEBRATION PROGRAM SCHEDULE --

    Prelude: Friday, August 27
    7:00 PM - Evening Meditation Program: Details to be announced

    Saturday, August 28
    9:00 AM Morning Meditation Program: Details to be announced
    3:00 PM - Meditation with Joan’s “Witnessing” CD in Temple of Light

  • The following Celebration Programs will be streamed via Ananda Ashram Live on Facebook:
  • Saturday
    4:00 PM - Talk by Joan: “Attachment & Separation”
    (6:00 PM - Light Dinner)
    7:00 PM - Meditation & Fire Ceremony
    7:30 PM - Video with Joan
    8:30 PM - Cultural Offerings by Pandit S.N. Charka, Deepak Kumar & Naren Budhakar

    Main Celebration: Sunday, August 29
    10:45 AM - Musical Offering
    11:00 AM - Meditation & Fire Ceremony, Vedic Hymn
    11:45 AM - Welcome by Scott Moss (Vice President, YSNY), followed by Audio Presentation
    - Sharing of Inspiration with Dharmadeva (Marvin Suval), Kiranavali Rollinger (President, YSNY) and Friends
    (1:30 PM - Special Lunch)
    2:30 PM - Meditation, more Sharing, Tributes & Stories by Friends
    - Joan’s Vision for the Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati Audio-Visual Retreat Space
    4:30 PM - Music by Krishna Devi, Closing Meditation with Recording by Joan Suval

  • Contributions to honor the “Celebration of Joan’s Life” can be made to the Joan Suval Memorial Fund or to Ananda Ashram .
  • Joan Suval was a founding member of Ananda Ashram and a senior disciple of Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati, who called her “Mother of the Ashram.” From 1964 on, authorized by Shri Brahmananda, Joan offered meditation and Yoga-Vedanta programs for the Yoga Society of New York, both at Ananda Ashram and in New York City. Shri Brahmananda also directed Joan Suval in the recording of his “Blue Sky Meditations.” Over the years, she accepted invitations to present her program, “Readings from the Masters,” in San Diego, Los Angeles and Nashville, as well as in Ireland and Switzerland. Joan was also on the staff of the Post Graduate Center for Mental Health in New York City, where she developed the Center's first meditation and stress reduction program.
    Joan Suval peacefully left her body on April 24, 2020.
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