We have been blessed with many visits to Ananda, and what we have learned there changed the path of our lives. As we grew through meditation, we were moved to form an organization that would celebrate people whose lives reflected a true spirit of generosity and compassion—those who “act from the heart.” We named the Sullivan Ballou Fund after a civil war soldier whose sweet heart is immortalized in a letter to his wife found after his death. The full text of this lovely letter is contained in this envelope with the award check.
You have devoted your entire adult life to working for the ideal of world brotherhood expressed through Ananda. Your willingness to put aside any agenda of personal gain was evident from the very first, when fresh out of college 40 years ago you were willing to join Swami Kriyananda up in the Sierra foothills to pursue the grand experiment of creating a spiritual community devoted to living out Yogananda’s teachings in the real world. As the success of that model has become evident, you have not been content to enjoy the comforts of an established community, but have sought to bring the truth of Yogananda’s teachings and the joy of living by them to others throughout the world. We understand that you are now serving without salary to help establish an Ananda community in Pune, India.
A successful lifetime spent as a teacher, minister, counselor and spiritual aspirant requires great heart and the recognition that true reward comes from serving others and not self. You share with Sullivan Ballou the joyful willingness to put others first, and your life is truly an example of the same spirit at work in the world. We are honored to be able to recognize the depth and quality of your life in this small way and are privileged to hold you up as a model of the power of heart energy. Thank you!Congratulations!
Elissa and Bruce Peterson, Founding Members