Sitabai Betts to Brother Brahmananda
19 December 2001
Dear Brahmananda,
You don’t know me. I am a resident of Ananda Village since 1984, and one among thousands who make Ananda their spiritual (and for some, physical) home. I am not one of the Ananda community leaders, with many of whom you are no doubt familiar. I am one of the “good people of Ananda”, as Daya Mata called us a few years ago. I have a family that consists of my husband, our four sons aged 3-17, and myself. My children were all born at home at Ananda, and are being raised in Master’s ray, their faith and spirituality cultivated both at home and at Ananda Living Wisdom School.
I am writing to you personally as well as a leader of SRF. I have read the letters that have been written to you recently by Swami Kriyananda and some of our leading ministers, as well as your replies. Interestingly, I found these letters to be extremely inspiring because once again I saw the depth of Ananda, the clarity of our mission to represent Master’s teachings, and the courage of our leaders to unwaveringly represent dharma and truth.
I still find it such a shame that you have no real idea of who we—as a worldwide movement as well as individual devotees—are. An open invitation has been extended to you and SRF before, and I personally extend it again: please allow yourself to drop your preconceived ideas of Ananda and come to one of our communities for a visit. I would be honored to introduce you to my home, Ananda Village, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains outside of Nevada City, California. You and I have no history with each other; let us walk together as friends and gurubais. It would be my joy, and I am confident that you would leave with a different perspective of Ananda and our members.
The intense effort by SRF and other zealous affiliates of SRF to discredit Swami Kriyananda is presumably with the hope that all the rest of the Ananda membership worldwide will be disillusioned and end their affiliation with Ananda Church. In fact, nothing could be less likely, especially if the last twelve years are any indication. Swami Kriyananda is my highly respected friend and spiritual teacher. I, and many others like myself, without hesitation, would stand in defense of Swami Kriyananda, as well as our dedicated Ananda leadership. We have learned loyalty. Not blind, indiscriminate loyalty, but loyalty that has been earned through right action, right attitude, and spiritual stature.
Despite the lawsuits, Ananda remains steadfast, forged in renewed strength and resolve in our dedication to Master. We shine like gold. In fact, as others have said, Ananda has become far stronger over the last 12 years, having had to search deeply into the depths of our souls as Master’s children. Triumphantly we continue to serve Master’s work with ever-greater clarity, through world brotherhood communities, offering these teachings to all who are true seekers.
On a more personal level, Ananda members have lived with the constant financial strain of the SRF litigation over these past 12 years. My eldest son, who is now 17, used to put aside his meager allowance and send it to the cause of supporting the legal costs. He used to ask, so innocently, “Mommy, why are those people trying to take away our home?” Admittedly, I had a difficult time answering him. We have always maintained a charitable attitude towards SRF and all the detractors of Ananda whom you support. So while I have not been able to give my son a direct and logical answer to his question, I have continued to tell him that we feel we must defend Ananda because Master so clearly wants World Brotherhood Communities. Master wants us to share his teachings with thousands of devotees around the world. Master wants our children raised in his teachings, to later go out into the world and share that light. It would certainly be so much easier, and far less expensive, to pack up and move away, but how can one choose to not choose dharma?
Some say that I am a Pollyanna, because I continually hope for the possibility, no matter how small, that we might change your negative opinion of us so that both our organizations can serve Master with mutual respect. We are open to working with you and SRF amicably at any time. I am entirely sincere as I extend again my warm invitation to you to visit us. We would love nothing more than to go forth with new friendship and joy with you, and with SRF. Come, be a spiritual scientist, and investigate Ananda personally.
I heartily endorse everything the other Ananda ministers have written to you in the past several weeks. It is their dharma to show you our strength, our loyalty to Swami Kriyananda, and our unwavering dedication to Master’s vision for us. Allow me, however, to show you our compassion, our understanding, and our friendship as your gurubai. I invite the day when Master’s words, Only love can take my place, become a reality between our organizations and our members.
I wish you a blessed Christmas in the joy of our Masters,
Sitabai Betts
Ananda Village
