SURELY THERE’S A BETTER WAY of life for those of us who are weary of the rat-race, and who long for the freedom to live our ideals – a life among friends with whom we can celebrate “simple living and high thinking” together, and be there for each other in times of need.

“Many have tried…”

The utopian ideal has long been greeted with sneers by cynical onlookers. But what of communities that actually work, because they are based on a sound understanding of human nature and hold realistic expectations about what’s possible?

Ananda: The Little Communities That Could

The original Ananda Community - all of it! - with Swami Kriyananda circa 1969. Today's Ananda Village has indoor plumbing and somewhat less hair. (Click for larger view.)

Swami Kriyananda started the first Ananda community in 1968. Today, eight Ananda communities are thriving throughout the world: in California (Nevada City, Sacramento, Mountain View), Portland, Seattle, and Italy (near Assisi) and India (Gurgaon and Pune). (The photo above was taken during a workday — a better term would be “fun day” — at the Ananda Community in Mountain View.)

The Authoritative Guide

In his fascinating book, Cooperative Communities – How to Start Them and Why, Swami Kriyananda lays out the principles on which groups of like-minded people can build the better life they are seeking. Packed with deep insights, practical tips, and earthy humor, it provides a sound blueprint for those wanting to live cooperatively.

Cooperative Communities has long been out of print. It is our joy to make it available once again through this website. We hope you’ll find it inspiring and useful.

NEXT STEPS: Read the book, explore the links (above and at right), browse the Articles Archive, and please do feel free to share your thoughts with us (use the “Send us a message” link at right). We’d love to hear from you.

Landscaped terrace, Ananda community, Pune

LATEST NEWS: Here’s a 6-page PDF (2 MB) with photos and descriptions of the newest Ananda community, in the hills near Pune, India. The community was built entirely from scratch in just three years, and is still very much “under construction.” Nayaswami Jaya Helin has been a leading force in the creation of Ananda Pune. For his thoughtful and often humorous accounts of the challenges of building a work in a culture with very different ways, see his “Letters From India” blog.