In this episode, Marydale Ma speaks with Panna Majithia about a spiritual life that has unfolded quietly and persistently across three continents — from a devoted childhood in Malawi, to a moment of longing at the banks of the Ganga at 17, to the steady deepening of practice in the midst of family life and career in Canada. Panna shares the remarkable ways Sai Baba of Shirdi entered her life, the healing arts that opened her understanding of energy and inner balance, and how her 2012 initiation into Kriya Yoga became the resting place she had been searching for all along. She also speaks about her work in the newly established Kriya Yoga Sadhana Institute of Canada, her book on plant-based Ayurvedic healing, and what she would most want to leave in the hearts of women who are stretched thin and searching for a way back to themselves. A warm and grounded conversation about perseverance, harmony, and the quiet power of returning — again and again — to the Self.
About Our Guest
Panna Majithia was born in Malawi and has made her home in British Columbia, Canada, where she is a wife, mother, and devoted Kriyavan. Her spiritual life deepened in 2005 through a profound connection with Sai Baba of Shirdi, and she was initiated into Kriya Yoga in 2012 by Swami Atmavidyanandaji. Her practice has naturally expanded to include Reiki, Vastu, Vedic Astrology, and Ayurveda — each pointing toward the same inner life of awareness, balance, and healing. She serves as a board director of the Kriya Yoga Sadhana Institute of Canada and is the author of The Plant-Based Ayurvedic Solution: A Modern Guide to Healing Your Gut, Balancing Hormones, and Finding Food Peace.
Episode Transcript
Marydale Ma:
Greetings to you, and welcome to Living in Joy and another heartfelt conversation with a remarkable woman whose spiritual journey reminds us that awakening often unfolds quietly in the midst of our families, our work, our challenges, and our everyday lives. Today’s guest, Panna Majithia, is someone whose life beautifully demonstrates that spirituality isn’t separate from daily living — it’s woven directly into it.
And before I introduce you to Panna, let’s just take a moment to arrive completely in this space. First, make sure that your phone and any other devices are turned off so that you can bring your full attention right here, now.
And then sit comfortably. If you’d like, you may choose to gently close your eyes. And now begin to focus on the beauty and the divinity of your own breath as it moves with ease in and out through your nose. Long, slow, deep breathing — as you breathe in love, exhaling peace. Breathing in love, exhaling peace.
Beloved Father, divine Mother, Gurudev Hariharananda, our Guruji Paramahansa Prajnanananda, and our Paramguru Paramahansa Yogananda — we bow to you with gratitude for the privilege of coming together on this day. May this conversation be more than words. May it become a doorway into greater awareness, compassion, courage, and love. May every listener receive exactly what they need on this day. May all our hearts remain open, our minds quiet, and may our souls be receptive to your presence. In endless love, we pray. Om Shantihi, Om Shantihi, Om Shantihi. Amen.
Oh, it’s just wonderful to be together once again. And I’m very excited today to have this wonderful guest with us — Panna, who joins us from beautiful British Columbia, Canada. It’s just so wonderful to have you, Panna. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And welcome.
Panna Ma:
Thank you, Ma, for having me.
Marydale Ma:
Yes. And I always like to begin at the beginning. Before we dive into the numerous accomplishments in your life, I’d like the listeners to get a little peek of who you were. What was your young girl’s life like? So if you will, please tell us where you were born, what your childhood was like, and what really shaped you.
Panna Ma:
Absolutely, Ma. Thank you so much for having me, and I’m so grateful for this opportunity. I had a beautiful childhood. I’m from Malawi in Africa — a very small country. Beautiful childhood, no exposure to the external world. We were so simple. It was a simple, humble life, and a beautiful little place that we lived in, with a beautiful backyard and front yard.
And it is always a kind of tradition, I think, for Indian households to have a little temple or little shrine in their home. So we’ve always had that, right from my childhood. My mom used to do the puja and the ceremony and we did Aarti together. So I’ve always seen that. Even now at home, I have a little shrine and we do puja and Aarti. So I had a beautiful childhood, right up until the age of 16, when I completed high school there in Malawi.
And then there were no post-secondary institutions there, being such a small country. So I went to England. My parents and family were still in Malawi, and then I went to England, and it was a culture shock — everything was so huge, right? I had never seen anything like that before. So it was a lot of learning for me, adapting, getting to know people and the way of things. It was a huge change for me. I did miss Malawi, of course. It took a long time to adjust. And then slowly I did, and my post-secondary education was all in England.
And then whilst I was there, I was getting pulled — and I’ll backtrack a little bit. Even when I was in Malawi as a child, I would be pulled by God’s pictures and deities. I wanted to know stories about gods. I would ask my grandma, please tell me the story of Shiva, tell me that story. And the pictures — my family had subscribed to a magazine called Back to Godhead, and the pictures and the little articles fascinated me so much. It was just a pull.
And so when I went to England, I was noticing that I was getting pulled again. At this time I was just 16 going on 17, and I was getting pulled so much. I was reading scriptures like the Ramayana and the Bhagavad Gita, all these stories of gods. And I was getting fascinating dreams — so vivid — about Hanumanji and Lord Ram, and even Sheshnag and Lord Vishnu. I still even remember those dreams now. I don’t know what it was, but my mind was completely turned towards God. I just wanted God. And I found myself getting detached from everything. It didn’t matter where I lived, what I did.
I was in college at that time. And then once my father phoned me from Malawi and said that they were planning a pilgrimage trip to India. And I was already, by that time, wanting so badly to go to India, because I had read about it — the Ganges and all of that. I was so excited. And I flew from England to India and met my parents, my family, my sister there. We did a beautiful pilgrimage to Haridwar, Rishikesh, Lord Krishna’s birthplace, and so many different places.
And I was just emotional. And when we got to Rishikesh, to the River Ganga — when I saw the River Ganga, I was at the banks, and I was just at my peak. And I said to mom and dad, when it was time to go: okay, you go — I’m not coming back. I’m not going back to England. And they freaked out, naturally, right? What is going on? And it took a long time. They were trying to convince me to go back. I mean, they did succeed, of course, because life had other plans for me. And it was with extreme difficulty — I was crying. I didn’t want to leave Rishikesh. I knew that I wanted to be a monk.
But I had no guide at that time, no Guru at that time, no avenue. And being a young girl in India, not knowing anybody — that would have been extremely difficult. I did finally go back, disheartened, went back to England, still very much drawn towards divinity.
Marydale Ma:
And Ma, what year was that?
Panna Ma:
It would be around 1987 or 1988, something like that.
Marydale Ma:
Okay.
Panna Ma:
Yes. And I did go back to England, and mom and dad also finally moved to England. My brother, sister, everybody moved to England. And then life happened and life had other plans for me. So I had to pay off my karma, of course, and the debts and all that. So I did become a householder — I married and have two beautiful girls.
And I was very involved with family life. And then after I got married, we moved to Canada in 1995. So I’ve been here for quite some time.
And then in the first few years of our time here in Canada, I had a call from England from my brother that my youngest sister had passed. She was the youngest in the family — eight years younger than me. And this was all of a sudden, because there was no illness, no sickness, nothing. It was just sudden. And I went to England, of course, and I was just trying to figure out — how does that happen? I had a lot of questions. She was so young, only married for one year. What happens to the soul? Why did this happen? Where did she go?
And then a book — just by God’s grace, by the Master’s grace — I found a book called The Divine Romance by Paramahansa Yogananda. It had a chapter in it about the soul and where it is and what happens to it after it passes. And we were reading that aloud in our living room, still in England. And the lights started flickering — as if my sister was giving a message: I’m here, I’m here.
And so I think that was my second turning point into spirituality. I started to read a lot more and got so many more books. So that got me deeper into spirituality.
Marydale Ma:
Yes. That’s so interesting. Yogananda has a way of doing that. I’ve talked to so many people over the decades — the Autobiography of a Yogi falls off a shelf, or they find it in the street, or just the most extraordinary things happen.
Yogananda has a special knack of finding us and opening our hearts. Now, as we move forward into 2005, you talk about meeting and having a deep connection with Sai Baba of Shirdi, and that this became a very important turning point in your spiritual journey. Would you share with us what happened in your life during that time and how you recognized that something sacred was beginning to unfold?
Panna Ma:
Yes, absolutely. I get very excited when I talk about Sai Baba of Shirdi because he had a very remarkable way to enter my life.
I had gone again to England — around that time also — just for my mom’s 60th birthday. And my cousin gave me a book of Sai Baba’s teachings called the Sai Satcharitra. It’s a small red book. She gave it to me and I said, okay, I’ll read it when I go back to Canada. And when I got back home, I started to read it. And every time I sat down with that book and opened it and started to read, my front doorbell would ring. Because I was so engrossed in these stories, the doorbell would start to ring. I opened the door — nobody there. Again, I sit down, and the doorbell rings. It happened a few times. And then another time when I opened the door, I got a wordless message: it is me — Sai Baba — I have entered your life now.
I had goosebumps all over me. And this was something very powerful and beautiful that happened to me. But alongside that, he was giving me dreams. He appeared in my dreams saying the mantra Guru Brahma. And any other time that I prayed to him, he has given me his evidence that he is here. And I will give you an example.
My husband used to do late night shifts, coming home late, and the girls were little. Once they would go to sleep, I would go to Sai Baba — I have a beautiful picture of him — and I would talk to him. I said, I’m feeling a little lonely. And then all of a sudden, the doorbell rang. This was in the evening, after the girls had gone to sleep. And I see a nice lady, a beautiful lady. She had come by before. She said, I was just out for a walk and thought I’d come and see you.
And then she came in, but this time she was different, Ma. Her manner, her little behavior was different — she just kept smiling and smiling and smiling. And I felt the love radiating from her eyes. I offered her a cup of tea and she said, no, I’m just here to give you company.
All that time, I knew who that was. I knew it was Sai Baba. Sai Baba came to me just to give me company because I was so alone. And then she left. After she left, I just watched her walk away.
And then there was even more. On another evening, the girls were playing on the deck on their bikes. And again I was just sitting on the little swing in the backyard, looking at the sky, thinking: Baba, are you thinking of me? I’m thinking of you right now. And you won’t believe it — right in front of my eyes, the clouds began to move, and they were moving so fast. And in the end, they formed S-A-I. Sai. Literally.
And I had tears. He’s here. He’s here, taking care of me, taking care of my family.
And so I continue to read the Sai Satcharitra — one chapter daily. My Kriya practice is first. And then I read the Sai Satcharitra, chapter after chapter, again and again. And then Master’s Namaskar. Those are the three things that I do every day.
Marydale Ma:
What wonderful stories. And I think it’s just a demonstration of God’s grace alive and well in your life, don’t you?
Panna Ma:
Absolutely, Ma. Absolutely. Even when I got initiated into Kriya Yoga, I felt it was Sai Baba’s hand in it. Because when I was initiated — it was with Swami Atmavidyanandaji in 2012 — he asked me if I recognized any of the pictures in the lineage. And I said, of course, Paramahansa Yogananda, because I had read the Autobiography of a Yogi. And he said, do you know Sai Baba of Shirdi? Because I had been talking to him about Sai Baba. And he said, Sai Baba of Shirdi was also initiated by Lahiri Mahasaya.
And oh my God. I completely said: this is my path. This is my path. I was all for it.
Marydale Ma:
That is so interesting. I never heard that before, Panna. Wow.
Panna Ma:
Yes, it was in Lahiri Mahasaya’s diaries. The masters know. They are so skillful in the ways they play.
Marydale Ma:
You’re not kidding. And they’re always watching us. That is pretty wonderful, it truly is.
Well, not too long after you had the epiphany of Sai Baba, you became quite interested in the healing arts, opening an entirely new understanding of energy and truly how to heal — emotionally, physically, in every way. What was it at that time that spoke so deeply to your heart?
Panna Ma:
I had always believed that the body has an innate ability to heal itself. So when the healing arts came into my life, I got initiated — again, this master was from India, and I trust her as I know her quite well. She initiated me into the energy work, the healing arts. And it resonated with me so much because when I applied it on myself, I noticed how my emotional state, my physical ailments, my pain — it was all working out. My mental and emotional state had eased and balanced out, and my physical ailments were healing.
So I noticed that this was definitely working. And then slowly I started to apply it on my pets, on plants. And I was noticing the plants were growing so beautifully. It was helping the dogs. My dog, when he was extremely restless, I would perform this on him and he would go to sleep. It was working so remarkably.
Slowly, slowly, I started working on my family members and they really appreciated it so well. And it was going well with anyone that I worked on. They greatly appreciated it. So it really does help with the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual side of things. Definitely.
Marydale Ma:
That’s so wonderful. And just listening to you, Ma, it feels as though each doorway prepared you for the next. Because not only did you get involved with the healing arts, but you also became familiar with Vastu, with Ayurveda, Vedic astrology, and ultimately into Kriya Yoga.
And as you look back at all of these different studies — which are, let’s face it, interrelated, because we know that we are pure energy — do you feel that these were separate paths for you, or were they all gently leading you toward one deeper truth that was finally found in Kriya?
Panna Ma:
Yes, very good question, Ma. At that time, I was thinking that these are all separate things, separate arts or separate works. But ultimately, yes, leading to just one — which was inner peace for me, inner contentment. Everything is all one, in whatever way I look at it. Whatever work I did, it was leading to peace and harmony — for me, and for that particular person I was working on.
So it was all leading to healing, to peace and harmony. If you look back, yes, Ma, everything is one. And because Kriya Yoga came into my life, everything else opened up. And whichever way the Master wants me to work, I will work. Whatever assignment I am given, I am working towards that.
Marydale Ma:
Well, that’s just beautiful. You are demonstrating that God was quietly weaving all these experiences together in one beautiful tapestry called Panna. We appreciate that so much. I often think that our lives make much more sense looking backward than they ever did while we were living them, don’t you?
Panna Ma:
Totally, Ma. At the time, we just don’t even think about why things might be happening to us. But when we look back, everything has a reason, Ma.
Marydale Ma:
Yes, yes, it totally does. And speaking of that, your initiation with Swami Atmavidyanandaji in 2012 entered into your life and has become your spiritual practice. But for many of us, there is something significant that we experience during initiation — or at that time, or just after. When you reflect on that, can you think of something that was almost like a homecoming?
Panna Ma:
Yes. When I was initiated into Kriya Yoga, Swamiji explained what it was — because my initiation didn’t happen with everybody. It was a unique case. Swamiji accommodated me on a Sunday morning rather than on a Saturday because I couldn’t attend on Saturday. He was very kind and accommodated me. And he explained what Kriya was and everything.
And yes, when he initiated me, I had tears in my eyes. I knew that this was something I had been longing for. Because yes, I had been reading scriptures, I was doing so many things. But I never had that one fixed practice. So this was my resting place. Kriya Yoga is my resting place. I was very, very grateful for this initiation, and I continue to work at it. I never miss an opportunity to go to a retreat.
Marydale Ma:
That’s wonderful. And one of the things I really admire about your journey that you’ve shared with us is that from the time you were a child, you were already very much in touch with divinity, with God, and there was a desire in you for more, and more, and more. And yet you were already living in spirituality — as a child, as a young adult, as a mature adult in family life. And it has served you significantly in a way that is profound, because your whole life reflects service, seva, to individuals, to groups — in education, in business, in technology. You are so active in serving everyone.
And you speak about bringing awareness into our homes, into our relationships, into our daily routines, even the spaces we live in. I really admire that about you. It’s so generous and at the same time humbling.
Now, if someone were to spend a day with you, what might they notice? Not because you’re trying to be spiritual, but because you practice what you preach and you quietly live as a yogi.
Panna Ma:
Yes. If somebody were to spend the entire day with me, they would notice for sure that whatever task I am doing — whether it be cooking or whether I’m doing my administration work — I’m doing it wholeheartedly. I’m giving my full to everything that I do. But also being aware that whatever I do, it is not me as Panna doing it. It is the soul doing it. So I try to come back and remember that it’s not me, Panna, doing it — but the Self, the soul, doing everything.
So I give my wholehearted attention to anything and everything that I do. My life has so many things going on, but each thing and each task that I do, I give my undivided attention to at that time. So they will definitely notice my concentration, my attention to that. And also my coming back to the awareness of the soul as the doer.
Marydale Ma:
That’s so beautiful. Sometimes it just takes living in the present to incorporate a sense of peacefulness and become more available to God in every moment. And you really sound like you are living that, which I so appreciate.
And it dovetails with what I’m thinking now. As I read everything about you, and I’ve met you before and we’ve done work together — you’ve always given me the impression of being a very loving, kind, generous, humble mother on the planet. But beside that, there’s this thread of harmony in everything you do. You’ve incorporated the healing arts, Ayurveda, Kriya — each seems to invite us back into that harmony.
Would you say harmony has become one of the guiding principles of your life? And what does harmony actually look like inside a busy modern life like yours?
Panna Ma:
Yes. Harmony — even in my past career and everything, I’ve always wanted there to be peace and contentment in my surroundings, with everybody that I am present with. So I try to make peace and create balance. So there are no conflicts, no disagreements. Harmony for me means peace, contentment, no disagreements, no judgments. There has to be that.
So with anybody I’m with, or anywhere that I go, I am very mindful of the words that I speak, the things that I do — keeping in mind other people’s views and thoughts, respecting them. So there’s a big balance. Peace and contentment is what I’m always looking out for. It just comes naturally to me, because I’m thinking about the words I speak, but also being mindful of other people’s views and opinions and thoughts.
Marydale Ma:
Well, you certainly sound like a yogi to me, and I bow to you for that. And what are some simple ways that women who are listening can begin to create greater harmony in their lives today without feeling overwhelmed? Women are just stretched in so many directions, and often they put their spirituality last instead of first. What would you offer them, Ma?
Panna Ma:
Yes, that is true. Women have a natural tendency to look after the family’s needs first rather than their own. So it is very important — and here we are talking about balance, and also about respecting the Self, because we all have the Self within. So respect yourself, for sure. And also have patience. Come back. Do everything that needs to be done for sure, but take time for you. It is so important.
I have learned that over so many years. I’ve been just doing and doing and doing things, and now I’m realizing: yes, it is so important to give time to yourself, because that is what will keep me healthy and will encourage me to do even more. So I would really encourage other mothers to have patience, but come back to yourself. Give yourself time as well. It is extremely important. And time doesn’t have to mean just meditation — go out into nature, enjoy the birds chirping, go for a walk in nature, whatever works for you. Spend time with your inner self. It is very important, because that will really bring the best out in you.
Marydale Ma:
I love that. You know, so often we think transformation requires huge changes. And often it just begins with one little conscious breath, maybe a little peaceful corner of our home that we can make just for ourselves, or just remembering who we are.
I know for me, a good example has always been sitting on the airplane when there’s turbulence and the oxygen masks drop down. If you’re with someone who needs your care, you better put the mask on yourself first, because if you don’t, you’re going to be of no help to anyone. And that’s helped me throughout my entire life — to remember that it’s not selfish to do your practice, to take care of yourself, to eat well, to get rest, to get sunshine. And sometimes we just need, as women, to remind each other that that is perfectly okay — and it’s actually brilliant. So thank you for encouraging our listeners today.
And every Kriyavan, including myself and Pepper Ma, we have our own relationships with the Guru. And you’ve talked so beautifully about Sai Baba. But I would love for you to talk to us a little bit about Guruji Paramahansa Prajnanananda, and perhaps some experience that you’ve had with him as your teacher or guide, or just his quiet presence accompanying you through your life. How would you describe your relationship to Guruji?
Panna Ma:
Oh, thank you for this, Ma. I was going to bring it up anyway at some point, even if you hadn’t asked, because Paramahansa Prajnananandaji is a beautiful presence in my life. My first visit was in 2014. I first met him in 2014 in Seattle. At that time there was no ashram — just a center, the Seattle center. And Amit Baba had Guruji over for a visit. I was super excited because I have always been pulled by sages and saints. They have always attracted me. So I was super excited and had to go, no matter what.
And I got there in extreme excitement. I saw him. I actually ran to him when I entered the door — I actually ran to him and fell at his feet. Do you know what he did, Ma? He turned away.
Marydale Ma:
Ah.
Panna Ma:
Yes, he turned away. And I said, okay, why? Because we are still learning how the masters work, right? That was my first-ever encounter with a self-realized master. So I was still learning. I said, why did he do that? Why didn’t he at least bless me? There were so many other people around. And I quietly sat down.
And then we sat down for dinner and, coincidentally, I just happened to sit right next to him at the table. He was at the head and I was on this side. And I was very naive at that time, so naive, just asking him all these questions. And he was so playful with me, so joyful, just answering anything that I was asking him. And I said to him, Guruji, your name starts with P — my name starts with P. Your birthday is the same as my birthday. We share our birthday. So you will never forget me — is that a promise? You will remember me. Promise me you’ll never forget me.
And he said, I’ll never forget your name and never forget you.
So he was just playing along with me, so joyful. And after that, I met him many times at the ashram. Now I go to every retreat in April or May at the Monroe Ashram. And I see him. Sometimes he’s very jolly and sometimes he’s stern. And whenever I’ve gotten a chance to ask him something, he would reply in the discourse that he would give. So I would get my message then. He’s done that so many times with me — whatever I’ve asked him, he has given me the answer.
And I’ve had beautiful experiences. He has tapped me so hard on my head. He has looked at me and I’ve said to him, Guruji, please look at me directly in my eye. And he looked straight into my eyes and gave me blessings.
He has so much love in him, so much love for all of us. And I am so grateful. Every time — when he came to Canada, to Vancouver last year, he was so joyful, so jolly, wanting to see everybody. And his presence itself is a huge, huge blessing for all of us. So I’m truly blessed to have him in my life. And I always ensure that I go to the retreat — even if I can’t do the entire retreat, I have to be there at least two or three days for sure.
Marydale Ma:
Oh, Jai Guru, Jai Guru. So well said. I feel like I was right there watching. That’s so beautiful. It’s really, really beautiful. Thank you for sharing that.
And now you’ve spent so much of your life helping others — through education, as we talked about earlier, mentoring, healing, community work, and now through your service within Kriya Yoga. And I know that just recently, Kriya has established a very vibrant center in Canada. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
Panna Ma:
Yes. So now, just like the Kriya Yoga Institute in Homestead, we have the Kriya Yoga Sadhana Institute of Canada, based in Calgary.
I am a board member and board director. And we have a treasurer, a financial accountant, and a vice president. We all participate and have meetings. Right now in the summer it has slowed down, but we meet every Thursday evening to discuss our policies, documents, banking, and all of that. It started in September 2024. And it was, I would say, Guruji’s grace — and Sampurnanandaji’s grace definitely. It is only because of their guidance that this happened and opened up.
Being a center leader here in Vancouver for so many years, I did approach Swami Sampurnanandaji and she agreed that I could be the board director. She checked with Guruji, of course. And so we are five members at the moment in total. It is beautiful, and we have so many things that we want to bring — to raise funds and to do a lot of charity work. Currently it’s undergoing the charity application process — we’ve applied for it as a charity and we’re waiting to hear from Canada Revenue Agency.
Marydale Ma:
That is just wonderful. And Canada needs that, because I know Hariharananda spent a lot of time in Canada and loved it, loved the people there so very much. So this is a very natural unfolding for Kriya. And I’m just thrilled that you are such an important part of this.
And now, Ma, as we move forward — recently you’ve added another beautiful expression of service through your new book, The Plant-Based Ayurvedic Solution: A Modern Guide to Healing Your Gut, Balancing Hormones, and Finding Food Peace. Wow, wow, wow. That is just a powerful title — and especially today, we need this in the world. Congratulations to you, Ma. Can you tell us what inspired you to write this book? This was a big undertaking while you’re doing all these other things.
Panna Ma:
Oh, Ma, yes. Thank you. Writing has always been my passion, but I never had the opportunity or the time or the chance to write. And people usually say, I will write after I retire — but who knows, right?
So I started to write because I was looking at people generally, at work where I used to work — always in stress, eating something really fast, taking it out of the freezer and heating it up. Modern times are very stressful, I understand that. So observing everything — observing even my own life and my attitude towards food and my patterns. I would go at 10 p.m. at night to the pantry and look for something. Was that hunger, or what? I was just trying to figure everything out.
So putting all these observations together, and knowing that Ayurveda is ancient and has such powerful healing benefits, I wanted to bring that to the modern world — to bridge the gap and to make people aware that there is a very powerful solution. If one is aware of their own individual constitution — because we each already have an individual constitution per body type — and if we follow and eat according to that, we will experience bliss and harmony within. Our mind and body will be in alignment.
And so I wanted to bring that awareness to the world. And I did present the book to Guruji the last time he came, and he said, it is a great book. He said, this is a very good book.
Marydale Ma:
Oh, great.
Panna Ma:
With his blessings — and it was his blessings, Ma. This just came out because of my passion. I was writing slowly, slowly, slowly, trying to manage weekends or evenings, whatever time I could get. People just need to be aware, in modern times, of the foods that they eat, to be mindful of when they’re eating. There are so many people with ailments — the gut is not healthy, the mind is restless. It all comes from the foods that we eat, from not recognizing our own body constitution, our dosha. If we know that, everything will be in alignment.
Marydale Ma:
Absolutely. Absolutely. You are so incredibly right. And what a blessing it is for all of us that you found time in your very busy life to create this book. I think so many women today are searching for practical ways to care for themselves, Panna, and you’re offering them that in these pages. Your book feels like a very loving companion for the journey forward. Congratulations.
And now as we begin to kind of wind down, I would like you to take a moment and think about that girl who lived in Africa, just enjoying all of the exposure she was receiving to God and the masters and divinity and spirituality and all the many stories. What would you tell her, from your heart to hers, right this minute?
Panna Ma:
She had such an innocent childhood, such a beautiful childhood. And if I were to tell her, what would I tell her?
At that time, she didn’t know that God was within her. All she knew was that God is external. So she was always searching outside. So I would tell her: you are God. You are divine.
Marydale Ma:
That is beautiful. Just beautiful. And I think someone up there was whispering that right to her heart.
And Panna, I’d love to ask you just a couple more questions that come straight from the heart to your heart. They’re an opportunity for listeners to know you just a little more personally before we part. There are no right answers — just whatever arises.
If you could describe your spiritual journey in just one word, what would that be?
Panna Ma:
Good question. Wow. One word, Ma?
Looking back, yes — it was always present, I was always coming back to it. So perseverance. I was always persevering. I was always working towards it. So perseverance, definitely. Now that I’m looking back, Ma, yes, I can see it was always coming back to it, in every which way.
Marydale Ma:
Wonderful. Beautiful. Beautiful.
You know, that was an unexpected choice and one that’s extremely empowering, I think. Because many of us — many of our listeners, me included — go through periods of time when you go up and down. It’s not a straight line. We have all kinds of adjustments that have to be made along the path. And it sure requires perseverance. I think that is absolutely an underlying strength that we need to exercise. So thank you for bringing that to light.
And is there one simple practice that has become absolutely indispensable in your daily life? Something you would lovingly encourage every woman to begin today, or continue?
Panna Ma:
Yes. Of course, if there is a Kriya Yoga practice, that is first. But if not, just sit. Take time for you. Take time for yourself. Go deep down and have an awareness of yourself. Just know that you are that — you are God.
Just take time for you. I think that is the most important thing. And then practice will come. If we are patient and have faith, we know that whatever practice is to unfold for us, it will come to us. We don’t need to be in search for anything, Ma. It will come to us.
Marydale Ma:
Absolutely. Absolutely. We have to be open, prepared, and then surrender — which is so important to reaching our goal.
And the last thing I’m going to ask you is: if the women from around the world were gathered before you right now, each carrying their own hopes — you as a healer — their own struggles — you as an educator — their own questions — you as a consistent presence on the path of spirituality — what would you most want to leave in their hearts?
Panna Ma:
I would like to tell them that they are powerful in whatever they are doing. They are powerful. And to always have that trust in yourself. That trust in the Self, that self-confidence, is the most powerful thing for a woman. So have faith in yourself, and know that you are powerful. And then whatever you wish to attain, your self-confidence will guide you.
I am saying this because I have worked with women who have suffered — survivors of intimate partner violence — and I know that they live in such fear, such fearful and struggling lives. So I can say: please just know that you are already powerful, and you can attain whatever you need. Just have faith, have patience, and know that you are powerful.
Marydale Ma:
That is a beautiful, beautiful sentiment to leave with all of us. And you certainly are empowered and are an example of living in that space. And as you told Guruji, you will never forget me — and he said he would never forget you. I can say that we are never going to forget you either, Panna. You’ve just been a joy and have truly touched me.
And I’m sure our listeners would agree that it’s not only the breadth of your knowledge, but the quiet sincerity with which you live your life day in and day out. You truly are an inspiration, Ma, showing us that we too have the ability to remember God in the midst of our day to day. Oh, that is such a precious gift. And we truly thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Ma.
Panna Ma:
Thank you so much, Ma, for having me. Thank you for your guidance.
Marydale Ma:
Yes, much, much love to you.
Panna Ma:
Much love to you. Jai Guru, Ma.
Marydale Ma:
Jai Guru. And now I’d like to close today’s conversation with these beautiful words from our Guruji. He wrote: relax in every step of life. Life is to be lived with joy, love, and an attitude of service. Your mind must be focused and goal-oriented. Practice slow, long, deep breathing. Be free from fear, just as the person in deep sleep is free of fear.
How perfectly these words reflect everything we’ve explored together with Panna today. What a blessing. And now may each of us leave this conversation inspired to slow down, to breathe more deeply, to trust a little more completely.
Thank you so much for joining us for Living in Joy. And if this conversation has touched your heart, I invite you to connect with our growing community by subscribing to our Women of Kriya Yoga YouTube channel, or by following us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Your kind words are always truly inspiring to us and give us the courage and empowerment to continue on this wonderful journey deeper into living in joy.
Until next time, remember that every home can be a sanctuary, every breath a prayer, and every act of kindness an offering.
Much, much love to you. Jai Guru. Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. Amen.
