The AWAKENING Interfaith Spiritual Community is an independent ministry affiliated with the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment (CSE), San Jose, CA.

The founding minister and Spiritual Director of AWAKENING, Reverend Nancy Ballinger, is an interfaith minister who teaches in the spiritual tradition of Kriya Yoga. She graduated from the Love In Action Interfaith Seminary and was ordained by Rev. Ellen Grace O'Brian, the founder and Spiritual Director of CSE. Reverend. O'Brian was ordained to teach in the Kriya Yoga tradition by her teacher, Roy Eugene Davis, founder of The Center for Spiritual Awareness, Lakemont, GA, and a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda. Paramahansa Yogananda came to the US in 1920 and brought a vision of the essential harmony of the world's religions and the potential for individual spiritual awakening through methods of meditation and the science of Self-realization.

Our ministry with the AWAKENING Interfaith Spiritual Community carries on this vision of a spiritually awakened world through realizing the spiritual nature of every person and the inherent harmony of all religions.

In 1998, while in seminary Rev. Ballinger began teaching How to Meditate classes, and leading weekly Meditation Groups locally on the central coast. After her graduation, she began Living the Eternal Way classes with over 50 people completing the first courses, including a group at the California Men's Colony. During this time AWAKENING was known as The Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, Morro Bay Group.

As the teachings of The Eternal Way and Kriya Yoga grew, the interest in this interfaith ministry blossomed into a spiritual community. In January 2004 we received our 501(c) 3 tax-exempt status from the IRS and the State of California. At that time, with the blessing of CSE, we stepped forward and established the name AWAKENING Interfaith Spiritual Community.

Since that time our community has continued to grow and deepen. Our beautiful meditation chapel, counseling office, and community room provide a welcoming home for seekers of all faiths to gather for study, prayer, meditation, meals together and warm hearted fellowship and conversation.