阿南達(Ananda)意指「喜悅」，而瑪迦(Marga)意指「道路」。 因此，阿南達瑪迦意指「喜悅之路」。
「喜悅」指的是無限的快樂，它是人類的基本渴望。眾生對無限皆有其內在的渴望。有限的事物無法滿足吾人，這些或許能帶來暫時的快樂，但是卻無法持續滿足我們。有限的客體只能給予暫時有限的快樂，只有無限的喜悅才能夠滿足我們。那麼，吾人如何才能夠獲得喜悅呢？唯有藉由擴展我們對宇宙意識的覺醒，將個體有限的體驗轉變成無限的宇宙體驗，吾人方能達到這無限快樂、祥和的喜悅之境。
阿南達瑪迦的修行系統授予我們鍛鍊的方法。它是一套殊勝的法門，引導吾人體驗這無限的祥和快樂，即吾人所謂的「自我了悟」。它是理念和生活之道，也是一套有系統的科學法門，能夠實現眾生在身體、心理和靈性這三方面的需求。它是內省和直覺的鍛鍊，涵蓋個人的生活保健方法、瑜伽體位法、社會服務以及靜坐冥想的鍛鍊。它的目標是要促進眾生的全面發展，使個體和集體在人類存在的所有層面：個體、社會、經濟、心智以及靈性等層面，都獲得全面提升。它是對人類所有的渴望和嚮往的完全回應。
阿南達瑪迦做為一個全球性組織，世界各地幾乎都有其服務中心，進行包含了對人類、動物、植物和整個星球的服務計劃。此外，阿南達瑪迦也設立許多瑜伽和靜坐中心、學校、兒童之家、食物分配中心、災難救助、醫療中心和社區發展計劃等等，為世界各地的人民服務，幫助人們運用他們個人和社會的資源，促進全體眾生的福祉。
阿南達瑪迦的哲學是宇宙整體主義。它的理想是宇宙一家，視上帝是一無限的至上意識本體，而萬事萬物皆是這一宇宙家庭的成員。
此外，阿南達瑪迦認為，在靈性和世俗層面之間必須要取得平衡，任何一個層面皆不可以被忽視。因此，阿南達瑪迦的目標是「自我了悟和服務眾生」。
Ananda means “bliss” and Marga means “path.”
So Ananda Marga means “Path of Bliss.”
Bliss is infinite happiness. It is the fundamental desire of human beings. “There is in the living being a thirst for limitlessness.” We can never be satisfied with limited things. They may give us pleasure for a while, but not long-lasting satisfaction. A limited object can only give a temporary and limited amount of happiness. But only infinite happiness will satisfy us. So how are we to attain it? By expanding our awareness to infinity; by transforming our individual limited experience into the cosmic experience of the unlimited: infinite happiness; perfect peace and contentment – bliss.
Ananda Marga is the name of the system which allows us to do that. It is an optimal selection of those techniques and practices that lead to the total experience of infinite peace and happiness – what we call “self-realization.” It is an ideology and way of life; a systematic and scientific process for the fulfillment of all human needs: physical, mental and spiritual. It is introversial, intuitional practice; with techniques ranging from personal hygiene to yoga postures; from social service to meditation. Its goal is the all-round elevation of human beings, both individually and collectively, in all spheres of human existence: individual, social, economic, intellectual and spiritual. It is a total response to human longing and aspiration.
As an organization, Ananda Marga has a global network of centers in virtually every country of the world. Its activities encompass a wide range of projects for the welfare of humanity, animals, plants and the whole planet. These include yoga and meditation centers, schools, children’s homes, food distribution centers, disaster relief, medical centers and community development projects. Emphasis is placed on meeting the needs of the local people and assisting them in developing their personal and social resources for the prosperity of all.
The philosophy of Ananda Marga is one of universalism. It is an all-embracing outlook, recognizing God as the one limitless supreme consciousness, with all beings of the universe part of the one cosmic family.
It recognizes that a balance is needed between the spiritual and mundane aspects of existence, and that neither one should be neglected at the expense of the other. Hence the goal of Ananda Marga is “Self-realization and the welfare of the universe.”