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Swami
Kriyananda
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A fulfillment of Yogananda's dream Swami Kriyananda (J. Donald Walters) is one of the most well-known exponents of yoga in the world today. He is also known is the father of the cooperative community movement. Kriyananda became a disciple of Yogananda in 1948, living as a monk at Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) in Los Angeles for the next 14 years. Yogananda appointed him head of the monks soon after his arrival. He served as SRF's principal lecturer to students around the world, and was made Vice President of the Board in 1960. But gradually it became clear that he was a lone voice for a more expansive approach to Yogananda's work, and there was a painful parting of the ways in 1962. (To learn more, see My Separation from SRF). Kriyananda had heard Yogananda lecture often about the need for "world brotherhood colonies." Yogananda exhorted his audiences frequently to go out and start such communities; the establishment of these colonies was part of SRF's Aims and Ideals for many years. Inwardly, Kriyananda pledged to help fulfill this vision. Finally in 1968, the time was right. Kriyananda founded the first Ananda yoga community near Nevada City, California. Here finally, like-minded students of yoga could work, live, and worship together in a spiritually supportive environment. Since then, Ananda has developed into a network of eight sister communities, retreats, places of worship, and businesses in America, Italy, and India.
Leadership and principles on which Ananda is based Kriyananda's leadership style and understanding of human nature have greatly influenced the development of Ananda communities. The emphasis is on cooperation, and a strong shared desire to do the right thing, taking everyone and all the facts of a situation into consideration. "People are more important than things" has been the most central guiding principle, along with, "Where there is adherance to dharma (right action), there is victory." Kriyananda delegated significant leadership responsibility to many people from the earliest beginnings of Ananda. As a result, there are many gifted leaders at Ananda today whose chief interest is to serve the needs of others. Spiritual growth takes great inner strength; it cannot be imposed from outside. People who choose to affiliate with Ananda do so of their own choice, and the affiliation is primarily an inner one. If anything, Ananda is rather less organized than people expect; independent minded people appreciate the freedom it offers.
A lifetime of discipleship Since 1948, Swami Kriyananda has devoted his life to sharing Yogananda's teachings with the public. He has lectured to hundreds of thousands of students, and written more than 79 books on topics related to meditation, yoga philosophy, and bringing spirituality into everyday life. His books include: The Art of Supportive Leadership and Superconsiousness: A Guide to Meditation, and Secrets of Life. He has also composed some 300 pieces of uplifting and inspirational music that have been performed in churches throughout Italy. Swami Kriyananda retired as spiritual director of Ananda in 1998. As spiritual director, his role was to inspire and guide the spiritual aspects of Ananda life, and protect the rights of individuals in disputes between organizational and individual needs. Management of Ananda's activities has always been conducted by others. His "retirement" did not reduce his activities. He began lecturing nearly weekly at the Ananda Assisi retreat, as well as lecturing throughout Italy and Europe. He completed several more books, including Conversations with Yogananda, from notes and recollections he had been treasuring for more than 50 years. In 2003, he felt inwardly inspired to move to India and begin a work on behalf of Yogananda. He is in the New Delhi area now, once again lecturing and writing. This time, his talks are also being broadcast to millions of Indians on television in brief 15-minute shows that share his devotion to his guru, and his desire to help people understand the transformative power of spiritual ideals. You can view these talks in streaming video. Yogananda himself spent nearly all his adult life in America. And so it is a delightful turn of events to have his American disciple return the gift, to the joy of large audiences of sincere devotees in India. |
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Books written by J. Donald Walters (Swami Kriyananda) |
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A Place Called Ananda You may purchase any of these books through your local bookstore, or directly from Crystal Clarity, Publishers. |
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