J Donald Walters (Swami Kriyananda)

J Donald Walters (Swami Kriyananda)

He had been with Yogananda only a year when he was asked to head the male monastery. A daunting task for a young man of 21but gradually he won the respect of his seniors and colleagues in the organization. Soon after, Yogananda had him lecturing regularly at Hollywood Temple. He served as Vice-President of Self-Realization Fellowship, and was the main minister at the Hollywood Church during the latter 1950's.
Since his youth, Kriyananda dreamed of utopian communities, and spoke often to friends about his ideas. But few others shared his enthusiasm, and he gradually put his dreams aside. He was surprised, then, to discover Yogananda often speaking often about the need for "world-brotherhood colonies" as environments that would foster spiritual attitudes: humility, trust, devotion, respect for others, and friendly cooperation.
It was at a garden party on July 31, 1949 that Yogananda gave a talk that changed the course of Swami Kriyananda's life. "This day marks the birth of a new era. My spoken words are registered in the ether, in the Spirit of God, and they shall move the West...We must go on-not only those who are here, but thousands of youths must go North, South, East, and West to cover the earth with little colonies, demonstrating that simplicity of living plus high thinking lead to the greatest happiness!"
Swami Kriyananda wrote afterwards, "I was moved to my core. It would not have surprised me had the heavens opened up and host of angels come streaming out, eyes ablaze, to do his bidding. Deeply, I vowed that day to do my utmost to make his words a reality."
In 1967, the opportunity came. Kriyananda purchased a small piece of land in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Nevada City, California, and started what is now known as Ananda Village. Though thousands of "utopian" communities were started during this period of American history, only a handful remain today-among them Ananda. Because of his sensitive leadership and vision, today, more than 300 people live in this intentional spiritual community and practice the yoga and meditation teachings of Yogananda. A variety of Ananda-owned and private businesses form the economic backbone of the community. Schools, a grocery store, publishing company, meditation retreat, construction guild, and more dot the hillsides on a rolling 800 acres of rural land. Homes and gardens are well-cared for, and there is a palpable feeling of harmony on the property. Visitors are welcome year-round; call (800) 346-5350 for a guide to programs and overnight accommodations.
Swami Kriyananda's leadership style is at the heart of Ananda's success. Ananda has a web organizational model rather than a hierarchical model-similar to many successful high-tech companies today. Decisions are made by smaller groups of people most closely involved with a project, rather than by a distant single leader. As a result, Ananda has cultivated many capable leaders and managers who help others, in turn, become more involved and responsible for different aspects of Ananda.
Other Ananda communities have developed over the years to include Ananda Palo Alto, Ananda Sacramento, Ananda Portland, Ananda Seattle, and Ananda Assisi in Italy. Each community has a spiritual focus (a teaching center and place of worship) and a community (apartments or homes where members may live). The community in the Palo Alto area, for example, is a large apartment complex with 100 members and children, landscaped grounds, pool, shared kitchen and dining room, and temple for group meditations.
Since Ananda's early days, Swami Kriyananda has left the day-to-day management of Ananda to others, and has concentrated on fulfilling Yogananda's additional instructions that he write and teach. He is a prolific writer and composer, speaks nine languages, and travels the world lecturing and teaching. Kriyananda has written more than 75 books and composed about 400 pieces of music. World renowned as a singer, composer, and lecturer, Swami Kriyananda has shown how to apply spiritual principles to art, music, education, business, relationships, and much more.He has initiated thousands of people into Kriya Yoga. Some of his books and music include the following:
In November, 2003, Swami Kriyananda and a small group of Ananda teachers and staff arrived in New Delhi to establish a branch of Ananda in India. Since then Swami has recorded lectures for India Television and is writing correspondence lessons, as well as giving public talks. Swami Kriyananda in India.
Prior to November, 2003 Kriyananda made his home in Assisi, Italy (for several years) where he devoted his time to writing and teaching throughout Europe.