10 Facts About Kriyananda

Kriyananda was a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and founder of the spiritual movement named "Ananda".

Kriyananda founded Ananda, a worldwide movement of religious and communal organizations based on Yogananda's World Brotherhood Colonies ideal.

Kriyananda's father was an oil geologist with the Esso Corporation, who was then assigned to the Romanian oilfields.

Kriyananda attended Haverford College and Brown University, leaving the latter in his senior year.

Kriyananda became a vegetarian, and in 1948 he traveled cross-country by bus to southern California to become one of Yogananda's disciples.

Kriyananda rightfully receives it only from another swami; all monks thus trace their spiritual lineage to one common guru, Lord Shankara.

Kriyananda remained in India, serving SRF until 1962, when its board of directors voted unanimously to request his resignation.

Kriyananda founded various retreat centers: The Expanding Light Yoga and Meditation Retreat and the nearby Ananda Meditation Retreat, both located near Nevada City, California; Ananda Associazione near Assisi, Italy; and Ananda Gurgaon, India.

In 1983, Kriyananda let go of his monastic sannyas vows in the Shankaracharya order, which includes his vow to celibacy.

Kriyananda began using his birth name of James Donald Walters and married in 1985 but then divorced.