Swami Kriyananda

Swami Kriyananda

Swami Kriyananda (J. Donald Walters), the founder of Ananda, is one of the few living direct disciples of the great Indian master, Paramhansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi. He is an internationally known author, lecturer and composer, and is widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost authorities on meditation and yoga.

Kriyananda spent 3-1/2 years living closely with and serving his guru up to the moment of Yogananda’spassing in 1952. He went on to become vice-president of Self-Realization Fellowship, the organization Yogananda founded.

After his separation from SRF, he founded Ananda in 1968, recognized as the most successful spiritual community in the world. As Yogananda had spoken frequently about the need for “World Brotherhood Colonies,” Kriyananda took this on as his unique contribution towards the fulfillment of his guru’s ideals. 

A young Donald Walters serving Yogananda, March 1952

Swami Kriyananda has founded intentional, spiritual communities in America, Europe and India, which have grown and flourished, offering hope for a better world.

Swami Kriyananda’s books have sold over 3 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 32 languages. His published works, which number more than 140, explore the application of Yogananda’s teachings to daily life. Topics include meditation, yoga, leadership, education, creativity, moral values and more. For more information, visit Crystal Clarity Publishers.

Kriyananda has also written over 400 pieces of music. His music is soothing, uplifting, and inspiring. Chuck Dilberto, of Awareness Magazine says, “Kriyananda’s words and music are full of his life and light. His sole intention is to heal, something we could all use during these chaotic times.”

Musically, he is best known for composing the music on the albums Mystic Harp and Mystic Harp 2, featuring the legendary harpist Derek Bell, of the 5-time Grammy Award-winning group The Chieftains.