Today I am sharing an inspiring story which may have few parallels in modern times in the way a disciple dedicated his whole life in the service of the mission of his Guru. It is a very unusual story that will keep you hooked to this Video as I take you through the life of this rare individual.
This story starts in 1948 from the life of a 22 years old American young man based in New York. Named James Donald Walters, he had been struggling for years trying to find God, and the purpose of life. Then he came across the book Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda. The book changed his life.
Walters became determined to meet Paramhans Yoganand. With this dream, He started out to California to meet Yoganand. His mission succeeded when he was able to personally meet Paramhans Yogananda. His honesty of purpose convinced Paramhans Yogananda to accept him as a disciple. Walters was later given the monastic name of Kriyanand.
From here on is the fascinating journey of a devoted disciple committing his whole life to spread the teachings and learnings of his Guru & Master. With utterly selfless devotion and in the true spirit of Karma with no desires for the fruits of his actions.
Paramhans Yogananda had set up his organization called Self Realization Fellowship ie SRF in Los Angeles, California in 1920. Walters spent three and a half years there till the passing away of Paramhans Yoganandaa in 1952.
Besides English, Swami Kriyanand could speak Hindi, Bengali, Italian, Romanian, French, Spanish and German. For the next 10 years Swami Kriyananda travelled worldwide lecturing, initiating devotees into Kriya Yoga and spreading the teachings of Paramhans Yoganand.
A monastic almost all of his adult life, Swami Kriyananda established his own organization called Ananda Sangha.
He established Ananda Village – a World Brotherhood Colony in 1968 on 40 acres of land near Nevada City, California. Also, another Ashram at Assisi in Italy. I have been fortunate enough to visit the Ananda Village in USA and live a few days there. It is a heaven on earth.
Over the course of next fifty years he travelled extensively in America, India and Italy sharing Paramhans Yoganandaa’s teachings and initiatng thousands into Kriya Yoga – Paramhans Yogananda’s main technique for attaining Self-Realization.
Swami Kriyananda authored over 100 books and composed 400 pieces of music. His talks, his music, and his many books have touched the lives of millions worldwide. Swami Kriyananda took the ancient teachings of Raja Yoga and made them practical and immediately useful for people in every walk of life. He also wrote extensive commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita and Bible.
Swami Kriyananda passed away on April 21, 2013 at one of Ananda community near Assisi, Italy, surrounded by his spiritual family. He will be missed but his legacy lives on.
Finally, what describes best the life of Swami Kriyanand are his own words in his autobiography – The New Path. He said :
“Mine is the story of one who did his best to live without God but who – thank God – failed in the attempt.”
I have no doubt that his Guru Paramhans Yoganand has been watching him from his abode and would bless this Shishya of his like no other. He was a rare soul.
That’s for all now. Till we meet again.