A Place Called Ananda - Revised Edition

Unlike "a customer" who spammed the review section with four sneering, unsupported expressions of personal opinion, I found this book to be stupendous. Kriyananda's integrity is transparent - he hides nothing, even when it could be used against him. He refrained for 20 years from responding to the campaign of spreading false rumors and lies that SRF mounted against him. And in this, his response, it is clear that his heart is free of defensiveness or resentment. He has never once stooped to the level of the hatred that SRF has expressed toward him. His courageous love has been his triumph. That it has been richly rewarded is evident to the thousands who know him today - in his aura of divine bliss, joy, and unfailing compassion and kindness.

Ananda is a cooperative community founded by a former vice-SRF president James Donald Walters, aka Kriyananda. The community and at least six offshots of it seek to fulfil the guru Yogananda's vision of self-supporting local communities. The author, Kriyananda, tells of his guru, who lived in the U.S. through the main part of the years 1920-1952. The author first met Yogananda a few years before his passing, and recounts many titbits of information that the guru passed on to him or about him, like "If Walter (i.e., James D. Walters) had come sooner, we would ahve reached millions!" (from Chap 2)The author recounts from his years with Yogananda, and how he as its vice-president was shovelled out of SRF some years after Yogananda's death, through some senior nuns and the like. I find the term "monky business" apt - but mean "nunny business" by it, as in "that's nun of your business" -He was kicked out, he sort of drifted for a while, and then set up Ananda as the alternative community that Yogananda has endorsed, and the Self-Realization Fellowship has largely abandoned since - by far too great inconsistence, it seems to some.The author started lecturing and singing, writing lots of books, and many responded to more than his sweet voice. But not the editor-in-chief in SRF, Laurie Pratt (aka. Tara Mata). She told him, on and on, he writes, "You're vengeful. You're vindictive." (Chap 15)Far from seeking revenge for being kicked out from the society he had devoted himself to, he sang, and songs kept coming to him, at least one came complete with lyrics. And he practiced playing the guitar too. He was criticized for writing unrealistically happy songs outside SRF. (from Chap 21)Since he started Ananda, SRF has produced lawsuits to protect its copyright (or business) interests, and SRF members have quirks against Kriyananda. Add a marring sex scandal his name was attached to somehow, and you have an ongoing intrigue!

A Place Called Ananda is the both the inside story of the Ananda communities, and the compelling autobiography of the man who founded them, J. Donald Walters (a.k.a. Swami Kriyananda). Following the core thought that "People are more important than things," the six Ananda communities located in America and Italy embrace inspiration, inner freedom, harmony, and cooperation. A Place Called Ananda is a remarkable and very highly recommended account straight from the founder who motivated people of all walks and backgrounds to work together for higher quality of both physical and spiritual life.

A true story of perseverance, determination and poise while under great persecution. Read how Swami Kriyananda followed the directive of his guru, Paramhansa Yogananda despite great hardship and personal tragedy to share Yogananda's teachings with the world. This is truly and inspiring story of one mans fight for truth against a mighty institution. A MUST READ!!