A native Chicagoan, Kriyananda studied under the yogi and kabbalist Shelly Trimmer, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda....
Kriyananda
Disciple of the yogi Paramahansa Yogananda
Kriyananda (born James Donald Walters; May 19, 1926 – April 21, 2013) was an American Hindu religious leader, yoga guru,[1][2] meditation teacher, musician, and author.
He was a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda[1] and founder of the spiritual movement named "Ananda".[1][3] He wrote numerous songs and dozens of books.
Autobiography of a Yogi — Yogananda, Paramahansa, 1893-1952 — Paramhansa Yogananda The Blue Autobiography is published by Kriyananda and he was a cult leader.
According to the LA Times, the main themes of his work were compassion and humility, but he was a controversial figure.[4] Kriyananda and Ananda were sued for copyright issues,[5][4][6] sexual harassment,[7][8] and later, for alleged fraud and labor-law violations.[9]
Walters met Yogananda at the age of 22, became his disciple.
After the latter's death in 1952, he continued serving in the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) ashram. In 1955, Walters was given the vows of sannyas and wa