Kriyananda

Kriyananda, born James Donald Walters (born May 19, 1926), is a direct disciple of the yogi Paramhansa Yogananda (1893 – 1952) and founder of Ananda, a worldwide movement of spiritual intentional communities based on Yogananda's World Brotherhood Colonies ideal. Paramhansa Yogananda made him a minister for Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF), authorized him to teach Kriya Yoga, and appointed him the first SRF head monk. Kriyananda was given his final vows of sannyas in 1955 by Daya Mata; served as Vice President of SRF from 1960 - 1962 and member of the Board of Directors. In 1962 the SRF Board of Directors voted unanimously to request his resignation.