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.
Kriyananda is the author of over one hundred books and the composer of over four hundred pieces of music which altogether have sold over three million copies. Some of the books have been published in other languages and sold in ninety countries. He has lectured in different countries throughout the world. In addition to English, he speaks Italian, Romanian, Greek, French, Spanish, German, Hindi, Bengali, and Indonesian.
Read more about Kriyananda: Organizational Accomplishments, Volunteer Work, Self-Realization Vs Ananda Church Litigation, J. Donald Walters (Kriyananda) and Ananda Found Liable For "malice and Fraud", Recent Years