"Things I Learned from My Guru" - Swami Kriyananda's 60th Discipleship Anniversary - 9-13-08

In this video, Swami Kriyananda celebrates his 60th discipleship anniversary to Paramhamsa Yogananda and the spiritual path of Self Realization. He expresses his deep gratitude for the blessings of Divine Friendship, community and the many transformative experiences that have deepened and enhanced his spiritual growth and understanding. Kriyananda shares personal stories and emphasizes that his learning was not acquired merely intellectually but as a recognition at the soul level. The path of Self Realization is essentially about self-discovery – a path and community that he found allowed him with deep love and respect from others, to be true to himself without conformity to an institutional mold. ABOUT SWAMI KRIYANANDA In 1948 at the age of twenty-two, Swami Kriyananda (J. Donald Walters) became a disciple of the Indian yoga master, Paramhansa Yogananda. At Yogananda’s request, Swami Kriyananda devoted his life to lecturing and writing, helping others to experience the living presence of God within. He taught on four continents in seven languages over the course of 65 years. His talks, his music, and his many books have touched the lives of millions. An advocate of simple living and high thinking, his more than 150 books emphasize the need to live wisely by one’s own experience of life, and not by abstract theories or dogmas. A composer since 1964, Walters has written over 400 musical works. His music is inspiring, soothing, and uplifting. His books and teachings on spiritualizing nearly every field of human endeavor include business life, leadership, education, the arts, community, and science. He wrote extensive commentaries on the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita, both based on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda. He is known as the “father of the intentional communities movement,” which began in the United States in the late 1960s, fullfilling Yogananda's dream. He founded the first of what are now 10 Ananda communities worldwide in 1967 near Nevada City, California. Other Ananda communities have developed over the years worldwide. Each community has a spiritual focus (a teaching center and temple) and a community (homes where members live). More than 1,000 people live in these intentional spiritual communities. Swami Kriyananda’s example of inspired leadership was the reason for Ananda’s success. He uplifted and encouraged people through personal example, spiritual counseling, writing, lecturing, music, and prayer. He trained the current Ananda leaders in much the same way: free from egoic motivation, always placing the spiritual needs of others foremost in all decisions. He was a patient and sensitive teacher, allowing people to learn by experience, and never placing institutional needs ahead of the needs of an individual. “People are more important than things” is one of the foremost guiding principles of Ananda. And “Where there is adherence to dharma [right action], there is victory,” is another. Find out more at http://www.swamikriyananda.org Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nayaswamikriyananda Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kriyananda ABOUT PARAMHANSA YOGANANDA Paramhansa Yogananda, born in 1893, was the first yoga master of India to take up permanent residence in the West. Yogananda arrived in America in 1920, and proceeded to travel throughout the United States on what he called his “spiritual campaigns.” Hundreds of thousands filled the largest halls in major American cities to see the yoga master from India. Yogananda continued to lecture and write up to his passing in 1952. ABOUT ANANDA WORLDWIDE Ananda is a worldwide movement to help individuals realize the joy of their own higher Self. Ananda is based on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda and was founded by his direct disciple Swami Kriyananda in 1968. Learn more at http://ananda.org. HOW TO STAY IN TOUCH Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/AnandaWorldwide/videos Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anandaworldwide Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ananda.org Follow on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/anandasangha Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/anandaworldwide Take classes on our virtual spiritual community: https://www.ananda.org/online-classes Learn to meditate with our Online Lessons in Meditation course: https://www.onlinewithananda.org/lessons-in-meditation Download the FREE Ananda Meditation app and watch guided meditations https://www.ananda.org/meditation/app Find an Ananda Near You: https://www.ananda.org/find-ananda View Upcoming Live Events Around the World: https://www.onlinewithananda.org/live-events