About the name J. Donald Walters

Swami Kriyananda was born J. Donald Walters (the “J” stands for James), and later chose the monastic name of “Swami Kriyananda.” When publishing books or music, he has used the name that was appropriate to the situation at hand.

Many of his books, for example, are published under the name J. Donald Walters. They include books intended for a public audience, one not necessarily interested specifically in yoga teachings, such as:

  • The Secrets series, such as Secrets of Happiness
  • Money Magnetism
  • The Art of Supportive Leadership

… and many others.

Though they all express Paramhansa Yogananda’s teachings and vibration, having the name “J. Donald Walters” on a book like The Art of Supportive Leadership makes it more likely to be accepted by Western business or military audiences, which are naturally more comfortable with Western names.

When publishing musical compositions, Swami Kriyananda has used the name “Donald Walters.”

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