Spreading his Guru’s Teachings

Yogananda saw in Swami Kriyananda the strong desire to help others. In part for this reason, Yogananda personally trained him to guide other disciples. This training, and Kriyananda’s own natural skill, would allow him to help many souls.

After Yogananda’s passing in 1952, Swami Kriyananda gradually moved into a role of greater public service, including lecturing, which his guru had guided him to do. In 1960 he was appointed First Vice-President of Self-Realization Fellowship, his guru’s organization.

Four Years in India

In India, Swami Kriyananda’s talks drew large audiences, filling lecture halls. The Indians had a natural appreciation for his devotion and sincerity, and especially for the teaching and techniques that Yogananda, whose main work was in the West, had only barely been able to share in his homeland.

One attractive element of his teaching was their non-sectarian approach. Kriyananda has often said:

And he frequently tells his audiences, “I don’t want to convert you to anything but your own highest Self.”

Hopes Thwarted

Kriyananda spread his guru’s work by helping others to find the truth within themselves. Others in Self-Realization Fellowship found this approach difficult to understand, and preferred to consolidate rather than expand the work.

The tension between Swami Kriyananda and the others grew over time. Probably, however, it would never have come to such an explosive breaking point without the ruthless energy of the Second Vice-President of the organization. Completely misunderstanding Kriyananda’s vision, the members of the board eventually forced Kriyananda to leave his guru’s organization.

This ouster was devastating to Kriyananda, doubly so coming on the heels of what he considered a major victory for the work in India: having attained land in Delhi that had required the permission of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru himself. The only way the Swami knew how to serve his guru was through his organization, and it took him several years to fully recover.

Serving in New Ways

The guru’s blessings sometimes come in disguise. After he was “kicked out” of Self-Realization Fellowship, Kriyananda found himself free to serve in ways that would have been impossible had he remained, principally: writing, composing, and founding communities.

Over time Kriyananda also came to realize the benefits he had gained through this major test. Responding to someone who claimed that his music wouldn’t be so lighthearted had he ever suffered, he said,

Next:

1. 

   Founding the Ananda Spiritual Communities

   Swami Kriyananda soon set out to fulfill a vital aspect of his guru’s mission: “World Brotherhood Colonies.”