Predictably, Ananda’s critics have charged Swami Kriyananda
and others in our leadership with everything from financial mismanagement
down to absurd allegations that Kriyananda siphons money from
Ananda’s various departments for his own personal use. For
those of us who have worked closely with financial aspects of
Ananda, these charges are so far from the truth that it’s
been hard to feel motivated to answer them. But remaining loftily
above the fray is a position that is ultimately hypocritical,
so I would like to answer these charges.
Since the facts of Ananda’s finances are a matter of public
record, both because Ananda is a nonprofit, and because of the
scrutiny we came under when we were forced to file for Chapter
11 Reorganization in September, 1998, my desire here is to share
the spirit and attitudes which, thanks to Swami Kriyananda’s
leadership, have brought Ananda through this test.
Since 1984, I’ve had the great privilege of fundraising
for Ananda. Just so you have an idea of “scale,” I’ll
share that I was the first person to focus full-time on drawing
donations to Ananda. Now there are three of us who coordinate
donations to our outreach ministry, Crystal Clarity Publishers
and The Expanding Light guest retreat, the quarterly support
Ananda gives to Yogananda’s living family members and shrines
in India, help for new Ananda groups in war torn or economically
challenged nations, a dynamic Kriya ministry, Healing Prayer
Ministry, and much more.
The enormous cost of defending against SRF’s lawsuit
against Ananda
I hope that one day the world—or at least the interested
portion of it—will know of the tremendous faith, and, yes,
sacrifice, which have been freely offered by Ananda devotees
to ensure that Paramhansa Yogananda was not reduced to the trade-marked
property of SRF. It has been, truly, the epitome of a David and
Goliath struggle. SRF has many millions of dollars, with more
coming to them each year from donors who would be appalled to
know what panzer-like tactics their gifts are supporting. Ananda,
on the other hand, has had only what from month to month its
members and friends give to its work. I have come to see this
as our great blessing.
When SRF’s lawsuit first broadsided Ananda in 1990, we naively
supposed it would be over within a couple of years. Ananda had
never been in litigation before. It took most of us months to
understand what this suit was really all about: Our very discipleship
to Paramhansa Yogananda was at stake, for how can one be a true
disciple with no possibility of serving his work in this world?
[SRF’s lawsuit began as an effort to
establish a monopoly on Yogananda’s teachings which continues
to this day. So far, SRF has lost on virtually every issue. Yet
the lawsuit continues. SRF is a wealthy organization. Ananda
is not. If the courts will not grant SRF a monopoly, driving
Ananda into bankruptcy is another way of obtaining it. For more
about this lawsuit, please see www.yoganandarediscovered.org.]
Individual members gave generously, even those with limited
incomes
By 1993 we knew that without donations we could not continue.
Resident members at Ananda Village and in the branch communities
were asked to consider a monthly pledge of $50. The vast majority
responded with a resounding, “Yes,” even though a single
person’s monthly net salary was about $700, if he or she
was employed by an Ananda department.
This pledging goal for resident members was increased, of necessity,
several times over the next few years. It continues today, now
at $97/month for members and friends who’ve offered to help.
Some give more because they are able to financially, while some
households give far less. Nearly everyone gives something monthly,
and for most, this monthly pledge represents a “stretch,”
because we all know that is what is needed. This sacrificial
giving has gone on now for 8 years and we see no sign that we’ll
be relieved of it any time soon.
Swami Kriyananda gave regularly to the legal fund, along with
every one of us, even as he bore nearly all of the psychic burden,
and spearheaded the creative aspects of our defense. In my mind’s
eye I see him as a lightning rod, the highest point on the field,
while the rest of us, no matter how deep our commitment, remain
protected from SRF’s venomous “bolts” because
of his stature.
By 1996 we knew we had to ask a wider circle of Ananda friends
to help as well. Frankly, we delayed this decision as long as
we could for two reasons. First, we knew that newer devotees
of this path would not understand why one part of Yogananda’s
family would be suing another. We didn’t want anyone’s
faith in Master shaken. Secondly, we were concerned that friends
would have to choose to support either outreach ministry or the
legal fund.
David vs. Goliath—Ananda’s miraculous survival
When I review the history of Ananda’s legal fund, I find
that there are only about 2000 individuals and a handful of Ananda
departments who’ve contributed the nearly $6,000,000 we’ve
raised for legal costs.
When I remember the spirit in the various committee meetings
where some of us would sweat over the mounting costs and wonder
how we were going to pay the bills, I remember the joy, the faith,
the sense of peace and freedom that come from giving the whole
outcome to God.
There were always moments when we laughingly wished Ananda’s
very own “Rockefeller” would walk in the door and take
care of everything, but we knew at the same time that it would
be our loss spiritually. Every month, every Ananda devotee who
is giving has the opportunity, as he writes his pledge check,
to reaffirm his personal commitment to defending these principles.
There is no faceless “they” at Ananda.
What is the best way to respond when embattled?
Best of all, because of Swami Kriyananda’s example, Ananda
has kept its spirit of kindness, compassion, and expansiveness.
Of course, one temptation when one is so embattled is to take
care of one’s own concerns and see what, if anything, is
left over for others. Swami gently, yet insistently, helped each
of us avoid this spiritual pitfall.
Giving as a spiritual principle
I remember in 1995, with the pressure of the Bertolucci suit
building, Swami Kriyananda wrote the wonderful little book Do
It Now! It is a book bursting with positive energy and practical
suggestions for living each day superconsciously. Swami had the
inspiration to print thousands of these and send them as gifts
to whoever we thought would appreciate the book. We gathered
for a giant mailing party several nights running, reviewing the
mailing list, finding the names of friends we knew would welcome
Do It Now! and putting together thousands of packets.
People are still writing 6 years later to say how much that book
meant to them.
After the terrible earthquakes in Italy in 1998, Swami Kriyananda
decided to give a series of musical concerts called “Homes
for Italy” to benefit the hardest hit areas. Again, in a
time when many would feel justified to at least “tuck in
their wings,” Swami raised about $10,000 for earthquake
relief.
A good number of the “Treasures along the Path” tape
club membership are not able to send the small cost of each month’s
tape selection. Swami has encouraged us in this instance and
in countless circumstances like it over the years, to simply
give, whenever the desire is sincere.
When Ananda devotees on pilgrimage in India met the saintly,
now very elderly woman whom Yogananda had chosen in 1937 to be
the bride of his nephew, and found her living in terrible poverty
and squalor, several pooled their resources over the next two
years to purchase a clean, airy home for her family.
I know that Ananda is still thriving in spite of SRF’s unending
assault because Swami Kriyananda has never allowed Ananda to
think about itself first. Thanks to Swami, we never crawled away
to “lick our wounds,” even when we were being scourged
in the press and the courtroom. Seeing the response to this,
I’m tempted to conclude that to continue to try to do good,
to help others, even as one is being castigated for past mistakes,
is something the small-minded cannot forgive—let alone,
understand.
Far from draining money from Ananda departments, as has been
charged, Swami has given tirelessly of his energy, creativity,
and even personal resources to keep each area strong.
Swami Kriyananda’s personal finances
At one of the first Village Council meetings I attended back
in 1979 or 1980, a couple of members who knew Swami’s financial
situation suggested that if the community offered Swami a modest
monthly stipend, he would be able to spend more time teaching
at the guest retreat and writing the books which would help people
find Yogananda’s teachings, and the invaluable treasure
of cooperative spiritual living. That was fully 12 years after
Swami had purchased the first land with his own money! Since
then, he had been touring and pouring energy into generating
income to meet the fledgling community’s bills.
$1200/month
I think the princely sum agreed upon at that meeting was $1200/month.
He drove a second hand car that had been bought at a government
auction for $150, he had no debts, and even minimal utility costs,
since he had a wood stove. Electricity, as I remember, had just
been introduced into his small home.
Swami Kriyananda’s home at Ananda
In the 1980s Swami’s parents died within a couple of
years of one another. With his relatively modest inheritance,
Swamiji expanded his home at Ananda Village to accommodate a
growing number of residents for meditations, community meetings,
and festive gatherings. He had used nearly all of his inheritance
creating this “public” part of the Crystal Hermitage,
as he named it, before he gave any thought to a quiet, downstairs
apartment for his own living quarters. In the fitness of things,
this apartment became the gift of many of us to him. Even the
construction of the lovely first-floor area and the gardens at
Crystal Hermitage was a vital service to Ananda: we needed to
shed the misconception that renunciation had to do with poverty.
We had confused beauty with luxury; refinement with indulging
in the senses. Ananda entered a new phase of building that strove
to reflect the beauty, simplicity, and harmony of Spirit.
The infamous “Swiss bank account” contained
less than $10,000—to help the new Assisi center
At that same time we were beginning a new center in northern
Italy in response to the urgings of many devotees there. Swami,
with his incredible language skill, rapidly learned Italian and
was soon lecturing to help get the seedling center established.
With a few thousand remaining of his inheritance, he opened a
standard bank account just over the Italian border in Lugano,
Switzerland, so there would be a little money available to him
and the needs of the new center close at hand. This is the infamous
Swiss bank account he has been accused of having! After a few
years, that account had been used up and was closed.
Kriyananda’s income today: zero
Swami Kriyananda has not for several years now received any
type of regular stipend or salary from any aspect of Ananda,
at his own request. He does not receive any royalties from the
sales of the many books and music albums he’s created. He
lives on whatever Divine Mother gives him through Her human instruments.
Apart from loosely organized group gifts to him around his birthday
or Christmas, there is no “fundraising” for him.
Perhaps some people suspect Ananda and Swami Kriyananda of having
secret resources, unnumbered bank accounts, etc., because they
themselves cannot imagine an individual—much less an organization—existing
happily and fearlessly on whatever resources come, nearly moment
to moment. But that is the simple truth of the matter.
I often think of Yogananda’s response to the financier who
demanded to know, “What are the resources of this organization?”
Master replied, “None! Only God!”
SRF’s hope
I do know that SRF is trying to bankrupt Ananda. SRF’s
attempts to shut down Ananda through court decisions has failed.
Even Judge Garcia remarked on this rather obvious ploy very early
on in the proceedings: “If I grant what you are asking it
would put this religion out of business.” Given today’s
legal system, which favors those with the money to endlessly
spin out appeals and satellite suits, I suppose it is theoretically
possible SRF could succeed. But I know in my heart that they
won’t, even as I reflect that it’s ultimately Divine
Mother’s business. She has supported Ananda unfailingly,
miraculously for the eleven years of this legal battle.
Ananda for our part will continue to put one foot, with faith,
in front of the other, trying to do what we feel is right, and
trusting that the ground will rise up out of the mists to meet
our footfall.
Unexpected blessings
Far from undermining Ananda’s faith in our place within
Master’s mission in this world, SRF has unintentionally
brought us to a place of great inner resilience, creativity,
and dynamic will. Perhaps it’s the “interesting times”
we are living in, but watersheds in history come inescapably
to mind. When Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor did not, as
they had hoped, cripple the United States militarily, their own
General Yamamoto, who had opposed the plan from the beginning,
observed, “I fear that we have only awakened a sleeping
giant.”
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