ANANDA UNCOVERED: Ananda's legal problems, an overview

Overview of the Bertolucci

vs Walters/Ananda Trial

The Lawsuit:

In November of 1994, a lawsuit was brought against Swami Kriyananda and the Ananda Church, accusing Kriyananda of fraud and using his position of spiritual authority to sexually exploit women.

Eight women came forward to testify to the abuse, harassment, fraud, and violation of trust perpetrated against them by Kriyananda and other church leaders.

Three of these women were young nuns in the monastic order Kriyananda founded.

One woman accused Kriyananda of trying to force her into marriage, and of raping her.

At least thirty other women that we know of refused to go public with their stories of abuse, representing a pattern of behavior over a period of almost 30 years, from the 60's through the mid 90's.

The Judgment:

In February 1998, after a 3 month trial, a jury awarded the plaintiff 1.6 million dollars in compensatory and punitive damages.

The jury found Kriyananda guilty of despicable and reprehensible conduct and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The jury found Kriyananda guilty of fraudulently representing himself as a swami, a celibate monk, to gain women's trust in order to seduce and sexually use them.

The jury found other church leaders complicit not only in allowing this behavior to continue, but in orchestrating an elaborate cover up.

The Settlement:

In the summer of 1999, after another year and a half of legal maneuvering, including the filing of bankruptcy in an attempt to avoid paying damages, Ananda finally agree to pay the full amount of the original jury award plus an additional $200,000 to settle two other related lawsuits.

The final settlement is $1.8 million to be paid over four years, with interest.

After the trial, Kriyananda fled to Italy leaving the rank-and-file Ananda members stuck with paying the judgment against him as well as the millions of dollars in Ananda’s legal defense bills and other bankruptcy claims.

Kriyananda Remains Unrepentant:

Despite overwhelming evidence against them, Kriyananda and the Ananda Church still refuse to accept responsibility for their actions or offer any apology. Even though Kriyananda was forced to admit that he had indeed had sex with his nuns, he still claims he did nothing wrong, that he was only acting out of divine love and friendship, and that no one was hurt. Kriyananda claims that he is merely the victim of a conspiracy by embittered former Ananda member’s intent on his destruction. According to jurors that we interviewed, the jury was outraged at Kriyananda's arrogant, self-righteous and unrepentant attitude during the trial.

Who is Kriyananda?

Judging from the evidence, including Kriyananda's own writings, Kriyananda probably has a serious sexual addiction, seems to also suffer from a narcissistic personality disorder with accompanying manifestations of persecution and grandeur complexes. And yet, to be seen as an authentic representative of his guru, Paramahansa Yogananda, Kriyananda has cultivated an exalted image of himself which he and his church have vigorously promoted over the last 30 years. Here is a man presuming to teach us about spiritual truths, but is himself, living a lie. Here is a man who sets himself up as an example for us of inner freedom, who is himself a slave to his senses.

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