| The Palo Alto History Project |
| Ananda Church of Self-Realization 2171 El Camino Real |
| Ananda: At the Center of Controversy 2171 El Camino Real is home to the Ananda Church of Self-Realization, a religion (some say cult) that has a worldwide membership, including some 100-200 Palo Altans. Ananda also owns the East-West bookstore that operates out of Mountain View (one of the largest new-age bookstores in the nation), as well as seven communes in the United States, Australia and Italy. But in 1996 the Ananda commune in Palo Alto became the heart of a curious sex scandal that led to the resignation of its leader, the Swami Kriyananda (aka J. Donald Walters). The Swami has written more than 60 books about Ananda, the religion he co-founded in 1968. 28 year old Anne-Marie Bertolucci, who had left her marriage and job to move into the Ananda commune, claimed that she was manipulated by senior minister Danny Levin to have sex with him and the Swami himself. She also charged the Swami with using his authority as a spiritual leader to systematically seduce young female congregation members. Seven other women soon came forward saying that they were manipulated into "servicing" the Swami --- sometimes in trysts involving two women at a time. This was complicated by the fact that living a life of celibacy is a fundamental tenant for Kriyananda, according to his writings and church members. Disgraced, Swami Kriyananda admitted to the sex, but claimed that the girls were all willing participants. The jury in Bertolucci's harassment case did not agree --- awarding her more than $1.5 million all told in the civil and criminal trials. The Swami paid up, although Ananda itself was deemed not responsible for his actions. Over time, Swami Kriyananda seems to have worked himself back into the organization in a somewhat unofficial role --- he is all over the Ananda website. Since then the church on El Camino has continued their practices, but stayed out of the headlines. -Matt Bowling |
| Inside the Ananda church |
| Ananda's profitable Mountain View bookstore |
| The Ananda building on El Camino Real |
| Paramhansa Yogananda, the original Ananda yogi |
| Donald Walters, aka The Swami |
| The map below shows religious institutions of Palo Alto, past and present |
| The Swami is still popular at Ananda, as evidenced by this sold-out talk |
| Sources: Palo Alto Historical Association, Palo Alto Weekly, Palo Alto Times |