Swami Kriyananda, born J. Donald Walters (born May 19, 1926), is a direct disciple of the yogi Paramahansa Yogananda and had many hours of personal contact with him during the last four years of Yogananda\s life (1948 – 1952).[1] During this time Kriyananda became a minister for Self-Realization Fellowship, founded by Yogananda. Yogananda also asked him to teach Kriya Yoga, which Yogananda called the highest technique of Self-Realization.[citation needed] Swami Kriyananda was elected as Vice President of Self-Realization Fellowship in 1960. Kriyananda is the founder of Ananda, a worldwide movement of spiritual intentional communities based on Yogananda\s World Brotherhood Colonies idea. Ananda has meditation centers and study groups throughout the world based on the teachings of Yogananda.[2] Kriyananda is also the author of more than 80 books and the composer of over 400 songs.