Swami Kriyananda — 99 years old!

Today is the 99th anniversary of the birth of Swami Kriyananda, direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda and founder of the worldwide work of Ananda. Below is a poem he wrote describing not just a distant past but a present reality in his heart and the hearts of those who are dedicated to Yogananda’s vision of World Brotherhood Colonies; additionally, this poem is dedicated to his book titled “Hope for a Better World.”

“Ayodhya” was the land over which Lord Rama ruled: It was said to be a golden age in India, many thousands of years ago, when all men are believed to have lived in peace.

June in Ayodhya: a poem by Swami Kriyananda

Listen! Fair June is humming in the air,

And Ram’s Ayodhya sings of lasting peace.

The growing grass nods heavy to the wind

Patient till cutting time. The hay is stored;

The fields spring up with adolescent plants,

With laughing flowers, berries, and graceful corn.

In the orchards, every hand is quickly busy

To catch the ripest fruits before they fall.

The sound of honest labor crowds the noon.

Men’s hearts are strong with that perfected strength

Which smiles at fences, lays aside old hates,

Nurtures true love, and finds such earnest pleasure

In seeking truth that every private mind

Seems drawnto virtue, like a public saint.

The women’s words are soft with kindliness;

The children answer with humility;

Even the men are like so many fawns,

Modest and still, sweet with complete respect.

June in Ayodhya is so roused with joy

The earth can scarcely keep its boundaries,

Swelling with energy and inner strength

Till not a mountain, not a valley sleeps,

Straining to burst, and flood the world with laughter.

Such harmony flows everywhere when men,

With grateful hearts, offer their works to God.

Then brotherhood needs no enforcing laws,

No parliaments, no treaties sealed in fear:

True peace is theirs to whom the Lord is near.