Swami Kriyananda, Lightbearer

This is a long book of 680 pages, which I love! It includes several color photographs. Swami Kriyananda’s life is told, in detail, with Asha’s own wisdom and understanding. I haven’t quite finished it yet since I’ve been slowly savoring it, and a full review would be a small book in itself. But what really stands out for me is the similarities I have with Swamiji- his whole life was a series of unending challenges, adversities, and persecutions. Asha explains how this is not always due to karma for something you did wrong, but “there is another kind of karma: to attract negativity because of the good you are doing. It is a mark of success, not failure. Darkness against light. This kind of karma is called persecution.” Swamiji also had many severe health challenges, which I have also had from a young age, including heart and arrhythmia problems. So I really feel a kinship with him in many ways, and it’s very helpful to read about how he not only overcame these adversities, but he used them in a positive way to ultimately gain his own liberation. Thank you so much, Asha, for writing this book! It really is about Darkness versus Light, and how Light won because of the way Swami Kriyananda used his free will.