Photos from Jon Parsons’ Book About SRF’s Lawsuit Against Ananda

These photos are from A Fight For Religious Freedom: A Lwayer’s Personal Account of Copyrights, Karma and Dharmic Litigation, by attorney Jon Parsons.

Jon was Ananda’s only attorney for the great bulk of SRF’s twelve-year suit. The tiny Ananda legal team faced a Goliath, in the form of a spiritual organization that hired the nation’s third-largest law firm and had deep pockets. (SRF spent more than $50 million of its members’ money in its attempt to destroy Ananda and Swami Kriyananda.)

Against all odds, the underdogs won — spectacularly. Ananda won over 95 percent of the issues in the case.

These photos from the book give a small glimpse into the persons who played major roles in freeing Paramhansa Yogananda’s legacy from institutionalism.

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THE TRUE STORY OF ANANDA
Told by Those Who Were ThereFollow this link to learn the inside story of Ananda — how Paramhansa Yogananda brought a foremost disciple with him to complete the “Great Work,” as he called it, of correcting certain misguided directions in his work.

Speaking to Daya Mata in his last years, Yogananda lamented, “How you all will change the work after I am gone. If I were to return in a hundred years I doubt if I would even recognize it.”

SRF claims that Ananda is not a legitimate branch of the Master’s work, that Kriyananda is an interloper, that the Kriya Yoga initiation offered by Ananda is not legitimate, and that Ananda is just a bunch of hippies living in primitive conditions, and that the whole thing is destined to fail. Now you can learn the true story in the words of the Ananda members themselves that reveal their sincere dedication, and their devotion to serving the Guru’s work creatively, free from top-down, micromanaging, Kali Yuga centralized control.

You will learn about SRF’s draconian lawsuit against Ananda in which it attempted to gain sole ownership of the Master’s name, writings, and likeness, and how, in the judge’s own words, they attempted unsuccessfully to “put that organization out of business” by bankrupting it through protracted litigation. Even though SRF spent over $30 million of its members’ money, hiring one of the world’s largest law firms in its effort to destroy Ananda, Ananda prevailed, winning (again in the judge’s words) at least 95 percent of the issues in the case. American law does not look kindly on religious monopolies.
In addition, you will hear the deeply inspiring personal stories of people who dedicated themselves to living by sincere self-offering to God and Guru in prayer and meditation and humble service to Their cause, and how, as a result, they found profound success and happiness.

	Preface by Nayaswami Naidhruva
	Introduction by Swami Kriyananda
1.	My Position in Yogananda’s Work and Legacy
2.	Two Directions
3.	Schools
4.	The Timid Approach
5.	How Were the Changes Possible?
6.	Was Yogananda the Last of the Gurus?
7.	Rules Are Secondary to the Spirit
8.	SRF’s Treatment of Others
9.	“Kindness” Among the Disciples
10.	My Frustrations as a Man Working in SRF
11.	India — and My Dismissal from SRF
12.	SRF’s Lawsuit Against Ananda
13.	SRF’s Second Lawsuit
14.	Character Assassination
15.	Changes in Autobiography of a Yogi
16.	Further Important Changes, and Recreating Master’s Image
17.	How Much Respect Did Master’s Chief Editor Have for His Judgment?
18.	Recreating Master’s Image
19.	SRF’s Treatment of Master’s Humor
20.	A Few Finishing Thoughts
21.	Practical Considerations
22.	Why?
	Addendum: Letter from Swami Kriyananda to Mrinalini Mata
	Back Cover