Swami Chetanananda is the abbot and spiritual director of The Movement Center. Born in the Midwest, Swami Chetanananda grew up in Indiana and attended Indiana University. From his college days, he knew he wanted his life to be about helping people and creating positive change in the world.
In 1971, an acquaintance gave Swamiji a picture of Swami Rudrananda (Rudi) and suggested that he go to New York to meet him. Swamiji has said about this experience, “When I walked into his store, I looked at him and felt my heart shatter into a thousand pieces. From that moment on, I never had one second’s doubt about the power of the experience into which I had entered.”
Since that meeting in 1971, Swami Chetanananda has transformed the lives of thousands of people. Rudi, before his passing in 1973, gave Swamiji the opportunity to carry on his work and take over direction of his ashrams (spiritual communities) around the world. Swamiji formalized his commitment to spiritual growth by being initiated as a swami (“master of oneself”) by Swami Muktananda (a follower of Bhagavan Nityananda) on May 14, 1978. He took the name Chetanananda, which means “bliss of pure Self-awareness.”
Swami Chetananda with his guru, Rudi
Over the years Swamiji has studied and traveled extensively throughout India and Nepal. He has synthesized the teachings of Rudi and Nityananda with the philosophical tradition of Kashmir Shaivism and explored the tantric practices of other traditions. He is a lineage holder in the Longchen Nyingthig tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism and the Pacification of Suffering teachings of Padampa Sangye, which he received from Lama Wangdu Rinpoche, and he has trained with accomplished Newari tantric practitioners in the Kathmandu Valley.
Swami Chetanananda articulates his wisdom of inner work and spiritual growth in a language and discipline that is practical and appropriate to the needs of his students.
In addition, as a widely recognized authority on Trika Yoga meditation and the philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism, he is thoroughly versed in the discourse and spirit of ancient Eastern spiritual texts. He is the author of several books on spiritual practice, including The Breath of God, There Is No Other, Choose to Be Happy, and Will I Be the Hero of My Own Life? Those books, as well as audio and video products from Swami Chetanananda, are available from Rudra Press. A partial list is here.As a living example of his teaching, Swamiji is an inspiration, resource, and mentor to people from all walks of life. He is dedicated to facilitating in his students the awakening of the extraordinary experience of their creative potential and nurturing their spiritual growth.
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