The Nityananda/Muktananda lineage is another that's produced any number of unsavory characters. The latest harm report concerns Swami Chetanananda:

[harmonicresonance.one]

There's more on Chetanananda, also known as Michael Shoemaker, in the recent Frank Report post "People Who Knew Swami Chetanananda Speak Out About His Mental Illness and Sadism." Here is a Reddit post that also includes a link plus links to prior Frank Report posts about Shoemaker: [www.reddit.com]

The reports of Swami Chetanananda's activities go back a long way. Here's a post from our very own Rick Ross dated 2005 [culteducation.com] based on an article in The Oregonian from 2001.

Swami Chetanananda a.k.a. Michael Shoemaker was a student of Swami Rudrananda a.k.a. Albert Rudolph. Rudrananda was in turn a student of Nityananda and Muktananda. Franklin Jones a.k.a. Adi Da was another student of Rudrananda.

Chapter 18 of Geoffrey D. Falk's Stripping the Gurus covers Swami Muktananda. It includes accusations that he was bad-tempered and violent and liked to have sex with the young women who stayed at his ashram.

For What It's Worth

One Perspective about
Muktananda
And How and Why He Fell.

Plus,
Why it's very likely not a good idea
To put faith into a teacher
From Muktananda's lineage.

Swami Nityananda, who died in 1961, was one of the true spiritual greats of the 21st Century. He was far beyond being swayed by Sex, Drugs, Fame, Power, or Money.

The following is a very quick version of story with many more details, but here are the basic elements:

Nityananda's student Muktananda had done well in the countryside of India. Nityananda chose him as his heir -- and before the elder guru left his body absolutely filled Muktananda with an almost limitless supply of blazing Shakti,

Muktananda ended up with power and charisma that deservedly attracted thousands. He was an all-around-the-world sensation, with countless amounts of money, young women, and adulation flowing his way.

Two unfortunate things occurred. Perhaps due to the many temptations, Muktananda faltered. He could not maintain the huge energy that Nityananda had given him. As he used it on the crowds, his energy lessened. He became weaker.

At the same time -- and it's an open question whether this was partly due to the Shakti imparted by Nittyananda -- Muktananda suffered a series of minor strokes. (I've read the expert medical persons' diagnoses of this, and it's quite convincing.)

After the strokes, and with his energy diminished, Muktananda was almost literally a different person. The sex acts (crimes?) for which he has been hugely criticized became commonplace. He employed loyal ex-NFL players to set complainers in line. And much else that would previously have been unthinkable to Muktananda, let alone his teacher, took place.

With all that in mind, sadly, I am not surprised that any "teacher" who claims to be in the Muktananda lineage
turns out to be a false one.
Even a fantastic teacher like Nityananda couldn't find an heir who wouldn't falter.

The esteemed Swami Chinmayananda couldn't stop a rapacious pedophile charlatan like James Swartz from claiming to be part of his lineage.

*

One can only wonder WHAT or WHO would have authorized to teach
by the stroke-addled, sex-obsessed Swami Muktananda ?

To say, "Be very wary" of any such persons would seem the least we could do...

CLARIFICATION/
CORRECTION/
UPDATE --

Some GOOD Amongst the UNHAPPY

A trusted friend sent a strongly worded message, requesting I clarify some things.

Okay, here goes:

--As Shamrock here discusses, Michael Shoemaker, also known as Swami Chetanananda, is a total shit. His behavior has been described as being, "As bad as James Swartz, but on a bigger scale!" Even though 73 now, this fake teacher Shoemaker/ Chetanananda "hasn't slowed down, in terms of his violent physical and sexual abuse of students..." at his big center in Oregon.

--At least one good teacher did spring from Muktananda. (My guess is that this was from pre-series of strokes Muktananda.) This good teacher is Swami Satyananda, who now has a center near Barcelona. Other students of Muktananda have been interviewed by Rick Archer of BATGAP, and their behavior appears to have been impeccable.

-- Nityananda had more than one heir. Muktananda is much the most famous in the west, but others exist who were "for real" life-long. Two of these are Balyogi Sadanand Baba Maharaj of Ganeshpuri and Sw. Janananda of Kanhangad, both of whom have been known as humble, simple realized souls. A female disciole, Lalita Mauli, also has a good reputation in spiritual circles -- and there are others.

Thanks to my friend for making sure I gave a better, more complete account of things regarding Nityananda and Muktananda. How nice it is that they each did pass their Knowingness of Awareness to others who could handle it, and who could pass it on themselves.