The Curriculum

The curriculum addresses every essential aspect, both theoretical and demonstrated, of modern knowledge. It covers such standard aspects as history, mathematics, languages, the sciences, literature, art and music, philosophy, and the humanities. In addition, it includes subjects of daily, practical value: how to live in harmony both inwardly and outwardly; how to communicate one's ideas clearly, succinctly, and convincingly; how to succeed without sacrificing high principles; how to be a good leader; how to achieve harmonious and mutually satisfying relationships in marriage, job, friendship, and other relationships; how to raise children; how to perceive social responsibility; practical solutions to society's problems.

The Roots of the Institute
The concept behind an institute of higher education for higher consciousness has a long history, its roots having been sunk in the soil of society by Paramhansa Yogananda when he founded a school for boys in 1917 in Dihika, Bengal. The school moved in 1918 to Ranchi, Bihar, where it soon achieved national recognition. In 1970 Swami Kriyananda, his direct disciple, founded a school near Nevada City in California, on property where he had already founded a spiritual cooperative community, named Ananda. In the nearly 40 years since 1968, when Kriyananda founded the first Ananda Sangha community, Ananda and its subsequent schools have grown to the proportions of an international movement. Today six Ananda communities flourish in America, and one in Italy. Together, they are home to some 1,000 resident members. Over the years the communities have, one by one, added schools to their facilities. Students from these "living wisdom" schools have achieved high rating in scholastic competition with other private and governmental establishments. The Living Wisdom School at Ananda Village is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. In 2003, the Ananda Institute of Alternative Living was established at Ananda Village, as a place of higher learning offering a balanced curriculum of spirituality, scholastic achievement and holistic living. A Yoga Institute of Living Wisdom has also been envisioned for India, offering higher learning that will comprise, in addition to more spiritual subjects, a standard scholastic curriculum.

Further Background
Paramhansa Yogananda, in the first edition of his classic, Autobiography of a Yogi (the best-selling autobiography of all time) proposed creating in the future a "yoga institute." Because yoga means union, as a yoga institute we offer teachings that unite the various branches of learning in a higher vision of spiritual purpose. Swami Kriyananda, in his 86 books, has shown ways for these branches to achieve their highest potential in Yogananda's vision. His commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita (based on and inspired by Yogananda"s teachings) are the "hub of the wheel" for the underlying yoga philosophy presented by the Ananda Institute of Alternative Living. The books written by Swami Kriyananda cover a wide range of subjects. These may be described as radiating outward in all directions from the central teaching of the practical wisdom presented by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita and by Jesus Christ in the Bible. Kriyananda's books and the writings of Paramhansa Yogananda form the basis of the Institute's approach to the curriculum. In addition, the curriculum includes books by many other authors, and is geared toward providing comprehensive insight into the wisdom mankind has achieved over the ages. Effort is directed toward finding constructive directions for humanity's further development.