Reincarnation: The Lost Years of Jesus | Swami Kriyananda
“The teachings of Christ are really the same as those of any great master who has ever lived,” says Swami Kriyananda. Those who have realized God ultimately discover the same universal spiritual truths.
In this video, Swami Kriyananda explores the relationship between the teachings of Jesus and the broader spiritual traditions of the world. He discusses the idea that Jesus accepted the doctrine of reincarnation and reflects on the so-called “lost years” of Jesus’s life—when some traditions suggest he may have traveled to India in search of spiritual wisdom.
Topics discussed in this talk include:
- Growing up in the Anglican tradition and later reconciling Christian beliefs with the teachings of reincarnation
- Why the doctrine of reincarnation gradually disappeared from mainstream Christian teachings
- The possible purpose of Jesus’s visit to India
- What Jesus might think about modern Christianity today
About Swami Kriyananda:
Swami Kriyananda (J. Donald Walters) became a disciple of the Indian yoga master Paramhansa Yogananda in 1948 at the age of twenty-two. Yogananda is widely known for his spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi, in which he recounts his life in India and America, his encounters with great spiritual masters, and his introduction of the meditation technique known as Kriya Yoga.
Following Yogananda’s guidance, Swami Kriyananda dedicated his life to sharing spiritual teachings and helping others experience the presence of God through meditation and inner transformation. Over a span of more than sixty-five years, he lectured and taught on four continents and in seven languages. His talks, music, and writings have inspired millions of people around the world.
A prolific author, he wrote more than 150 books on spirituality, meditation, leadership, education, community life, and the practical application of spiritual principles in everyday living. He also composed more than 400 musical works designed to uplift and inspire the human spirit.
Swami Kriyananda founded the first Ananda community in 1967 near Nevada City, California. Since then, Ananda communities have grown internationally, including centers in the United States, Europe, and India. These intentional spiritual communities are dedicated to meditation, simple living, and the ideal of “high thinking,” reflecting Yogananda’s vision of spiritually centered communities.
Through his writings, music, lectures, and personal example, Swami Kriyananda encouraged people to seek truth through their own inner experience, emphasizing that genuine spirituality arises not from dogma, but from direct realization.