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Ananda Village, a large 30-year old, 350-member spiritual community on 750 acres in Nevada City, California, is experiencing a devastating financial crisis in the aftermath of a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against its founder, Swami Kriyananda (J. Donald Walters). In early February a jury found the community guilty of fraud and infliction of emotional distress, in the case Bertolucci vs. Ananda Church of SelfRealization, heard in San Mateo County, California. The court ordered the community to pay the plaintiff $625,000 in compensatory damages, and $1,000,000 in punitive damages.
"The charges were simply not true," said Ananda spokesperson Karen Gamow. "Lawyers used the plaintiff's claims of sexual harassment as a springboard to attack Ananda's religious beliefs, calling...