Swami Chetanananda

Disambiguation: Not to be confused with Swami Chetanananda abbot of The Movement Center, of Portland, Oregon, author of "Songs from the Center of the Well" (http://www.chetanananda.com/).

Swami Chetanananda is a monk with the Ramakrishna Order and is the Minister of Vedanta Society of Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri.He has been associated with the order since 1950. He officially joined the Order as a monk in 1960. He was initiated by Swami Shankarananda, the seventh president of the Order and the private secretary of Swami Brahmananda, a direct disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

Before coming to the United States, the Swami worked in the Publication and Editorial Departments of Advaita Ashrama at Mayavati, Himalayas, and its branch in Calcutta. He served as the Assistant Minister of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, Los Angeles, from 1971-1978. In 1977-1978 he served as Vice President of the Inter-Religious Council of Southern California, and at present is a cabinet member of Interfaith Partnership of St. Louis. He was transferred to St. Louis, Missouri, in March 1978 and served as Assistant Minister of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis under Swami Satprakashananda. He became the Minister of the Society in January 1980, after the death of Swami Satprakashananda in November 1979. He is also the Minister of the Vedanta Society of Kansas City, Missouri.

The swami has written, translated, and edited many books in English, Bengali, and Sanskrit. He has produced three documentary videotapes and six chanting CDs. Following is a list of some of his publications English:

1. Ramakrishna: A Biography in Pictures
2. Holy Mother: A Biography in Pictures
3. Ramakrishna and His Divine Play
4. Ramakrishna as We Saw Him
5. They Lived with God
6. God Lived with Them
7. Girish Chandra Ghosh: A Bohemian Devotee of Ramakrishna
8. How to Live With God: In the Company of Ramakrishna
9. Vedanta: Voice of Freedom, Vivekananda: East Meets West
10. Mahendranath Gupta (M.)
11. Meditation and Its Methods
12. A Guide to Spiritual Life-Teachings of Swami Brahmananda,
13. How a Shepherd Boy Became a Saint—Teachings and Reminiscences of Swami Adbhutananda
14. Spiritual Treasurers: Letters of Swami Turiyananda
15. Avadhuta Gita—The Song of the Ever-Free.

Bengali: Vedanter Aloke Christer Sailopadesh, Sri Ramakrishner Sannidhey, Matri Darshan, Srima Samipe, Kalpataru Ramakrishna, Vedanta O Muktir Vani, Sri Ramakrishnake Jerup Dekhiachi, Swami Brahmanander Smritikatha, Swami Premanander Jivan O Smritikatha, Swami Akhandanandake Jerup Dekhiachi, Swami Turiyanander Smritikatha, Swami Saradanander Smritikatha, Swami Subodhanander Smritikatha, Vedanta: Muktir Vani, Ya Devi Sa Sarada, and Galpa Malika.

CDs: Echoes of the Eternal—Peace, Bliss, and Harmony, and Breath of the Eternal—Awakening, Reflection, and Illumination (Sanskrit chants with English translation).

Video Tapes and DVDs: Ramakrishna (A Documentary), Vivekananda as We Saw Him (A Documentary), Parables of Ramakrishna and Swami Gambhirananda: A Documentary.