Yogacharya John Williams encountered Paramahamsa Hariharananda on the street in New York City in the 1980's and took Kriya Yoga initiation from him later that day. He has been a faithful student since that first encounter. Born in Jamaica, John Williams is a successful art director and manages his own business. He is the resident yogacharya for the New York City Kriya Yoga Center, and travels throughout the USA teaching and initiating.