Donald Harrison

DONALD HARRISON March 12, 1932 - May 4, 2007 "Hello out there, world" "God is nearer to you than yourself" "I'm on my way!" Everyone who called Don Harrison heard the same open-hearted greeting on his voicemail, the samefamiliar sign-off, and, wedged between them, a pithy bon mot that changed weekly but was alwaysgrounded in joy and devotion. His message was hissignature, a gift to every caller-and there were many of them around the world. He was a generous, gregarious pilgrim who loved fine things, lived modestly, laughed loudly, loved unabashedly, and swam daily at Kaimana Beach as devotedly as he swam in the truth. After a life of great good cheer, he died on May 4, 2007. Don will be remembered as the man who helpedestablish Siddha Yoga, later to become known as the SYDA Foundation, in the West in 1971. With histhen-wife Janabai, he opened Swami Muktananda's first ashram in the U.S., on Webster St. in San Francisco. Following that opening, Muktananda ashrams opened in Oakland, CA, and South Fallsburg, NY. Rudi West was Don's antiques store on Union St. in San Francisco and a gathering place for many. In the early 1970s, Don made Hawai`i his home and was a strong supportive presence in many of Hawai`i's spiritual communities. He opened his second antiques store, Design Resources, in the Ward Warehouse. Don shared the same birthday with revered kupuna Nana Veary, who gave him the name Kaaumoana, "swimming in the truth." He was a spiritual pioneer whose boisterous laughter and mischievous sense of humor could not obscure the depth of his compassion and devotion. "Into the light, dear brother. Our love goes with you." Updated on 06/17/2007.