Swami Chetanananda (born Michael Shoemaker) was a follower of Swami Rudrananda, running one of Rudi’s ashrams in Indiana when he died in 1973 in a plane crash. Chetanananda consolidated the followers of Rudi and is now running the Nityananda Institute in Portland. While Chetanananda received sannyas from Muktananda, he does not list him as a member of his lineage.

Chetanananda is currently is having his own troubles; allegations of sexual liaisons, financial questions and reports of abuse of his followers.

A group of ex members of the Nityananda Institute have published a web site called Leaving-Nityananda-Institute.org. It does an excellent job of identifying problems with this group.