Are you new to Self-Realization Fellowship or to our annual World Convocation? If so, we extend a warm welcome to you! We are so happy you are joining us for this week-long program of immersion in Paramahansa Yogananda’s yoga meditation and “how-to-live" teachings.
The Convocation experience has a powerful uplifting effect on those who participate, for there is a deep inner joy felt in spiritual seeking with so many other souls from around the world.
We hope you will find this week’s schedule of spiritual activities rejuvenating and inspiring!
We want to share a special welcome to you from Brother Chidananda, SRF’s president and spiritual head, recorded during the opening of the 2021 SRF World Convocation:
As Brother Chidananda explains, the SRF Convocation is a wonderful introduction to the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda and the science of the Kriya Yoga path of meditation.
Paramahansa Yogananda teaches that we already have inside ourselves everything we need for ultimate peace, security, and happiness.
Requiring no special beliefs, yoga asks instead that we draw our own conclusions, based on direct experience.
When meditation is practiced scientifically, we can calm the mind, breath, and heart, and take our energies inside, where we can perceive our soul’s oneness with Bliss.
This is the state of being which has been realized by yogis since ancient times, and which is available to us all through techniques and teachings such as those brought to the world by Paramahansa Yogananda and his renowned line of gurus.
“Divine Joy outlasts everything,” Paramahansaji said. “It is enduring. When all else melts away, that Joy remains.” As we start to discover this everlasting joy by practicing the techniques of meditation, we also learn to hold onto that joy during daily life, so that it enlivens and animates all our other activities. We more and more manifest happiness — and evenmindedness — as we are pursuing success in any field of endeavor, no matter what obstacles come in our way.
The SRF Convocation was established in 1950 by Paramahansaji to provide seekers of higher consciousness with an immersive experience in his yoga meditation teachings — so that they might more deeply feel and live in that Divine Joy.
If you are new to meditation, you may benefit from participating in our Beginner’s Meditation which gives a brief overview of the basics of meditation as taught by Paramahansaji.
In the hundred years since the birth of Paramahansa Yogananda, this beloved world teacher has come to be recognized as one of the greatest emissaries to the West of India’s ancient wisdom, often referred to as “the father of yoga” in the West. His life and teachings continue to be a source of light and inspiration to many people of all cultures around the world.
Paramahansaji founded Self-Realization Fellowship in 1920 to make available the universal teachings of Kriya Yoga, a sacred spiritual science originating millenniums ago in India.
These nonsectarian teachings embody a complete philosophy and way of life for achieving all-round success and well-being, as well as methods of meditation for achieving life's ultimate goal — union of the soul with Spirit (God) — and are made available, today as during Paramahansaji’s lifetime, through the Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons.
This comprehensive home-study series presents Paramahansaji’s instruction in all the meditation techniques of the Kriya Yoga science, as well as in a wealth of other aspects of balanced spiritual living and finding true happiness and fulfillment.
To get the most out of Convocation, we encourage you to participate in the schedule of events as much as your circumstances allow. But even if you can only attend one or two events, the power of united effort of truth seekers around the world will help to reinforce and strengthen your own spiritual striving.
The Convocation program of talks, meditations, video presentations, and virtual pilgrimages to SRF historic sites are designed to help each one of us to gather greater strength, a sense of direction, and inspiration to make every day a new experience of peace and joy — and a further step toward expressing the divine potential of our souls.
To help prepare your consciousness for the week ahead, you are welcome to participate in a guided affirmation practice with our president Brother Chidananda from the 2020 SRF Convocation.
All Convocation events and activities (with the exception of select in-person events such as Kriya Yoga ceremonies) are available on the Convocation app which you can access with your mobile device or on your desktop.
If you are unable to participate in an event at the time it takes place, you are welcome to view it later, as most events will be available for viewing after the scheduled date and time.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us at any point throughout the week if you have questions. Our friendly volunteers will be happy to help you. They can be reached by email at helpdesk@yogananda-srf.org or by phone +1 (760) 417-6080 (long distance charges may apply).
Again, we are so thrilled you have joined us, and we look forward to participating with you during this transformative week!
