Paramahansa Yogananda on Establishing a Sanctuary Within

An introduction:

This month we honor the 75th anniversary of Paramahansa Yogananda’s establishing of the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades, California, as a unique sanctuary for all who seek to experience true inner peace and understanding.

Earlier this year we gratefully shared the seemingly miraculous news that all of the legacy structures around the lake, as well as the Lake Shrine Temple and Retreat, survived the wildfire that tragically devastated much of the larger Palisades community this past January. Reflecting on the significance of this in his livestreamed message at that time, SRF President Brother Chidananda said: “To me, the survival of the Lake Shrine symbolizes that we — and anyone — can have that sanctuary of peace, harmony, and divine communion within ourselves that can never be destroyed by any type of negative circumstances.”

We are overjoyed that — after many months of dedicated work by SRF monastics, lay members, and safety professionals — starting on August 27, we will be able to welcome back visitors to the meditation gardens at Paramahansaji’s beloved Lake Shrine to walk the grounds and absorb its many blessings.

In the spirit of what the Lake Shrine represents to so many, we want to share with you inspiration from Paramahansaji below on how each one of us can establish a sacred inner sanctuary, to know the joy and wonder of the soul and bring balance and security to our lives.

From the talks and writings of Paramahansa Yogananda:

The temple of God is within your soul. Enter into this quietness, and sit there in meditation with the light of intuition burning on the altar. There is no restlessness, no searching, no striving here.

There is happiness in the divine soul-temple within you. There is goodness there; and loyalty, hope, courage, peace, and joy. 

Practice the art of silence. When tigers of worries, sickness, and death are chasing you, your only sanctuary is the inner temple of silence. The spiritually deep individual lives day and night in a calm interior silence into which neither menacing worries nor even the crash of colliding worlds can intrude.

The more you are silent the more happiness you will find. What joy awaits discovery in the silence behind the portals of your mind, no human tongue can tell. But you must convince yourself; you must meditate and create that environment. Those who deeply meditate feel a wonderful inner quiet. This stillness within should be maintained even when in the company of other people. What you learn in meditation, practice in activity and conversation; let no one dislodge you from that calm state. Hold on to your peace.

In fearlessness affirm: ‘I am castled in God’s presence. No harm can reach me, for in every situation of life — physical, mental, financial, spiritual — I am protected in the fortress of God’s presence.’