We are very happy to announce that starting the weekend of January 31 and February 1, weekly inspirational services and meditations will be held in the Windmill Chapel at the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine. This is the first time since the Palisades Fire devastated much of the surrounding community of Los Angeles that the Lake Shrine congregation will again be able to experience this integral facet of Paramahansa Yogananda’s beloved Lake Shrine — this sanctuary of peace and universal spirituality. All are welcome to attend these meditations and services (see details below).
The larger Lake Shrine Temple, above the lake, and other buildings on the property are still in the process of smoke remediation to ensure safe occupancy before reopening. We will keep you posted in the coming months on when that work has been completed, allowing the Lake Shrine in its entirety to be fully reopened.
In conjunction with now holding services at the Windmill Chapel, a walking tour of the Lake Shrine Meditation Gardens will be offered, led by docents who will share the history of the Lake Shrine and special points of interest.
Because of limited capacity for these events during this time, please use the online reservation system on the SRF Lake Shrine website.
Weekly Schedule — Every Saturday and Sunday
(Starting the weekend of January 31 – February 1)
- 11:00 a.m. — Inspirational service with meditation led by a Lake Shrine minister in the Windmill Chapel
- 2:00 p.m. — 30-minute guided meditation in the Windmill Chapel
- 2:30 p.m. — Docent-led walking tour of Meditation Gardens
You can learn more about the SRF Lake Shrine and these events on the Lake Shrine website.
Marking the Anniversary of the Palisades Fire With True Fellowship
On January 7, 2026, the anniversary of the 2025 Palisades Fire, the Lake Shrine hosted “A Day of Remembrance and Renewal” for members of the Palisades community and the Lake Shrine congregation who were impacted by the devasting fire. All were invited to come and enjoy the sanctuary that Paramahansa Yogananda established his beloved Lake Shrine to be — to mark this anniversary with a sense of hope and strength for the future.
More than 400 people visited the Lake Shrine during the event. SRF monastics and volunteers — some of whom had lost their own homes — warmly welcomed and hosted guests in the SRF Lake Shrine Meditation Gardens.
Lake Shrine has been such a refuge for me and my spiritual family whenever we need to take a break from the noise of the world. Seeing everyone in the community gather again and enjoy the peace Lake Shrine has to offer on the Day of Remembrance and Renewal warmed my heart and soul.
A. J., visitor
Guests spent time walking and enjoying the beauty and tranquility of the grounds, sitting near the lake and observing the swans and koi fish. Many visited the newly reopened Windmill Chapel, quietly meditating there or at one of the meditation nooks on the grounds, to experience the peace that is a hallmark of the Lake Shrine. Each hour, the sound of a gong gently encouraged everyone to take a moment for silent reflection.
In the Court of Religions, which honors the five principal religions of the world, guests were invited to write down a cherished memory from before the fire and place it along with a rose in the gazebo located there, as a “memory offering.”
We are grateful, after losing our family home of 60 years in the Palisades Fire, that the beloved Lake Shrine was untouched by flames. Thank you so much for hosting the Day of Remembrance and Renewal. It was a beautiful event — everyone was very kind and welcoming, and the gazebo where a written memory could be placed with a rose for prayers was especially meaningful.
A. M., Palisades resident
During the day, spontaneous moments of reconnection and mutual support emerged. Former neighbors — some seeing one another for the first time since being displaced by the wildfire — paused to be with one another, exchange memories, and make plans to stay in touch.
Reflecting on the significance of the event, Brother Satyananda, minister-in-charge at the Lake Shrine, said: “On this first anniversary of the fire, Lake Shrine offers a sacred space where visitors can step back from loss and begin to feel a renewed sense of hope rooted in the inner peace and divine connection that Paramahansa Yogananda envisioned Lake Shrine as offering to all who would come here. As people walk the lake and observe nature renewing itself, they are also invited to experience that same renewal within. We encourage them to then carry this peace onward, allowing it to serve as a foundation for the next chapter of their lives.”
By the conclusion of the anniversary gathering, a shared sense of appreciation was evident and expressed by many — for renewed relationships, hope, and for the SRF Lake Shrine’s ongoing role as a place of refuge for the surrounding community.
Visiting the SRF Lake Shrine Meditation Gardens is free, and all are welcome. To plan your visit, please use the online reservation system on the SRF Lake Shrine website.
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