Self-Realization Fellowship Blog

Since our last updates, progress toward the reopening of the SRF Lake Shrine continues steadily to be made. But at present the grounds remain closed, with access to Pacific Palisades, California, still being restricted to Palisades residents, contractors, and those with special admission passes, due to the ongoing conditions following the Palisades fire.  

Even though we are not yet able to welcome residents of the Palisades community and outside visitors to the meditation gardens, temple, or retreat — we very much are looking forward to that moment and are channeling our remediation and landscaping efforts into making that happen as soon as the city’s precautionary restrictions can be safely and officially lifted.  

Thank you for all your prayers, patience, and messages of deep thanks for the survival of this sacred pilgrimage site established by Paramahansa Yogananda 75 years ago as a refuge of universal spirituality. He created the Lake Shrine for everyone to be able to draw solace and strength from, and we know how much it will mean for all to walk the paths and feel that peace in person again.
 

Wonderful Opportunities to Connect and Be Together 

Over the past few months we have been very grateful to have had the chance to host events at the SRF Mother Center and other SRF temples in Southern California to bring together SRF members who were affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles this January. 

On February 2, the SRF devotees most severely affected by the fires — those who lost homes, jobs, and other possessions — were hosted at the SRF International Headquarters in Los Angeles by SRF monks and nuns. One of the Lake Shrine ministers led the group in meditation and gave an inspirational talk, and the monks and nuns were available afterward to speak to attendees and offer spiritual counseling. The devotees were also offered the opportunity to visit Paramahansa Yogananda’s living quarters (which are preserved as a shrine) to absorb the spiritual vibrations Paramahansaji left there as a permanent blessing. The gathering served to help uplift those experiencing loss, and to express tangibly the spirit of divine friendship which permeates the SRF community. 

On Sunday, February 15, a special inspirational service led by Brother Satyananda, minister-in-charge at the SRF Lake Shrine Temple, was livestreamed from the SRF Headquarters for the Lake Shrine congregation to attend online. 

A “fellowship retreat” held at the SRF Glendale Temple on Saturday, March 8, allowed devotees from both the Lake Shrine and Glendale congregations to gather in divine friendship, with nearly 200 attending the full-day program, which included guided meditations and satsangas by Lake Shrine ministers Brother Satyananda and Brother Tyagananda.   

On Sunday, March 16, members from the Lake Shrine congregation and others affected by the fires were invited to visit the Mother Center for an afternoon of spiritual inspiration and fellowship. Monastics from the Lake Shrine Temple and the Mother Center hosted more than 200 participants, who also had an opportunity to attend an inspirational service and guided meditation led by Brother Tyagananda (see photo), visit the shrine rooms of Paramahansa Yogananda, and take time to relax and share in the support of other devotees. 

Lake Shrine ministers also conducted the Sunday services at the SRF Hollywood Temple on Sunday, March 30, and hosted Lake Shrine devotees after the services. The Lake Shrine Young Adults group joined forces with the Hollywood Temple Young Adults on that same Sunday, for an afternoon of inspiration and fellowship and great joy.

Extending Support to the Greater Community

SRF continues to make monetary donations to several organizations working on relief and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the wildfires, as we continued to receive many generous donations from SRF members and meditation groups far and wide. And how inspiring it has been to see the members of SRF temples in Southern California express the supportive spirit Paramahansaji so perfectly embodied as they not only welcome all who feel displaced currently from the Lake Shrine, but also volunteered and served to collect and transfer numerous donations to charities and relief organizations.
 

Being Inspired by the Lake Shrine’s Miraculous Survival

In previous posts — including Brother Chidananda’s inspiring special message livestreamed during the fires, and in Deborah Netburn’s Los Angeles Times article — we all learned how the SRF Lake Shrine was saved by the extraordinary efforts of the Asad family. We think you will enjoy hearing their story firsthand. On a recent episode of Kimberly Snyder’s Feel Good podcast, Billy Asad, Nicky Asad, and Gabriella Asad recount their experience of what it was like keeping the Lake Shrine safe from the surrounding fires. They share what the Lake Shrine means to them — and what it has been like to receive prayers and gratitude from the SRF worldwide spiritual family — in an episode titled, “Fearless Hearts & Saving Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine from the Palisades Fire with the Asad Family.”