The Kriya Yoga Teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda
“How Meditation Can Transform Your Life” — Free Lecture With Guided Meditation
Friday, May 9, 7:00 p.m.
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Old South Church in Boston
645 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02145
Did you know that you can have a personal experience of inner peace and joy through meditation? Join us for an evening with Self-Realization Fellowship monk Brother Jayananda that explores how meditation can lead to the natural development of deep calmness and the awakening of spiritual consciousness that can transform all aspects of life.
This talk will include a guided meditation suitable for both newcomers and veteran meditators. “Yogananda said that, with the practice of meditation, one can learn to carry a ‘portable paradise within,’” says Brother Jayananda, “meaning that as we go through life, we can consciously experience a peace and joy within our beings no matter where we are or what we are doing. Could there be any greater gift or talent that we could attain in life?”
Paramahansa Yogananda (author of the spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi) founded Self-Realization Fellowship in 1920, at the behest of his line of renowned gurus, to teach worldwide the science of Kriya Yoga meditation — which enables a seeker to experience the underlying oneness that unites all people, all religions, and all life. Yogananda taught that a foundation for truly balanced and successful living comes from realization of the Divine within oneself through meditation.
Your Speaker for This Event
Brother Jayananda — whose name means “attainment of bliss through being victorious” — has been a monk in the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) monastic community for more than 45 years. He currently serves as the minister-in-charge of the SRF Hollywood Temple. He has traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe, where he has provided insightful lectures on the teachings of Yogananda and has led spiritual retreats and inspirational programs for SRF members and friends.
The Weekend Program
In addition to the public lecture and guided meditation, SRF monastics will be conducting a class on the SRF techniques of meditation. This class, held on Saturday, is open to students of the Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons, Paramahansa Yogananda’s home-study course on meditation and balanced living. If you are not a student of the SRF Lessons but wish to attend this class, you may do so by enrolling in the Lessons before or during the weekend program.
Everyone is welcome to participate in the meditations on Friday and Sunday as well as the inspirational talk on Sunday led by the monastics. Learn more about the full weekend program.
Parking and Venue Information
Venue location
Old South Church in Boston
Parking information for Friday events
The Clarendon Street Garage, Boston, is offering a group parking rate of $10 for 3 hours on Friday, May 9. The parking ticket must be validated at Old South Church in Boston. The maximum parking time is 3 hours. If you park for more than 3 hours, you will be charged the regular rate.
Public transportation
The Old South Church in Boston is located near the Copley MBTA station.
Weekend Program Overview
All are welcome to join us for the group meditations, inspirational talks, and reception events scheduled with the visiting Self-Realization Fellowship monks during this weekend program. The monks will give talks on Paramahansa Yogananda’s Kriya Yoga teachings, sharing their helpful counsel on how to navigate life’s challenges as well as their own anecdotes about journeying on the spiritual path.
The classes on the SRF meditation techniques are available only to those who are current or past students of the Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons. If you are not a current or past SRF student, we invite you to enroll in the SRF Lessons so that you may attend the classes on these powerful techniques, which are integral to the science of Kriya Yoga taught by Paramahansa Yogananda.
Schedule
Friday, May 9
- 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. — Public Lecture with Guided Meditation
- 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. — Reception
Saturday, May 10
- 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Meditation Technique Review Class *
- 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. — Kriya Yoga Initiation Ceremony **
Sunday, May 11
- 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. — Kriya Yoga Review Class **
- 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. — Meditation
- 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Inspirational Service and “Lake Shrine Dedication” video
- 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. — Reception with refreshments
* Open to students of the Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons
** Open to Kriyabans only
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Kriya Yoga Initiation Ceremony
Kriya Yoga is the highest method of God contact. In my own search for God I traveled all over India, and heard wisdom from the lips of a number of her greatest masters. I can therefore vouch for the fact that in Self-Realization teachings are the highest truths and scientific techniques given to mankind by God and the Great Ones.
Paramahansa Yogananda
Kriya Yoga initiation is a sacred step on one’s spiritual journey that involves a deeper commitment to the Self-Realization Fellowship spiritual path and the establishment of the guru-disciple relationship with Paramahansa Yogananda and his lineage of enlightened masters. Learn more about the Kriya Yoga path of meditation.
Apply to Attend by April 18 (for Eligible Students)
SRF Lessons students who are eligible for Kriya Yoga initiation may log in or create an account to apply for Kriya Yoga by April 18 in order to attend the initiation ceremony to be conducted on May 10.
All current SRF Kriyabans are also welcome to attend the Kriya Yoga initiation ceremony.
If you are an SRF Kriyaban, but have not yet attended a Kriya Yoga initiation ceremony, please register for the ceremony by sending an email to Membership Services Kriya Yoga Registrar through KriyaRegistrar@yogananda-srf.org, or call +1 (818) 549-5151 no later than April 6.
If you have already attended a Kriya Yoga initiation ceremony, you do not need to register for the initiation but will be asked to show your SRF Kriyaban card in order to attend. Your Kriyaban card is now available on the SRF/YSS App on your phone. However, if you need a replacement card, please send an email to Membership Services Kriya Yoga Registrar through KriyaRegistrar@yogananda-srf.org, or call +1 (818) 549 5151 no later than April 6.
Location
Friday events to be held at:
Old South Church in Boston
645 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
Saturday and Sunday events to be held at:
Boston Center of Self-Realization Fellowship
66 Fellsway West
Somerville, MA 02145
Hotel Reservations and Rate
The SRF Boston Meditation Center has arranged a group rate at the La Quinta Inn & Suites, which is within walking distance of the Center.
Hotel Address
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Boston Somerville Hotel
23 Cummings St.
Somerville, Massachusetts 02145
Group Rate
The discounted rate for double and single rooms is $259 per night on Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, and $229 for Sunday, May 11.
Due to the many college graduations in the Boston area in May, we encourage attendees to reserve rooms as soon as possible.
Reservations must be made no later than April 8 to get the discounted rate, which also includes breakfast and a free airport shuttle running on the hour from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Parking is $10 per day.
Book by phone: Call +1 (617) 625-5300, and refer to group code CG050925CSR.
For further information:
- SRF Boston Meditation Center website
- Email: boston.srf@gmail.com
- Telephone: +1 (617) 528-9692
The events are geared toward adults, but children twelve years and older who are Self-Realization Fellowship students may attend if they wish. We are not able to accommodate younger children at the meetings.
We ask that no audio or video recordings (cell phone cameras included) be made during the events, and that still photography be limited to outdoor areas. Thank you for your cooperation.
