"We ought not to keep our minds so absorbed in the sad and frightening dramas of this life. Is it not wiser to place our attention on that Power which is indestructible and unchanging? Why worry about the unpleasant surprises in the plot of this world movie? We are here for just a little while.
Learn the lesson of the drama of life and find your freedom."
Paramahansa Yogananda
in Where There is Light
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Greetings, friends of the Portland Center!
After nearly sixteen months of closure, Portland Center held its first in-person service on Sunday August 1, one week after a lively group of volunteers had gathered to tidy the building's interior and grounds in preparation for reopening. The mood was joyous at both events as we shared fellowship with our local SRF community after such a long time apart – a spiritual family reunion!
Although we had hoped to expand our schedule in September, the recent rapid rise in serious covid-19 cases called for a change in plans. The news from Managing Council (below) tells how we can still connect with each other via Zoom in the months to come.
We appreciate your loyalty and flexibility as together we navigate these unpredictable times. May all be safe and well, as we travel onward and upward toward God!
Portland Center of Self-Realization Fellowship
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Lahiri Mahasaya Commemoratives |
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"Meditate unceasingly, that you quickly behold yourself as the Infinite Essence, free from every form of misery. Cease being a prisoner of the body; using the secret key of Kriya, learn to escape into Spirit."
Lahiri Mahasaya, as quoted by
Paramahansa Yogananda in
Autobiography of a Yogi
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In September, members and friends of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Society of India will honor our revered paramparamguru, Lahiri Mahasaya, on the anniversaries of his mahasamadhi (September 26) and his birth (September 30).
To augment our private devotions, the SRF Online Meditation Center will offer monastic led services in lieu of live commemorative events traditionally held at local SRF meditation centers. You may sign up here to receive advance notice of these and other SRF programs.
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News from Self-Realization Fellowship Mother Center |
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Convocation Events Still Available! |
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The SRF annual worldwide Convocation was again conducted completely online in August, free of charge. Members and friends from over 130 countries participated in group meditations, kirtans and virtual pilgrimages, and listened to inspiring classes and talks by SRF monks and nuns. |
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SRF Launches Voluntary League of Disciples |
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On July 1, SRF/YSS President Brother Chidananda formally launched the Voluntary League of Disciples, which he described as the fulfillment of Paramahansa Yogananda's vision of many years ago for a "third order" of householder devotees. The VLD is an opportunity for Kriyabans who "live the life and serve the work" to make a more formal commitment to the SRF path and their personal sadhana; and to pledge their service to the Guru and the organization he founded.
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News from Managing Council |
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Greetings, Portland Center members and friends!
As the Portland Center takes another break from face-to-face services at the Chapel due to the latest surge of the Covid-19 Delta variant, we continue to monitor the State of Oregon and Multnomah County guidelines and are in communication with Brother Devananda for guidance.
Based on that, we are resuming our First Sunday Zoom Inspirational Services (11 a.m. – 12 noon) followed by an optional Social (12 noon – 12:30 p.m.), beginning September 5. Thank you to the Portland Center readers for leading us. We hope you can join in (see details at the end of this message), and we also encourage you to take part in the online services and meditations offered regularly by SRF.
We appreciate your ongoing support of our beautiful chapel and each other, and for keeping Master’s spirit alive during these challenging times. This is our great opportunity.
As Paramahansa Yogananda says in Man’s Eternal Quest, page 182:
“The difficulty about this motion picture of life is that unrealities seem real, and all realities seem unreal. Each night in sleep, the world is made to disappear from our consciousness so that we might understand that the material universe is not real….So many years are gone from our lives already. And only so many years, weeks, days, and hours are left. In your heart, tell Him night and day, 'Lord, I want Thee…Today my Lord, today I want Thee.'”
In Divine Friendship,
Kripa Raguram, Mike O'Brien, Paulette Fritsch,
Rebecca Field and Shikha Misra
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How to Join the First Sunday Zoom Meeting |
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Portland Center is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting,
September 5, 2021 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time (US and Canada)
On Desktop or Mobile, Join Zoom Meeting with the Following Link:
Meeting ID: 820 9458 5085
Passcode: 003932
To join by phone with audio only, call one of the following numbers and enter the above Meeting ID and Passcode when prompted:
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
We hope to see you there!
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How to Make a Financial Contribution
Throughout these months of public closure, Portland Center of SRF has been supported solely by financial contributions from members and friends and by volunteers who donate their time. We deeply appreciate your ongoing donations to help us meet recurring expenses to sustain our Center until we can resume in-person services.
If you write a check to the group, please know that checks payable to "Portland Center" will be deposited locally and used to support our Center's activities, pay utility bills etc. Checks payable to "Self-Realization Fellowship" are sent to SRF headquarters in Los Angeles, to support SRF's worldwide activities.
Checks may be mailed to 356 NE 80th Avenue, Portland 97213.
Thank you for your support!
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Entry door to Lahiri Mahasaya's
family home in Banaras
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"The master was a
living temple of God,
whose secret doors were open
to all disciples through devotion.”
Swami Kebalananda, describing Lahiri Mahasaya in Autobiography of a Yogi
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Interested in finding other SRF groups
in the Pacific NW or throughout the world?
Click here:
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Just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in the Portland Center of Self-Realization Fellowship. Don't forget to add newsletter@portlandcentersrf.org to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! |
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