"The unalloyed happiness I find in communion with the Lord no words can describe. Night and day I am in a state of joy. That joy is God....The happier you are, the greater will be your attunement with Him. Those who know Him are always happy, because God is joy itself."

Paramahansa Yogananda

  Greetings, friends of the Portland Center! 

We are joyfully anticipating a visit by two Self-Realization Fellowship monks, Brother Devananda and Brahmachari Daniel, who will be with us from September 23 through 26. A complete schedule is included with the information below:

Upcoming Dates to Remember

Saturday 9/17                Day of Service

9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (or as your time permits)

Friday, 9/23    Monastic Visit Begins

11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.   Outing with monastics: Depart from Portland Center at 11:00 for Mount Tabor. Bring your own lunch.

7:00 – 8:00 p.m.               Opening Program

8:00-8:30 p.m.                  Fellowship

Saturday, 9/24

9:00 a.m. – noon   Guided meditation with review of Hong-Sau

and Aum techniques (This event is open to students of the SRF Lessons only. To confirm your enrollment status please bring a copy of an SRF Lesson, or show your SRF student card or the Lessons section of your SRF/YSS app.)

7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.   Satsanga (Questions my be submitted in advance at Portland Center or via our email)

Sunday, 9/25

9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.     Energization Exercises

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.  Guided Meditation

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.   Inspirational Service

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.     Back yard landscape dedication and fellowship

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.     Workshop for Portland Center volunteers

Monday, 9/26

7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.       Guided Meditation

8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.      Lahiri Mahasaya Mahasamadhi Commemoration

*****

Friday, 9/30

7:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.         Meditation

8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.       Lahiri Mahasaya Birthday Commemorative Service

We hope you can join us for some or all of these events!

Portland Center of Self-Realization Fellowship

Day of Service: Saturday September 17

Helping to prepare our building and grounds for the monks' visit is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the Guru-Disciple relationship while sharing joyful spiritual fellowship.

The day will begin at 9:30 with an optional meditation in the chapel, followed at 10:00 by indoor and outdoor cleaning, maintenance, and gardening projects. No special skills are needed and everyone can participate according to individual capacities. Snacks, water and a vegetarian lunch will be provided, and we will wrap things up around 2:00 or when our to-do list has been completed.

We look forward to having you with us for part or all of the day!

“No task is too difficult or too menial

when offered to Thee in loving service.” 

Paramahansa Yogananda

ॐ

Lahiri Mahasaya Commemorative Services

In September, members and friends of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Society of India will honor our revered Paramparamguru, Lahiri Mahasaya, as we commemorate his mahasamadhi (September 26) and his birth (September 30).

We are grateful that on the final day of the monks' visit with us, Brahmachari Daniel will conduct the mahasamadhi commemorative service on Monday September 26. The service begins at 8:00 p.m., preceded by an optional meditation from 7:00 to 7:45.

Observance of Lahiri Mahasaya's birthday will follow several days later, on Friday September 30, also at 8:00 with an optional meditation at 7:15. 

As with all SRF commemorative services it is traditional to bring a flower or flowers, and a monetary offering in an envelope symbolizing our devotion, loyalty, and gratitude.

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, listened to inspiring classes and talks by SRF monks and nuns, and connected personally with SRF monastics and other devotees through online Fellowship Rooms.

Except for the Fellowship Rooms, all these events will remain available online indefinitely through SRF's website Convocation 2022, their YouTube channel, and the new Convocation app, still available for downloading.

Book Room Now Open

Portland Center's Book Room is open most Sundays from noon to 12:15 p.m., following the Sunday Inspirational Service.

The 2023 SRF Engagement and Wall calendars are now available, along with SRF books, audio/video products, past issues of Self-Realization magazine, incense and other devotional items.

By patronizing our Book Room, you support the activities of Portland Center and also eliminate the cost of shipping. Plan to stop by!

Greetings, Portland Center members and friends!

As we continue to carry the joy of Convocation with us, we look forward to welcoming Brother Devananda and Brahmachari Daniel to the Portland Center, Sept. 23-26 for meditations, technique reviews, Satsanga and inspirational services as well as times for fellowship and a recreational outing to Mount Tabor. We are grateful to the many volunteers who are already busy getting the chapel and monastics’ quarters and meals ready. 

The monks will also lead a dedication for the back yard landscape project, which we hope will be underway when they arrive. Contracts have been signed and, thanks to the generosity of many, we are very close to reaching the fundraising goal for this initial phase. We believe that Guru and the Great Ones of SRF are blessing this effort! 

Please join us for as much of this long-weekend retreat as possible. The benefits will be many, as noted by our Guru below: 

“In sacred joy, in divine communion, we forget all limitations and differences. I pray that such communion may reign over all the earth, that on the altar of unity mankind will express the vast kingdom of Spirit. By the pickax of holy fellowship and divine communion the rocks and useless crusts over our souls are broken; the Immortal Spring gushes forth and brings to us new purity, new joy, new love, new wisdom. The company of true devotees can thus help us attain the consciousness of God.”  

Paramahansa Yogananda in Seeking God Together

In divine friendship,

Kripa Raguram, Mike O'Brien, Paulette Fritsch,

Rebecca Field and Shikha Misra

How to Make a Financial Contribution

We deeply appreciate your contributions of time and resources to help us meet the recurring expenses that sustain our Center, as we are supported solely by financial contributions from our members and friends, Book Room sales, and by volunteers who donate their skills.

For those who would like to contribute online, you can

send funds through Zelle to the following email address:

portlandcenterdonations@gmail.com

If you prefer to write a check, 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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