No necessity compels you to leave the world, for inwardly you have already sundered its every karmic tie. Not of this world, you must yet be in it. Many years still remain during which you should conscientiously fulfill your family, business, civic, and spiritual duties. A sweet new breath of divine hope will penetrate the arid hearts of worldly men. From your balanced life, they will understand that liberation is dependent on inner, rather than outer, renunciations.

Mahavatar Babaji to Lahiri Mahasaya

Autobiography of a Yogi, pp. 364-365

Dear Jackie,

Hope you had a wonderful Convocation Week! From this uplifting week, we now have a monastic-inspired month with a weekend Retreat and a visit from Sister Brahmani in September. We will be holding 2 IN-PERSON commemorative services with kirtan in honor of Lahiri Mahasaya, but no Saturday Long Meditation at our Center this month. Please see the details below.

Further, those devotees who are unable to attend DC Center services in person but have the capacity to donate, please continue your online donations to the DC Center (see the Yellow "Donate" button below). Online donations are critical to meeting our expenses each month as in-person donations are insufficient and overall donations are slower over the summer.  Another option is to please contribute to our Building Fund to replenish about $25,000 we will need to spend to replace the old windows upstairs (click on the Blue "Donate Website" rectangle below). Thank you for your loving support (past and ongoing) --financially and through your prayers and volunteer service.

Jai Guru.

Gauri Prakash-Canjels

Coordinator

Greenfield Conducted General Retreat

The Greenfield SRF Retreat Center will hold a conducted general retreat from September 9 -11 at the 4H Educational Center in Front Royal, Virginia.  For more information and to register, please click here.

Sister Brahmani to Lead Services

SRF monastic Sister Brahmani will lead the morning services at the Center on September 25, with a potluck social to follow. All are warmly invited to join in this opportunity for spiritual fellowship. Please bring a vegetarian entree (pre-warmed to at least room temperature to facilitate more efficient food service), fruit juice, or dessert, if you plan to attend. 

Commemoration Services

This month we will commemorate the mahasamadhi of Lahiri Mahasaya on September 26 and his birthday on September 30 with special services at the Center.  Please bring a flower and a donation in an envelope as symbols of your loyalty and devotion to the SRF line of Gurus. Commemoration services are primarily intended for those who are SRF students or other devotees who regularly attend the SRF meetings. However, all are welcome who are well enough acquainted with SRF teachings to appreciate the significance of the Guru‑disciple relationship and to participate in the service with sincerity and reverence.

Service Readings This Month

September 4: Vol. 2 #36: What is Salvation?

September 11: Vol. 2 #37: Life: A Cosmic Motion Picture

September 18: Vol. 2 #38: Hastening Human Evolution

September 25: Vol. 2 #39: Finding God in Family Life

Special Events This Month

Greenfield Conducted General Retreat

September 9-11

Sister Brahmani Leads Morning Services with Potluck Social Following

September 25

Lahiri Mahasaya Mahasamadhi Service

September 26

Lahiri Mahasaya Birthday Service

September 30