"Through scripture, God has said that we are made in His image. As such, we could behold this world drama as a movie, even as He does, if we but look to that soul perfection within and realize our unity with the Divine. Then this cosmic movie, with its horrors of disease and poverty and atomic bombs, will appear to us only as real as the anomalies we experience in a movie house. When we have finished seeing the motion picture, we know that nobody was killed; nobody was suffering. In fact, that truth is the only answer I see when I look at the drama of life. It is nothing but an electrical shadow-show, a play of light and shadows. Everything is the vibration of God's consciousness condensed into electromagnetic images. The essence of those images cannot be severed by a sword, nor burned, nor drowned, nor suffer pain of any sort. It is not born nor does it die. It only passes through a few changes. If we could watch this world as God watches it, and as the saints do, we would be free from the seeming reality of this dreaming..."
Why God Permits Evil and How to Rise Above It, pp. 36-37
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Greetings!
Welcome to the Washington DC Center’s November newsletter.
Prince George's County has had an elevated COVID transmission risk level for several months. However, recently it has dropped down one notch from high to substantial. This new level still requires masks indoors which is not ideal for meditation and chanting. The Council is still planning on sending a new simplified questionnaire to determine your interest level in reopening the DC Center and, for those that serve, their willingness to serve under these conditions. Your feedback will help us determine if it is feasible to reopen the DC Center once the PG County infection rate returns to normal levels. We appreciate your cooperation and your patience as we work to determine the best time to reopen the DC Center.
We will also have an online Zoom fellowship event in which we would welcome your opinions on reopening the DC Center and how devotees have been adjusting their sadhana during the pandemic. This event will be held on Sunday, November 14, at noon. Please keep an eye out for the email invitation.
As many of you know, the SRF lessons have been edited and reorganized. The new lessons have reduced the time it takes to be eligible for the Kriya Yoga initiation. If you haven’t yet applied for Kriya Yoga, please visit the following hyperlink. Also, if you know someone interested in the SRF lessons, or if you have not received the new edition, please click here for more information.
There is a special blessing one receives when you support Paramahansa Yogananda’s work and the Washington DC Center during this challenging time. The Council wants you to know that we are grateful for your continuing donations that have been helpful for the DC Center to cover its ongoing fixed costs. Please see below for more information about how to donate to our Center or SRFdirectly.
In Master’s Service,
Wayne T. Lavallee
Coordinator
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Continue to View SRF 2021 Convocation Online
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If you have already registered for Convocation, you can continue to experience all Convocation offers on the SRF website, including four interactive pilgrimages.
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Additionally, a playlist of 26 classes, meditations, and kirtans is available on the SRF YouTube channel.
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Please note that the classes on the SRF meditation techniques can only be viewed by students of the SRF Lessons after they have registered for Convocation. Learn more about the Lessons.
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Staying Connected
We encourage all to stay remotely connected to the worldwide SRF family:
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Suggestion Box
Due to the fact we no longer are physically present at the DC Center we thought we would add a feature called the “Suggestion Box” in which we invite your suggestions or comments. Much like the suggestion box at the DC Center, if you have a constructive idea or suggestion for our Center please send it by replying to this email. We can then review them monthly at our Council meetings. Someone will reply to each suggestion after each monthly Council meeting.
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Caring Friends Team
The Caring Friends Team provides support and outreach to members who are experiencing illness, hardships, and personal crisis. For more information please contact Stacey Hawkins at 301-395-9541, callingcardevents@comcast.net.
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Online Donations Available
You can make online donations to the Washington DC Center of SRF by clicking on the yellow Donate button below. You will have the option of designating whether the donation is for the General Fund or the Building Fund. Please note that donations made using this button are not tax deductible.
While services are suspended, you can also make donations to the Center by check, mailed to: Washington DC Center, 4911 Niagara Road, College Park, MD 20740. If you wish your donation to go toward the Building Fund, please note this in the memo field.
Tax deductible Building Fund donations may be made online here, or by making the check payable to Self-Realization Fellowship, noting Washington DC Building Fund in the memo field, and mailing it to the Center. Full details concerning donations are explained on the Center's website Donate page.
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Donations made using the above yellow Donate button are not tax deductible. For other donation options use the Donate Website button below, including tax deductible building fund donations. |
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Washington DC Center of Self-Realization Fellowship
4911 Niagara Road College Park MD 20740
washington.dc.srf@gmail.com
DCcentersrf.org
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