Portland Center

of Self-Realization Fellowship

                    Matthew 7:24

Joyous summer greetings to all!

The purpose of all Self-Realization Fellowship

meditation centers and groups is threefold:

• to bring together truth-seeking souls for group meditation,
• to hasten the spiritual progress of each member, and
• to serve the work of Self-Realization Fellowship.

We welcome your presence at our Center,

as together we journey onward and upward toward the Goal!

Sunday mornings:

     10:00 - 10:45 Meditation

     11:00 - 12 noon Inspirational Service 

Tuesday evenings:

     6:30 - 9:30 Silent Individual Meditation (Arrive and leave as you wish) 

Paramahansa Yogananda with students in Boston, 1924

Upcoming Events to Note:

Wednesday July 13 - Guru Purnima Day

Monday July 25  - Mahavatar Babaji Commemorative Service

Thursday August 18 - Bhagavan Krishna Commemorative Service

September 22 - 27  - SRF Monks visit Portland Center 

(See Council News below for details)

Fall Retreat originally planned for October 7 - 9 has been cancelled

Our complete Calendar of Services and Events

is available on our website, where you will also find up-to-date information concerning any changes in our schedule or Covid precautionary measures.

Guru Purnima Day, Wednesday July 13

Mahavatar Babaji Commemorative Service

We invite you to join us on Monday July 25 as we offer

our gratitude and devotion to Mahavatar Babaji.

A commemorative service will be held from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., preceded by an optional half-hour meditation beginning at 7:15 p.m. It is customary to bring a flower symbolizing devotion, and if financially able, a monetary offering as a gesture of loyalty and gratitude to Babaji.

ॐ

Self-Realization Fellowship World Convocation 2022

SRF President Brother Chidananda conducts a Convocation opening ceremony

The annual Self-Realization Fellowship 'family reunion' - SRF's World Convocation - will take place August 14 through 20, with events held live in Los Angeles as well as streamed worldwide. Participation is on a donation basis, and registration is now open through the SRF website.

Whether attending Convocation in person or joining virtually, all devotees can benefit spiritually during this special week by linking inwardly with the thousands of souls worldwide who will be united in meditation, receiving the blessings of the SRF Gurus.

Janmashtami: Honoring Bhagavan Krishna

The birth of Lord Krishna will be observed on Thursday, August 18 this year. Since this date falls during the week of the SRF Convocation, Portland Center will not have an in-person commemorative. Local devotees are encouraged to participate in the special service that will be livestreamed by SRF from the Bonaventure Hotel.

“Remember: Seeking God is far easier when one’s efforts are consciously linked with the spiritually elevating powers of true masters….”

Paramahansa Yogananda

ॐ

Book Room Reopens!

Portland Center is happy to announce that our Book Room is again open from noon to 12:15 p.m., following each Sunday Inspirational Service. Available for sale are SRF books, audio/video products, past issues of Self-Realization magazine, incense and other devotional items. By purchasing directly from our Book Room, you support the activities of Portland Center and also eliminate the cost of shipping. Plan to stop by!

Landscaping Project Underway

Members of Portland Center unanimously approved moving forward with the back yard makeover design proposed by our Landscape Committee, who have been researching and planning for many months. The first phase involves the installation of gravel paths, which will be followed by future plantings of climate appropriate ornamentals. 

A fundraising drive is underway, as we hope to gather sufficient funds to manifest the vision approved by the membership. 

We invite you to take a look at the informative display available in our Center's Information Room, where you will also find a special box to receive donations made with cash or check. Contributions may also be sent through Zelle. To use Zelle: Log in to your bank's website and check for the Zelle icon. After setting up an account, you will then need to add the recipient (Portland Center of SRF) as a contact, using our special email address: 

portlandcenterdonations@gmail.com 

Thank you for your prayers, enthusiasm, and monetary support of this project!

Day of Service

A heartfelt thank-you to all who participated in our April Day of Service! Below are photos of some of the participants who enjoyed spiritual fellowship while serving Master and beautifying our Center. 

In Memoriam: Brenda Nelson

We are sad to bid farewell to longtime member of the Portland Center, Brenda Nelson, who passed away on Saturday May 21, yet we are also happy that she is free from the bodily cage.

Brenda is remembered for her gentle and calm demeanor. One member expressed that “Brenda was a strong person underneath her quiet gentle way.” Another said “How could you forget her luminous eyes?” Brenda and her husband Bruce were cornerstones in their service and commitment to the Portland Center. Brenda served in many, many roles including service reader and teen group teacher. She and Bruce have been residing in Texas for the past few years to be near family.

She is survived by Bruce, her two daughters, two stepsons and many grandchildren. It is with love and gratitude that we send our prayers of peace and love to the family and for Brenda’s soul as it continues the journey to oneness in God. 

ॐ

News from our Managing Council

As we head into Summer, we feel the blessing of being part of Paramahansa Yogananda's spiritual family. We are grateful to our members, and especially to our Service Readers, for their flexibility as we continue to adjust parts of our services based on the latest Covid developments. 

It is inspiring to remember that more than eighty Oregon/SW Washington based devotees joined the virtual Satsanga with Brother Devananda in early May. This powerful, online connection generated many positive responses from participants and will soon be an ‘in-person’ opportunity:

For the first time in several years, SRF monastics Brother Devananda and Brahmachari Daniel will be visiting Portland Center to lead and inspire us, September 22-27. While there remains a small possibility that Covid could potentially be a disruptor again, we are expecting to finalize details over the next several weeks. 

One activity we look forward to is the monastics’ blessing of the Portland Center’s new backyard landscaping project, the first three phases of which have recently been approved by our members and Mother Center. A special thanks to the Landscaping Committee for their hard work, vision, and persistence in spearheading this project. 

The backyard transformation welcomes energy and ideas from all who are interested. This project is a continuous work in progress, which means that new features will be added and fundraising will also be ongoing. We have already raised more than $10,000 of the $17,500 needed for the first three phases. The goal for the project is for the Portland Center landscape to reflect the beauty of Self-Realization Fellowship gardens, and to serve Master's work.  

Many good things are happening for us through the blessings of our Guru and the Great Ones of Self-Realization Fellowship!

In divine friendship, 

Kripa Raguram, Mike O'Brien, Paulette Fritsch,

Rebecca Field and Shikha Misra

Portland Center Managing Council 

How to Make a Financial Contribution



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

For those who would like to donate 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!

ॐ

Looking for SRF groups in the Pacific NW or throughout the world?

Click below:

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@srfportlandcenter.org to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox!