LOS ANGELES: Yogis from all over the world came to Los Angeles last week in search of spiritual guidance for dealing with life’s daily challenges and demands.
For many, living a balanced life means including a yoga meditation practice to help feel more centered connected, and ready for the unexpected occurrences that life throws our way. It is this spiritual motivation that drew nearly 4,000 people to the annual Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) World Convocation; held August 3-9 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel.
Attendees traveled from 46 countries and all 50 states of the US to immerse themselves in the yoga meditation teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, SRF founder and author of the celebrated spiritual classic Autobiography of A Yogi.
During the week, SRF monks and nuns led satsangas (informal talks), group meditations, kirtans (devotional chanting), Kriya Yoga ceremonies, and classes on the meditation techniques of Paramahansa Yogananda and his “How-to-Live” teachings.
Brother Jayananda, who conducted the opening evening’s talk on Sunday, August 3, spoke of the importance of developing spiritual practice amidst all of the distractions and hectic pace of daily life. He reminded Convocation attendees that the challenges of life point one to look inward for guidance, that cultivating a spiritual life helps one handle the pressures of the outside world.
During a class entitled “Sustaining a Joyful Heart in Times of Adversity,” Brother Sevananda reminded the attendees that meditation helps the mind to become calm, enabling one to feel more peace, love and joy so he or she can face the difficult challenges that seem frightening or overwhelming. He emphasized that with interior strength, one should face challenges with the attitude of a child of God
In Wednesday’s talk honoring the legacy of Sri Daya Mata, President of Self-Realization Fellowship for many years before her passing in 2010, Sister Preeti shared some of Sri Daya Mata’s words of wisdom: “Love is what everyone wants…In the ultimate sense, only love can change others.” Sister Preeti reminded the audience that they too can transform themselves through giving and receiving love.
Brother Ritananda led a satsanga on Thursday, focusing on the tools which help one work through pain and suffering, bringing deeper spiritual awareness.
Bro. Satyananda’s talk on Friday night entitled “Eliminating Insecurity and Indecision Through Positive Thinking and Enthusiasm” focused on the ways in which a person’s spiritual journey provides challenges, and what one can do to bring more focus, peace and joy into one’s search. He reminded the Convocation participants that life is impermanent, but God’s love is consistent.
During the week, SRF Convocation participants joined pilgrimages to spiritual sanctuaries established by Sri Yogananda in Southern California, including the Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades; the international headquarters of Self-Realization Fellowship on Mt. Washington near downtown Los Angeles; the SRF Hollywood Temple; Sri Yogananda’s crypt at Forest Lawn in Glendale; and the SRF Retreat and Hermitage in Encinitas, where Sri Yogananda wrote most of his inspiring life story, Autobiography of A Yogi.
In 1920, Paramahansa Yogananda founded Self-Realization Fellowship to disseminate his teachings. Headquartered in Los Angeles since 1925, SRF also publishes the complete works of Sri Yogananda and his monastic disciples.
Today, SRF and its affiliate organization in India, Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, has more than 600 temples, retreats, and meditation centers in over 60 countries around the world.
India Post News Service
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