|
Welcome to the December edition of the Self-Realization Fellowship eNewsletter. This month we share inspiring thoughts from Paramahansa Yogananda on the true spirit of Christmas, an uplifting message from Sri Daya Mata, and a beautiful Christmas meditation to help you attune your consciousness to the blessings of this holy season.
|
|
|
Message from Sri Daya Mata
|
|
In thought and in loving meditative communion, receive the true riches of this season, the Christ-joy and peace awakening within your soul. That is an inner wealth we can abundantly share with all...
Read the Christmas Message from Sri Daya Mata
|
| Christmas Meditation |
|
All-Day Christmas Meditation at SRF Locations Worldwide
To observe the birthday of Jesus with gifts and festivities shows some respect and attention to the ideals of his life. But to meditate and prepare your mind for the holy occasion of Christmas, that you may experience within yourself the birth of a new consciousness of universal brotherhood and love for all living creatures, is to really celebrate Christmas. Drive away from your mind all pride and prejudices, that you may fittingly hold the omnipresent Christ Consciousness in your love-expanded bosom.
− Paramahansa Yogananda
A spiritual highlight of the year for members and friends of Self-Realization Fellowship is the tradition of devoting a whole day to meditation and communion with Christ during the Christmas season. This practice was started by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1931 and continues to this day in SRF temples and centers worldwide. Paramahansaji often predicted this practice would spread throughout the world as more and more people come to realize the true meaning of the celebration of the birth of Christ.
 A Meditation on Christ-Loveby Paramahansa Yogananda
Close your eyes, put your attention on the heart, and feel the greatest love that you ever felt for another person. Let that love saturate every cell of your body. Now expand the feeling of love, like an encircling sphere embracing your family, friends, all your loved ones. Feel your love ever increasing; include in that sphere all the people in your city, then all of your country. Now everything in the world is bathed in that love. The whole earth, the solar system, the far-flung galaxies and island universes−everything is floating in this vast sphere of love. Feel, meditate on, merge yourself in that love which permeates and upholds the infinitudes of manifestation−a demonstrable presence of God's heartbeat of bliss, setting the pace of cosmic harmony and unity, and known to the devotee as the All-in-all fulfillment...
|
| Open House at the Mother Center (Slide Show) |
|
As shared in this special slide show, December traditionally starts at the Mother Center with the Christmas Open House weekend, attended by hundreds of SRF members with their families and friends.
Participants enjoy the unique Christmas decorations, and caroling that is provided by singers from the local temples; and monks and nuns from all SRF ashram centers host our visitors at the Mother Center during these three days of joyous Christmas fellowship.
View the Slide Show
|
SRF Holiday Outreach
|
|
 This Christmas, Self-Realization Fellowship temples, centers, and meditation groups around the world are practicing Christ's spiritual ideals of compassion and goodwill toward all through charitable service in their communities. We would like to share a sampling (with photos from recent years) of the many heartwarming and creative ways Paramahansa Yogananda's world family is reaching out to others in need this holiday season.
Read about this season's outreach activities
|
In closing, we would like to wish you and your loved ones a most blessed holiday season filled with Christ-love and joy.
In divine friendship,
Self-Realization Fellowship
Copyright © 2009 Self-Realization Fellowship. All rights reserved. | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
"May you have a very merry Christmas, and may you receive the greatest gift that anyone can wish for you − the perception of the Christ spirit in your own heart...Open your hearts to receive the wonderful gift of Light. Meditate. Meditate until you get results. The answer is sure if you persist."
|
Voluntary League Appeal
|
 |
Learn about recent SRF projects and initiatives in the Fall 2009 Voluntary League Newsletter. We deeply appreciate your ongoing support which allows us to complete vital projects.
|
Self-Realization
Magazine
|
 |
|
| |
|
