(An interview with Swami Ramanandaji at Encinitas)
Tucked neatly off of Hwy. 101 somewhat hidden behind towering palm trees and eye catching domed spires lies a garden paradise clinging to the cliffs over Swamis Beach. The meditation garden is a place where anyone can retreat into nature and find peace. It is a part of the Self-Realization Fellowship Ashram Center in Encinitas, which was established by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1937. It is here that he wrote “The Autobiography of a Yogi,” his classic work that first brought the word “yoga” to the West and was selected one of the 100 Best Spiritual Books of the Century. The Self-Realization Fellowship temple is also on the grounds, where you can learn more about the spiritual organization.
The garden is generally open on Sundays, 2-5 p.m., except in inclement weather. The meditation gardens, which include a small waterfall and koi pond, are open to the public 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Sundays.
The Complete Works of Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda from Yogoda Satsanga Society of India is available in the newly launched online bookstore.
A century after the birth of Paramahansa Yogananda, he has come to be recognized as one of the preeminent spiritual figures of our time; and the influence of his life and work continues to grow.
Paramahansaji founded Yogoda Satsanga Society of India to disseminate his teachings and to preserve their purity and integrity for future generations.
The Yogoda Satsanga Society of India name and the YSS emblem (shown in the website) were originated by Paramahansaji to identify the organization he founded to carry on his worldwide spiritual and humanitarian work. These appear on all YSS publications, assuring the reader that the work originates with the organization founded by Paramahansa Yogananda and faithfully conveys his teachings as he himself intended they be given.
Janmashtami is the joyful celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth. Major celebrations of Krishna Janmashtami takes place at midnight as Krishna is said to have made his divine appearance in that hour. Fasting, bhajans, pujas and many other rituals mark Janmashtami celebrations in India.
SRI KRISHNA was raised in a pastoral setting Golkula and nearby Brindaban on the banks of Yamuna River, having been secretly carried there by his father Vasudeva immediately after his birth to Devaki in the prison in Mathura. (Miraculously, the locked doors had opened and the guards had fallen into a deep stupor, allowing the infant to be carried safely to his foster home.) His foster parents were a kindly cowherd Nanda and his loving wife Yasoda. As a child in Brindaban, Krishna amazed all with his precocious wisdom and display of incredible powers. His inner joy frequently erupted in prankish outburst ― to the amusement and delight, and sometimes consternation, of those at whom his fun was directed.
One such incident was cause of revealing to Yasoda the divine nature of the child she was mothering. The infant Krishna loved to snatch away and consume the cheese made by the milkmaids. Once he had so stuffed his cheeks that Yasoda feared he would choke, so she rushed to pry open his gorged mouth. But instead of cheese (popular accounts say it was mud he had eaten), she beheld in his open mouth the whole universe―the infinite body (vishvarupa) of the Creator―including her own image. Awestricken, she turned away from the cosmic vision, happy to see and clasp to her bosom once again her beloved little boy.
BHAGAVAN KRISHNA: THE CHRIST OF INDIA
Both were divinely conceived, and their births and God-ordained missions foretold. Jesus was born in a lowly manger; Krishna, in a prison (where his parents, Vasudeva and Devaki, were held captive by Devaki’s wicked brother Kansa, who had usurped the throne of his father). Both Jesus and Krishna were successfully spirited away to safety from a death decree to all male infants meant to seek out and destroy them at birth. Jesus was referred to as the good shepherd; Krishna in his early years was a cowherd. Jesus was tempted and threatened by Satan; the evil force pursued Krishna in demonic forms seeking unsuccessfully to slay him.
“Christ” and “Krishna” are titles having the same spiritual connotation: Jesus the Christ and Yadava the Krishna (Yadava, a family name for Krsihna, signifies his descent from Yadu, forerunner of the Vrishni dynasty). These titles identify the state of consciousness manifested by these two illumined beings, their incarnate oneness with the consciousness of God omnipresent in creation. The Universal Christ Consciousness or Kutastha Chaitanya, Universal Krishna Consciousness, is “the only begotten son” or sole undistorted reflection of God permeating every atom and point of space in the manifested cosmos. The full measure of God’s consciousness is manifested in those who have full realization of the Christ or Krishna Consciousness. As their consciousness is universal, their light is shed on all the world.
Excerpts from the book God Talks With Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita Published by Yogoda Satsanga Society of India
Please note that the correct timing for our Krishna Janmashtami program on 14th August (Friday) 2009, in Dakshineswar Ashram is from 5:30 pm (not 10:30 am as earlier mentioned in the bulletin).
Date: Friday, August 14, 2009
Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: Dakshineswar Math
City/Town: Kolkata, India
I was blessed to attend a retreat held at Igatpuri Sadhanalya Retreat from 12th June - 14th June 09.
The retreat started on Friday, 12th June 09, at 11 o’clock with few Cosmic Chants and hour of meditation. It was followed by lunch and evening session started at 5.30pm with Energization Exercises followed by meditation till 7.30pm. After Dinner video of Sri Sri Daya Mata was shown sharing her experiences with Guruji Paramahansa Yogananda which were highly motivating.
Second day morning the session started with Eenergization Exercises at 6.30 am followed by cosmic chants and meditation till 8.30am. After breakfast there was mid morning meditation and satsang from 11 am to 1pm. In this Satsang, the chapter - Acquiring Attunement With the Source of Success from Guruji’s book Journey to Self Relization was read. Hang-Sau and Aum Technique were reviewed. Evening Session started at 5.30pm with Energisation Exercises and long meditation till 8pm.
The last day started with Energisation Exercises at 6.30 am followed by cosmic chants and meditation till 8.30am. The last session ended with satsang and meditation from 10.30am to 12.30am.
Satsanga and meditation sessions were conducted by Ms. Geeta Pai. Her wonderful voice added to vibrations of Guruji’s chants multiplied our devotion.
Please see below some pictures of the scenic retreat. It was a wonderful first time retreat experience for us and we really felt Guruji’s vibrations and the motivation to meditate longer than usual time. We are looking forward for more such retreats…..
In divine friendship,
Suprita
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It is a unique feature of India to honor the highest of all relationship – ‘Guru Disciple relation’. No wonder that our Guru Sri Sri Paramhansa Yogananda could not have found any other way to begin the ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ than by expressing his obeisance to His Guru!
While the west celebrates Mother’s day, father’s day, Friendship day etc.as a mark of importance towards that particular relationship, in India Guru Purnima is celebrated to pay one’s highest tribute to the Guru.
This Guru Purnima brought special blessing by an incessant drizzle since early morning. Those of us who reached the Dakshnineswar Ashram by our cars were very sure of a thin turnout of devotees who were to brave their way through the weather not so friendly to the travelers by public transport. We usherers mused that we would be quite ‘jobless’ as there may not be much crowd to manage. But to our surprise, as the time for Satsanga approached near, a steady stream of devotees started to pour in! The seating areas were full to capacity!!
Swami Amaranandaji conducted the ceremony with chantings. His soul stirring talk and his melodious voice invoked deep reverence for the Guru. It was evedent from the spellbound attention of the devotees. The entire Ashram was enwraped in an aura of Gurudeva’s blessing laden presence !
Those working people, the housewives, the ones staying very far from the Ashram, the physically unwell devotees, through their silent presence spoke volumes about their devotion towards the Guru. Though their circumstances did not permit them to visit the Ashram regularly, the Guru held uppermost position in their hearts, in their lives!
Satsanga was followed by Prasad distribution to all present which was a sumptuous lunch thoroughly enjoyed by all devotees.
The love that radiated through all faces truly brought to pass our Gurudeva’s last message, ‘Only love can take my place!!’
This is the day when Babaji appeared before Paramahansa Yogananda at his Garpar Road home in Kolkata, responding to his prayer for blessing and assurance for his mission in the west.
Babaji told Yoganandaji:
“You are the one I have chosen to spread the message of Kriya Yoga in the West. Long ago I met your guru Yukteswar at a Kumbha Mela; I told him then I would send you to him for training.”
“Kriya Yoga, the scientific technique of God-realization,” he said with solemnity, “will ultimately spread in all lands, and aid in harmonizing the nations through man’s personal, transcendental perception of the Infinite Father.”
Mahavatar Babaji has promised to guard and guide all sincere Kriya Yogis in their path toward the Goal….”Whenever anyone utters with reverence the name of Babaji,” Lahiri Mahasaya said, “that devotee attracts an instant spiritual blessing.”
Jai Gurus