“Self-realization is the knowing — in body, mind, and soul — that we are one with the omnipresence of God....”
Paramahansa Yogananda
Mission
Self-Realization Fellowship is…
… an invitation to the spiritual seeker to journey together on a life-transforming discovery of the soul. This journey embraces the “how-to-live” teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, which embody the highest techniques for realizing who we truly are and show how to bring lasting peace, joy, and love into our lives and into the world.
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Teachings
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Paramahansa Yogananda founded Self-Realization Fellowship in 1920 to make available the universal teachings of Kriya Yoga, a sacred spiritual science originating millenniums ago in India. These nonsectarian teachings embody a complete philosophy and way of life for achieving all-round success and well-being, as well as methods of meditation for achieving life’s ultimate goal — union of the soul with Spirit (God).
The teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda are made available, today as during his lifetime, through the printed Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons. This comprehensive home-study series — studied by many thousands of people all over the world — gives instruction in all the meditation techniques of the Kriya Yoga science, as well as in the many other aspects of balanced spiritual living taught by Yogananda.
Membership
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Today, Self-Realization Fellowship has grown to include more than 600 temples and centers around the world and has members in over 175 countries. In India and surrounding countries, Paramahansa Yogananda’s work is known as Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS), which has more than 200 centers, retreats, and ashrams.
Monastic Order and Leadership
In accord with its founder’s wishes, the work of Self-Realization Fellowship is guided by the monastic order that Paramahansa Yogananda established along the lines of the ancient swami tradition of India. The monks and nuns of SRF take formal vows of renunciation; and are responsible for serving the spiritual needs of Self-Realization Fellowship members and friends around the world.
