December 2023 Newsletter

Dear Friend,

At this time of year many people in different religions and cultures absorb themselves, with concentration and peace, in rituals and remembrances that emphasize the Divine Light that is an integral part of this world — and the power of that light to uplift and sustain us.

On this earth, that powerful presence is manifest more than in any other way in the incarnations of great souls, such as Christ and Krishna, who come to us as an embodiment of divine light and deepest inspiration — and have brought to us, in this age, methods of reaching the enlightenment they themselves attained.

After all, great ones come to remind us that we can and must become like them — for us to find the greatest happiness and for the world to spiritually evolve!

Sri Mrinalini Mata, fourth president of SRF/YSS, shared that Paramahansaji would say that as children of the Divine we, too, should endeavor to become “the messengers of light, spreading divine love and brotherhood around the world.” This, like all else, takes time and practice.

Among all of the various activities of the holiday season, we invite you to take a few moments to pause and reflect on what it means to truly connect with the divine light within and be one of the “messengers of light” the world needs.  

From the talks and writings of Paramahansa Yogananda:

As moving pictures are sustained by a beam of light coming from the projection booth of a movie house, so are all of us sustained by the Cosmic Beam, the Divine Light pouring from the projection booth of Eternity.

Darkness may reign in a cave for thousands of years, but bring in the light, and the darkness vanishes as though it had never been….You can drive it away by opening your spiritual eye in deep meditation, filling your consciousness with its all-revealing divine light.

Each year at Christmastime there are stronger than usual vibrations of Christ-love and joy that emanate to earth from the heavenly realms. The ether becomes filled with the Infinite Light that shone on earth when Jesus was born. Those persons who are in tune through devotion and deep meditation feel in a wondrously tangible way the transforming vibrations of the omnipresent consciousness that was in Christ Jesus.

Darkness is the absence of light. Delusion is darkness; Reality is light. Your eyes of wisdom are closed, so you see only the darkness; and you are suffering in that delusion. Change your consciousness; open your eyes and you will see in the stars the sparkle of that Divine Light. In every atom of space you will see the twinkle of God’s light of laughter. Behind every thought you shall feel the ocean of His wisdom.

[Affirm:] “I know I am one with the light of Thy goodness. May I be a lighthouse for those who are tossed on the sea of sorrow.”

The ethereal power of God flows through me: through my speech, my brain, my cells, every wisp of my consciousness — every thought is a channel through which His divine light is passing. Open your hearts and realize that the Divine Light is also passing through you. As I perceive, may you perceive; as I behold, may you behold.

Awake! Open your eyes and you shall behold the glory of God — the vast vista of God’s light spreading over all things. I am telling you to be divine realists, and you will find the answer to all questions in God. Meditation is the only way.

On the SRF website you can read a blog post with more wisdom from Paramahansa Yogananda on the deeper celebration of Christmas — attuning ourselves to the infinite light of God’s universal consciousness residing in every particle of creation and within each one of us.

A Christmas Message From Brother Chidananda

“Joyous Christmas greetings to you from the ashrams of Paramahansa Yogananda! As we enter this holy season of spiritual promise, a solacing heavenly peace emanates with increased strength from the infinite Christ Consciousness — God’s loving and omnipresent awareness in creation.

“If we make ourselves receptive, those elevating peaceful vibrations have the power to transform us profoundly by bestowing a tangible experience of our true soul nature. That awakening soul-understanding is the gift I pray you will receive at Christmastime — wrapped with eternal care by our Divine Beloved God, inscribed by Him with your name, and placed with His perfect tenderness in your hands.”

Connecting With the Divine Light of the Spiritual Eye

An integral part of the practice of meditation as taught by Paramahansa Yogananda and his line of gurus is to place the attention and gaze gently at the point between the eyebrows, known as the spiritual eye.

On the SRF blog you can read about the spiritual eye and practice a few ways of connecting with this elevating spiritual center — through chanting, visualization, and meditation — to bring more light into your life and consciousness, and thereby into the world.

Guided Meditation on God as Light 

We invite you to experience a guided meditation in the SRF Teachings Library. Whenever your schedule allows, you can take some time (approximately 15 minutes) to go within and use simple but powerful techniques and wisdom from Paramahansa Yogananda to help you experience the nature of the Divine, and your soul, as Light.

More Seasonal Inspiration for Expanding Your Consciousness

Would you like to absorb more wisdom from Paramahansa Yogananda on the spiritual opportunity that Christmastime provides for expanding our hearts and consciousness? Excerpts for the holiday season from his book The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You can be found on our website.

Special Online Holiday Events 

We hope that you will be able to join us for these special events, which will be streamed this December and into the new year: 

• December 9: Christmas Open House from the SRF International Headquarters
• December 16: All-Day Christmas Meditation
• December 31: New Year’s Eve Meditation
• January 5: Commemorative Meditation for Paramahansa Yogananda’s Birth Anniversary
• January 13: Six-Hour Meditation in Honor of Paramahansa Yogananda

On our website you can see the full schedule and learn how to participate in these events. Please note that there will be all-day Christmas meditations streamed in multiple languages.

Self-Realization Magazine — 2023 Annual Issue Now Available!

A Unique Presentation of Ancient Wisdom That Speaks to the Needs of Our Modern Times

Fall Monastic Tours — Updated Photo Essay

Enjoy the many new images added to our fall photo essay depicting visits by SRF monks and nuns to meet with members and friends worldwide.

The Winter 2023 Appeal and Special Report 

Opening Doors to the Divine Shelter of Paramahansa Yogananda’s Help and Teachings

As we enter the holiday season, we wish to express deep gratitude for the loving support of SRF’s members and friends over this past year.

We hope you enjoy this Winter Appeal and seeing how you are contributing to:

• Releasing the SRF Lessons and many ebooks in more and more languages;  
• Sharing Paramahansa Yogananda’s wisdom globally with children and teens;  
• Providing the unique SRF Convocation experience free of charge; and  
• Expanding SRF’s ability to bring solace to all through an array of digital tools. 

2024 Catalog Now Available

We invite you to view our 2024 eCatalog featuring books and recordings by Paramahansa Yogananda and his monastic disciples, and other inspirational materials from Self-Realization Fellowship. 

Worldwide Prayer Circle 

Praying for others in need is one of the most powerful ways to bring more divine love, light, and peace into the world — and into our own hearts and minds.  

Please consider participating in the SRF Worldwide Prayer Circle. 

Thank you for receiving the SRF Newsletter. May the holiday season for you be a time of true spiritual effulgence — as you perceive the Divine Light within and without.

In divine friendship,

Self-Realization Fellowship

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