Warm Greetings to all Members and Friends of Portland Center!

“Just beneath the shadows of this life is God’s wondrous Light. The universe is a vast temple of His presence. When you meditate, you will find doors opening to Him everywhere. When you have communion with Him, not all the ravages of the world can take away that Joy and Peace.”  Paramahansa Yogananda

We are happy to be in touch with you through this summer edition of our e-newsletter, and are especially glad to announce an upcoming survey to explore the possibility of resuming in-person services at the Portland Center. Please see the news from our Managing Council below for more details. Also to note are several important commemorative observances coming up this summer:

Guru Purnima: Saturday July 24

Guru Purnima is observed in much of India as a day set aside for honoring one's guru, expressing devotion and gratitude for the guru and his teachings. It is also felt to be a favorable opportunity for deep meditation and receiving the guru's blessings. Let us attune ourselves with the strong vibrations in the ether on July 24, meditating with other devotees in our worldwide SRF/YSS spiritual family as we inwardly bow before our blessed Gurudeva, Paramahansa Yogananda. 

This an exceptional year, in that Guru Purnima is directly followed by Mahavatar Babaji Commemoration Day! One month later, devotees worldwide will honor Bhagavan Krishna on the occasion of his birthday observance. Although we may not be able to observe these sacred occasions together in person, we can join with each other in spirit as we venerate these great avatars. Mahavatar Babaji Commemoration Day Sunday July 25 Janmashtami: Bhagavan Krishna's birthday Monday August 30 Please note that our website will post announcements if circumstances change and allow us to conduct in-person commemorative services at the Center.

Summer in the Garden at Portland Center

Our Landscape Committee has been very active in recent months, caring for existing flowers and shrubs as well as envisioning future design enhancements for the Center grounds.

Thank you to the team of volunteers who regularly contribute their time and skills to keep our Center grounds clean and beautiful!

Ways to Stay Connected with our Worldwide Spiritual Family

Subscribe to SRF's monthly newsletter, where you will receive important announcements from Mother Center as well as links to weekly online inspirational services conducted by SRF/YSS monastics. Participate in the SRF Online Meditation Center, offering guided meditations in various languages, study groups, and periodic retreats. Volunteer with YSO, the Yogananda Seva Organization, whose mission is "to create a global network of lay disciples who can offer their unique skills and experiences to support our Guru’s work of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India." Learn more through their website: https://yoganandaseva.org/

Greetings and best wishes from the Managing Council! After 15 months of virtual Zoom services there is promising news on the COVID front, bringing the prospect of resuming services at the Portland Center while continuing to follow guidelines from the State of Oregon and Multnomah County health officials. The State of Oregon has announced that Oregon will "fully reopen" when 70% of the state is vaccinated against COVID-19. At the current vaccination rate, that is expected to happen sometime between June 21-30. Center Reopening Survey Coming Soon: To help inform the decision about reopening, the Managing Council wants your feedback on how you feel about returning to services after the State and County reopen.  We understand that COVID can be an emotional and polarizing topic, and are asking you to participate in a short, anonymous survey. A link for the survey will soon be sent to all newsletter subscribers. (You may want to keep an eye on your Promo or Spam folders in case the survey message lands there in error.) Along with understanding your thoughts about participating in face-to-face services at the Portland Center, it is important to learn who is available to volunteer. You will see that question on the survey. If you would like to become a volunteer, please go to https://www.portlandcentersrf.org/volunteering after you complete the survey. Current volunteers are encouraged to contact their committee chairs to confirm their availability. The Managing Council shares the feeling of many that it is time to move as quickly as possible toward reopening, while also proceeding as safely as possible. After reviewing the survey results, we will communicate a reopening timeline and next steps.  Thank you for your prompt participation. In a separate piece of news, the annual Fall Retreat at the Alton Collins Retreat Center has again been cancelled for this year, due to the ongoing unpredictability related to the pandemic. But mark your calendars for October 21-23 2022 when we plan to again offer this popular event. Together we can support each other in following Paramahansa Yogananda's guidance:  "God wants to get us back to His home of wisdom and bliss. By following the Self-Realization way, you will get to Him more quickly."   In divine friendship, Kripa Raguram, Mike O'Brien, Paulette Fritsch, Rebecca Field, Shikha Misra

Spring Daffodils at Portland Center

How to Make a Financial Contribution  Throughout these months of public closure, Portland Center of SRF has been supported solely by financial contributions from members and friends and by volunteers who donate their time. We deeply appreciate your ongoing donations to help us meet recurring expenses to sustain our Center until we can resume in-person services. If you write a check to the Center, please know that checks payable to "Portland Center" will be deposited locally and used to support our Center's activities, pay utility bills, etc. Checks payable to "Self-Realization Fellowship" are sent to SRF headquarters in Los Angeles, to support SRF's worldwide activities. Checks may be mailed to 356 NE 80th Avenue, Portland 97213.   Some members choose to make regular donations to our Center through setting up an automatic 'bill pay' arrangement with their bank. In whatever way you choose to support our Center, it is deeply appreciated!

"Awake! And in the cave of deep meditation, find Eternal Happiness within the immortal Self."  Paramahansa Yogananda

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