Bay Area Temple Website URL
The URL for the temple website has been changed to https://bayareatemple-srf.org/
The former https://berkeleytemle.org will remain effective for the coming months.
A New Temple – A New Name!
Bay Area Temple of Self-Realization Fellowship
Brother Chidananda expressed the need for the name to be inclusive for members through-out the Bay Area and the location to be identifiable by those living elsewhere.
This marks another step forward in our eventual move to our long-awaited and long-sought-for permanent home.
Renovations have begun in certain areas within the temple grounds, but due to Covid 19 regulations, we are restricted from having large groups of volunteers/workers. Mother Center is overseeing the work timeline in accordance to the ever-changing precautions as the pandemic continues.
Article in the SRF Mother Center website: → Good News in Challenging Times
Donate to Bay Area Temple
All donations are needed and are very much appreciated! Thank You! We deeply appreciate and welcome your support of the Bay Area Temple.
Your gift enables us to fund the vital services and activities that we offer to our members and larger community, and to maintain our sacred facilities.
General Operating Fund
Your gift helps meet the day-to-day and highest priority general operating needs of the Bay Area Temple.
Your gift will help support the care of our Bay Area Temple property, including costs associated with acquiring and maintaining the facilities, grounds, equipment, furniture, and vehicles, and those associated with related capital campaigns.
Recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, Self-Realization Fellowship is a public charity under federal law and a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under the Revenue Taxation Code of the State of California. Accordingly, contributions to Self-Realization Fellowship are deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law for income tax purposes.
Donations can be made through outright gifts in the form of cash, check, credit card, appreciated securities, real or personal property, and other types of assets, and deferred gifts in the form of charitable trusts. Bequests eligible for a charitable estate tax deduction can be made by naming the organization as a beneficiary in, among other things, a will, a trust, an insurance policy, or retirement funds.
___________________ SRF / YSS NEWS ___________________
At this time all SRF Temple Meditations and Inspirational Services have been cancelled until further notice.
“Kriya Yoga: Universal Science of God-Realization” (audio)
Brother Anandamoy (1922 – 2016), direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and much-love SRF minister, gives an inspiring overview of the power of Kriya Yoga to uplift the consciousness of those who practice this sacred science deeply and regularly.
This talk was given at the SRF Pasadena Temple on January 4, 1998.
“Spiritual Light for These Challenging Times” Resources Page
As our world continues to go through difficult times, we would like to call your attention to a valuable resource for encouraging and practical guidance to help you gain perspective. There you will find counsel from Paramahansa Yogananda and the SRF presidents to give you a renewed faith in God’s protection — and your own ability to move forward with strength, understanding, and compassion for all.
Special Inspirational Services Honoring the Birth Anniversary of Paramahansa Yogananda
Self-Realization Fellowship is offering a number of special events and activities to celebrate the Christmas season and our Guru’s birthday. All events are led by SRF/YSS monastics and will be available on the SRF website or the SRF YouTube channel. The January 10 YSS commemoration meditation is available on the YSS website.
Live Inspirational Service With SRF/YSS President Brother Chidananda
Recorded January 5, 2021
New Online Programs for Youth First Offering:
A Virtual “Journey to Lake Shrine”
We are happy to present an online experience created especially for youth, “Journey to Lake Shrine.” This five-part series of virtual programs was created by SRF’s Youth Services Department in light of our usual youth programs being on hold due to the pandemic.
Part 1 of this virtual journey to the SRF Lake Shrine interweaves Paramahansaji’s how-to-live teaching principles, a short meditation, and affirmation practice with stories and a tour of the Lake Shrine’s special features.
Though created for youth, these videos will be enjoyed by all ages. Look for further installments in the coming weeks.
2020 SRF Online Convocation – Classes and Meditations
We are happy to let you know that the 2020 Convocation events will remain available on the SRF website.
Please continue to enjoy this weeklong online program of classes on Paramahansa Yogananda’s “how-to-live” teachings and meditation techniques, guided group meditations and kirtans (devotional chanting), virtual pilgrimage tours to the ashrams where the great Guru lived and communed with God, and more.
Joining Worldwide to Pray Throughout the Day
SRF has announced a new worldwide prayer initiative. In the Self-Realization Fellowship and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India ashrams of Paramahansa Yogananda, all the monastics will be praying for the world and all those in need at specific times of the day, and we invite those who wish to do so to join in this collective effort — at those times or any other time that fits into your daily routine.
Following are the times that the monks and nuns at the SRF International Headquarters and other locations in California will be offering these healing prayers: (All times in PDT)
7:50 – 8:00 am 12:50 – 1:00 pm 6:50 – 7:00 6 pm
To read the full article: → Read more
Resources:
To Help You Cope with the Current World Situation
From SRF Mother Center:
We in the ashrams of Paramahansa Yogananda are deeply concerned for the welfare of the SRF/YSS global spiritual family and for all humanity during the current difficult world situation. Above all, we want to encourage you to turn within to the unfailing Inner Source of protection and reassurance.
Here are some online resources to aid you in your efforts to do just that at this or any other time of need. We will be updating this list with more content in the weeks to come:
→ . . . Connecting With the Inner Source of Protection
__________________________________
SRF Online Meditation Center
Meditating together increases the degree of Self-realization of each member of the group by
the law of invisible vibratory exchange of group magnetism.”
– Paramahansa Yogananda
Yogananda Seva Sign-Up
To participate in the online group meditations, sign-up with the international community of SRF members, Yogananda Seva or on the SRF website.
Meditations and Study Groups | Monday – Saturday
Join devotees around the globe for daily online group Meditations and Scripture Studies via the newly established online SRF Meditation Center.
Daily group meditations, SRF Lessons and Scripture Study groups are now available for SRF members and friends around the world.
All sessions are scheduled in Pacific Time.
Check the Online Calendar for updates.
__________________________
Online Meditations
ONE-HOUR MEDITATIONS with ENERGIZATION EXERCISES
Monday – Friday: 5:00 am 9:00 am Noon 5:00 pm 9:00 pm
Tuesday – Saturday: 12:00 am
Wednesdays: 11:00 am – German | 1:00 pm – Italian | 4:00 pm – Spanish
* Monday & Thursday are YSS Sannyasi-led meditations with Energization Exercises at 4:40 am
THREE-HOUR MEDITATIONS with ENERGIZATION EXERCISES
Saturdays: 8:40 am – 12:00 pm – SRF lay-led
Saturdays: 5:40 pm – 9:00 pm – YSS Monastic led
TWO-HOUR MEDITATIONS with ENERGIZATION EXERCISES
Sundays: 4:40 – 7:00 pm
MONASTIC LED MEDITATIONS with ENERGIZATION EXERCISES
Please check the Online Calendar for dates and times
Online Study Groups
SRF LESSONS STUDY
Mondays:
5:00 – 7:00 pm | open to SRF Lesson Students
(1st hour – meditation; 2nd hour – Study )
SCRIPTURE STUDY GROUPS
| The Second Coming of Christ | The Bhagavad Gita |
| Wednesdays: 9:00 – 11:00 am / 5:00 – 7:00 pm |
Fridays: 9:00 – 11:00 am / 5:00 – 7:00 pm |
| (1st hour – meditation; 2nd hour – Study ) | (1st hour – meditation; 2nd hour – Study ) |
Prayer Requests
Monks and nuns of the Self-Realization Fellowship Prayer Council pray daily for all those who request prayers for physical, mental, and spiritual healing and for world peace.
They are joined by SRF members and friends around the globe who are part of our Worldwide Prayer Circle.
All prayer requests are confidential and will remain with our Prayer Council for a period of 3 months.
If you would like to look ahead to more temple events,
our Temple Calendar is available here.