Greetings!
It has been a pleasure to see how our Center has been growing this year in size and spiritual character. To see the volunteers and teams working together, sometimes to solve difficult issues is uplifting and rewarding. We all come together for a common purpose and Master expresses it well in this quote "If you know divine love, you will never part with it, for there is nothing like it in the whole universe...Love God, not for His gifts, but because He is your own, and because He made you in His image; and you will find Him. If you meditate deeply, a love will come over you such as no human tongue can describe; you will know His divine love, and you will be able to give that pure love to others."
Paramahansa Yogananda
In Master's service, Wayne T. Lavallee, Coordinator |
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Paramahansa Yogananda Commemorative Service honoring his birth, Thursday, January 5
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We will hold a special service commemorating our Guru's birth on Thursday, January 5th, starting at 7:30 pm. The service is open to all who can attend with reverence and devotion and understand the Guru-disciple relationship. Please bring a flower and a donation in an envelope as symbols of your loyalty and devotion. Extra flowers and envelopes are available on a donation basis. Please be aware that this service will replace our regularly scheduled Inspirational service. |
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Paramahansa Yogananda Special Meditation, Saturday, January 7
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We will hold a special 6-hour Meditation in honor of our Guru's birthday on Saturday, January 7th. Please bring a fruit offering and a donation if you plan to attend. The meditation will begin at 10:00 am followed with a brief intermission around 1 pm and ending around 4 pm. If you are unable to attend the whole 6 hours, you are welcome to come either in the morning or afternoon. All are welcome. |
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Paramahansa Yogananda' Special Birthday Luncheon and Social, Sunday, January 8
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 We will honor our beloved Guru with a special Birthday Luncheon Social on Sunday, January 8th after services. This year, several devotees have lovingly volunteered to cook an Indian Food Buffet and birthday cake for our Guru and his guests! There will also be a beautiful inspirational video of Guruji's life. All are welcome to share the delicious and lovingly prepared food and in singing happy birthday to our Beloved Guruji!!! |
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Bni Angelina leading our services January 22
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Bni Angelina, Photo courtesy
S Roslund
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We are very blessed that Bni. Angelina from the SRF Greenfield Retreat will be leading our services on Sunday, January 22, 2012. We will also hold a potluck social in our upstairs room after services. Bni Angelina is also available for counseling sessions for women only. If you would like to have a counseling session, please sign the sheet on the credenza in the foyer.
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Long Meditations this month
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Besides the 6-hour Meditation in honor of Guruji, we will hold a 4-hour meditation on Saturday, January 28th from 10- 2pm. Our 3-Hour Meditations will take place every Sunday, except New Year's day, January 1st. All are welcome.
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Christmas Holiday Social Highlights
| We had a wonderful and beautiful christmas social. Amazing talent in our Center! From the 3 Kings Skit, to all the children's signing and adults performing, we had first class entertainment! And to top things off, Santa made a special appearance! Thanks to all the volunteers who worked very hard. Enjoy all the photos!
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The Guru,
Messenger of Truth
By
Sri Mrinalini Mata
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It takes many, many incarnations to reach the point where one is drawn to the feet of a true Guru...
But after countless incarnations, we have been drawn to Paramahansa Yogananda;
Master gave this definition:
"The Guru is the awakened God, awakening the sleeping God in the disciple...and by a gentle touch of love,
he instantaneously arouses the almost fully awakened God in the advanced seeker. The Guru is among all men, the best of givers. Like the Lord Himself, his generosity knows no boundaries"
Gurudeva could well have been describing himself.
We saw in Him that universal love, in his actions and his words, that "speaking voice of silent God"
Does any of us realize how blessed we are as followers, as chelas of Paramahansa Yogananda?
There are so few words from Christ, comparatively few even from Krishna...
But how much Gurudeva has given through the spoken word! His was a message for the total of our lives.
There is not one need he has not shown us how to fulfill.
Such is the Guru,
that the scriptures of India say:
"Even a particle of dust from his feet is strong enough to be a bridge to carry you over the ocean of maya".
The Guru is Omnipresent.
The Guru's blessing and spiritual pledge to the disciple is:
"From this moment forward I take spiritual responsibility for your life and I will ever
watch over you"
This is the true Guru.
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excerpts from a talk given in 1975 Convocation.
Taken from Self Realization Magazine.
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