“ … you realize that all along there was something tremendous and you did not know it … “
Paramahansa Yogananda
Self Realization Fellowship
In the summer of 2006 I met a Swiss woman and she handed a copy of the 'Autobiography of a Yogi' to me and as I hold it in my hands I went into a deep trancedental state of light and silence and I knew and felt deeply inside: I had found my home.
I subscribed at the SRF, Self Realization Fellowship, of Paramahansa Yogananda in Los Angeles (Yogoda Satsanga India - Ranchi) and absorbed his teachings and lessons during the next years. Every week another lesson. Sometimes I needed more time for a lesson to understand, and I took the time and felt blessed with every peaceful information, new poems, stories and yoga instructions. Yogananda shared his wisdom in every lesson. The lessons helped me to form the foundation for a new structure in my life, to live my life as a yogi, and to learn to grow and spiritually develop deeper into the high realms of divinity.
It was a confusing period when I began the SRF lessons, I had just then received the initiation from the Tibetan nun who had called me to Kathmandu. Although this initiation transformed my life into a light and warm inner knowing of the goodness of love and light, I received visions, blessings and cosmic information, but I could not yet put the experiences into words, it took time for the deeper level of spirituality to physically incarnate more deeply and transform into earthly forms. I meditated daily for many hours and was often in nature, in addition I gave as much time and space as possible to my children in their process of growing up and the time left for those who wanted to grow spiritually and visited my practice and Tai chi classes. I withdrew from social contacts for a period of time, becoming somewhat apart from the cultural norms of normal life. My body often trembled and I sometimes felt overwhelmed by my feelings. But with the practical exercises of Yogananda's teachings I deepened the level of inner stillness and in a short time I regained most of my strength and normal life structures with my family and work. I learned to turn deeper inward.
With the guidance op Yogananda's teachings I learned the energetic excercises which greatly helped me and I started to meditate for long periods of time and on a regular basis at least every morning when standing up and before going into my bed for sleep. I 'd rather some less sleep than missing my meditation time.
After a short while, summer 2007, when I was used to the lessons and programs of SRF, I was initiated in the Kriya Yoga as a Kriyaban in Los Angeles by Swamy Chidananda (he is now the 'head' of SRF worldwide). This was a very special event in my life and I still practice Kriya Yoga as devotedly as I did on the first day.
I visited Paramahansa Yogananda's Mother Center in Los Angeles on Mount Washington, which was a rare experience. It felt inside that I was meeting Paramahansa Yogananda himself. As if I could feel and see him in every step on his ground. I was pulled into the garden like a magnet and went into a deep and peaceful meditation, saw his room and received a beautiful blessing in a vision from Sri Yukteswar. When I could not stay there any longer I went into a deep meditation in the garden under a big tree where I received the wonderful energy and experiences of Yogananda. The bus had left by now, but I felt peaceful and calm and was inwardly pointed to where I could wait and there I was blessed by someone who offered me a ride, back to my hotel.
Lake Shrine was perhaps an even deeper experience of connection and bliss. The energy was different, but the beauty of the garden for meditation was immense and it was a delightful experience of light, harmony and peace. To see the turtles and fish in the lake, the flowers blooming all around. I felt so loved and for a long time was not even able to speak about the experience of feeling His presence on the property.
I still practice his taught yoga exercises daily, his instructions for meditation are clear, uncluttered and profound. I feel grateful.
Continued Kriya Yoga Development
Once when I could ask Mother Amma a question and asked her how she saw my continued yogic development, she answered me, “stay on the path of Yogananda's Kriya Yoga for the long term, only if you continue to follow that in surrender will you be able to achieve your ultimate goal in this life.”
And In early 2006, when I was wondering if I could adopt the teachings of Prema Baba Swamiji alongside my path in Kriya Yoga, Paramahansa Yogananda appeared to me in a vision in a meditation and spoke of the importance of Prema Baba Swamiji's personal guidance in my life. He told me of the special deepening connection that Prema Baba has with Babaji like no other on this earth, and that as a soul I had to wait many lifetimes for the opportunity to receive these special sacred energy transmissions. Thus, I also accepted the teachings and energy transfers from Baba and honor him in my life as my personal Guru and teacher. Paramahansa Yogananda is also the Guru of Prema Baba Swamiji, who absorbed the teachings of the SRF and Kriya yoga techniques at an early age. Inwardly, he was guided by Paramahansa Yogananda, and both his father and stepmother were SRF Kriya Yogis.
Movie about Paramahansa Yogananda
Paramahansa Yogananda was a great master and example. He led many to the light and helped many to step into meditation and deepen their meditations. In this film you can see the wonderful developments he went through and what he created on earth.
Gratitude in the love and light of Krishna to the SRF guru lineage of Masters of light: Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaya, Sri Yukteswar, Jezus Christ and Paramahansa Yogananda.