About our Services and Activities

Meditations

Meditation services consist of periods of chanting and meditation. Meditation periods last from twenty to forty minutes and are separated by periods of devotional chanting. It is best to arrive at the start of the service if possible.  Paramahansa Yogananda asked that those entering or leaving during a meditation service do so when there is chanting, as this preserves the silence in the room during the meditation periods.  

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Regularly scheduled meditation services, lasting two or more hours, are preceded by the Energization Exercises.  If you arrive a little late, monastics suggest that you do the first exercise, Double Breathing with Tension, and then join in with everybody else on whatever exercise the group is on.  For more information about meditation services, click here.

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Inspirational Service from the Teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda

This service consists of readings from the lectures and writings of Paramahansa Yogananda combined with brief periods of chanting and meditation. We recommend the Inspirational Service from the Teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda as an excellent introduction to Self-Realization Fellowship and its teachings.

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SRF Teachings

If you are interested in learning the techniques of meditation which were taught by Paramahansa Yogananda, including Kriya Yoga, these are available in the Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons,a series of home-study lessons.  The Energization Exercises, mentioned above, are described in detail to students of the Lessons.  A brief, general reference to them can be found in Paramahansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi , Chapter 27.

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Worldwide Prayer Circle

Services conclude with the Self-Realization Fellowship World Wide Prayer Circle, an offering of prayer for those in need and for world peace. For additional information on prayer services, please see this page.

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