Self Realization Meditation Healing Centre Awareness

We have been notified that the following letter has been sent to former members after they had already written to the centres notifying that they no longer wanted to be a part of the centres and that they no longer recognised Mata Yogananda as their guru. This letter has been sent out to people as part of the 'Centre' damage control 'system'. It is short on unconditional love and full of fear tactics. Please note this letter is an exact copy from Mata Yogananda and the spelling and grammatical errors are her own.

Please read this message of Divine Wisdom carefully.
If you do not heed these words there is no more that I can do for you.

Anyone who stirs up strife by fostering falsehoods and gossip. Anyone who does such things to any other person causing a disturbance in that persons soul, body and minds becomes themselves a desecrator of God's temple of peace and harmony.

The ego and pride, undisciplined as it is, can make a person mean-spirited towards those whom are spiritually or morally differrent from themselves. Thus the critical mind will try to find a reason to malign others.

Such people can reap 'untold karma' so beware it is not coming from you.

A mind that inflicts with criticism and judgement upon others will receive in kind with disharmony to the spirit and disease to the body.

Also it is known and said in the scriptures, that God's blessings will descend upon all souls who endure the tortures of unjust criticisms, gossip and slander from their so-called friends and enemies.

Those who stand strong, cheerfully and loving always. They and only they are fit for the ever unending true bliss of God.

Deo Gratis,

Mata Yogananda Mahasaya Dharma

The following is a letter to the editor of Shambhala Sun Magazine November 2004 issue. It is a very clear and concise description of healthy spiritual practice and it was very helpful to me, so I would like to share it. Please note that the author of the letter has no connection with the SRMHC.

A Glimpse is not Transformation:

Reading your last issue on the body-mind connection (September 2004), I was struck by the recurring theme of equating certain states of mind, such as "flow" or "oneness," with spiritual practice. People can experience runner's high or get in the "zone," but that doesn't mean that they're practicing. Nor does it mean that they're awake.

Granted, it can be informative and even delightful to experience tastes of reality, but we have to remember that these glimpses don't necessarily lead to real transformation. Besides, spiritual practice is not about feeling a particular way. Even losing one's sense of self, so often romanticized in spiritual writing, does not, in itself, mean that we're on the spiritual path. You can lose yourself in a movie, but is this anything other than sleep? You can lose yourself playing sports, but why confuse a nice blast of endorphins with waking up?

You can even lose yourself meditating, but this may be little more than the result of a very focused concentration. There is nothing wrong with concentration, except when it's mistaken for something it's not. Spiritual practice is not about being concentrated, or about being high; it's about becoming awake to who we really are, to our own true nature. Equally, it's about living awake, which doesn't come from temporary states of mind.

Put another way, it's about living from a life centered view instead of a self-centered view. Spiritual practice is not about being a person in the zone or being one with our golf club. It's about a growing ability to live from love, which is the essential nature of our being.

Ezra Bayda
Zen Center of San Diego
San Diego CA

This is an interesting article from the book God Talks With Arjuna "The Bhagavad Gita" translation by Paramahansa Yogananda, Page 991

Quote:
"On several occasions Paramahansa Yogananda told his disciples:
"after my passing, many "mediums" will say they are in touch with me and are receiving my "messages" for the world. All such statements will be false.
My message for the world has already been expounded in my speeches, classes, and writings. Do not be misled by persons who, after my physical departure from the earth, will assert that they are receiving new teachings from me. To sincere seekers who in prayer request my help, I will always give it gladly and silently."

"As Paramahansa Yogananda predicted, since 1952 a number of misguided mediums have been publicly claiming that they are receiving messages from the great Guru (and from the Self-Realization Fellowship Paramgurus, as well). By borrowing the name of an illustrious teacher, such individuals attract the attention of unsuspecting people who do not understand that the practice of putting the mind in a passive trance state is directly contradictory to the teachings of all true masters. The latter emphasize that concentration, will power, and mastery of one's own consciousness are fundamental necessities for spiritual progress. The claims of some highly publicized mediums notwithstanding, no great teacher would accept the "invitation" of a passive mind in the trace state. To do so would encourage a practice that is dangerous - psychologically as well as spiritually." (Publisher's Note)

I found these two quotes from the book 'Only Love is Real' by Dr Brian Weiss (p.66) spoke to me on my journey forward since leaving the centre.

"Therapy can be done to the self. Understanding is therapy. Love is the ultimate therapy. Therapists, teachers and gurus can help, but only for a limited time. The direction is inward, and sooner or later the inward path must be trod alone. Although in reality you are never alone."