Self Realization Fellowship

Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) is a worldwide religious organization founded in 1920 by Paramahansa Yogananda, the Indian guru who authored ''Autobiography of a Yogi''. Before moving to the United States, Yogananda began his spiritual work in India in 1917 and named the organization Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS). He moved to the West in 1920 and in 1925 established SRF's headquarters at Mount Washington, Los Angeles, California. Before his return visit to India in 1935, he legally incorporated SRF in the United States, designating it as the only organization to carry on his work—to care for and disseminate his teachings.

Yogananda's teachings include meditation techniques intended to promote awareness of God and one's soul. SRF conveys these techniques through a home-study course, and they publish Yogananda's books and lectures. SRF also coordinates the Worldwide Prayer Circle, which prays for world peace and those in need.

Leadership

Paramahansa Yogananda founded SRF in 1920 and served as head until his death on 7 March 1952. In 1925, he established the international headquarters for SRF/YSS at Mount Washington in Los Angeles, California. The three-story building had originally been opened in 1909 as a hotel. SRF now calls it ''Mother Center''. After Yogananda's death, SRF preserved his bedroom in the building as a shrine.

The first president and head of SRF/YSS after Yogananda was Rajarsi Janakananda, who was president until his death on 20 February 1955.

Daya Mata was the next head and president of Self Realization Fellowship/YSS from 1955
until 30 November 2010, the end of her life. American yoga scholar Linda Johnsen wrote that Daya Mata was an example of a new wave of women who acquired leadership positions in Hindu spirituality.

In 2010, Mrinalini Mata became the next president of SRF/YSS, with the official announcement being on 9 January 2011. She held this position until her passing on 3 August 2017. She had been chosen by Yogananda to oversee his publications after his death, and she had held the position of SRF/YSS vice-president from 1966 until she became president in 2011.

On 30 August 2017, Brother Chidananda was elected as the next and current president with a unanimous vote of the SRF Board of Directors.

Monastic order

SRF is run by members of its monastic order, established by Yogananda in the early 1930s. SRF's monks and nuns coordinate the organization's retreats, youth programs, temple services, and publishing and translation efforts. They also coordinate the Worldwide Prayer Circle, a network of groups and individuals who pray for world peace and those in need.

According to SRF's website, the daily life of an SRF renunciant includes meditation, prayer, service, spiritual study, introspection, exercise, and recreation. There are four stages of life in the SRF monastic order that represent a deepening commitment to the renunciant life: postulancy, novitiate, brahmacharya, and sannyas. Monks and nuns of the SRF Order who take their final renunciant vows are members of the Swami Order, which traces its spiritual lineage back to Adi Shankara.

Teachings

Yogananda first introduced his teachings to the West during an international congress of religious leaders held in Boston, MA in 1920 while giving a talk called ''The Science of Religion''. Yogananda believed that his methods were testable. Yogananda's dissemination of his teachings continues through SRF, which he incorporated in 1935 as a nonprofit religious organization. According to author Lola Williamson in her book, ''Transcendent in America: Hindu-inspired Meditation Movements as New Religion'', "He (Yogananda) made it clear that his teachings were to be shared through Self-Realization Fellowship and not through rogue organizations that taught in his name."

Yogananda's autobiography contains a list of aims and ideals for SRF, and the first of these is to disseminate "scientific techniques for attaining direct personal experience of God". Another is "to advocate cultural and spiritual understanding between East and West". SRF teaches methods of concentration and meditation, including a technique called ''kriya yoga'', for the purpose of attaining what Yogananda called ''Self-realization''. Yogananda used this term to signify the realization of one's true Self or soul. SRF presents Eastern and Western religious teachings as essentially one and the same by including passages from both the Bhagavad Gita and the New Testament in their services. SRF also publishes Yogananda's works, which include his home-study lessons, autobiography, lectures, and recorded talks.

SRF funded the 2014 documentary '' Awake: The Life of Yogananda'', which was co-directed by Paola Di Florio and Lisa Leeman.

Kriya Yoga

SRF initiates prepared students in a technique called ''kriya yoga'' that they say hastens the process of spiritual awakening. Through deep and regular practice, the technique is supposed to withdraw one's energy and attention from distracting thoughts, emotions, and stimuli, so that one may experience peace and attunement with God in the resulting stillness. SRF requires aspiring disciples to first undertake a home-study course called the ''SRF Lessons'', compiled from Yogananda's teachings. In keeping with Upanishadic tradition, recipients of SRF's lessons pledge not to share the contents with others. In SRF, receiving the kriya yoga technique is seen as ''diksha'' (initiation) by the guru, Yogananda, and it involves an initiation rite conducted by an authorized representative. SRF sends disciples printed kriya yoga lessons even if they cannot attend the rite.

Temples, retreats, and other facilities

Self-Realization Fellowship has over 600 temples and meditation centers located in 62 countries. Of the temples, there are eight in the United States – seven in California and one in Arizona:

* Bay Area Temple, Walnut Creek
* Encinitas Temple
* Fullerton Temple
* Glendale Temple
* Hollywood Temple
* Lake Shrine Temple, Pacific Palisades
* San Diego Temple
* Phoenix Temple

SRF also runs retreat centers:

* Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades, CA
* Hidden Valley Ashram (for men) in Escondido, CA
* Greenfield Retreat (for women) in Front Royal, Virginia
* Bermersbach Retreat in Germany
* Armação Retreat in Santa Catarina, Brazil.

SRF has a sister organization in India called Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS), founded by Yogananda in 1917 and headquartered in Dakshineswar (near Calcutta). YSS oversees 200 ''kendras'', ''mandalis'', retreats, and ashrams throughout India and Nepal, along with more than 20 educational and medical facilities.

Encinitas Hermitage

After his return from India in 1936, Yogananda took up residence at the SRF hermitage in Encinitas, California, which was a surprise gift from his disciple Rajarsi Janakananda. It was while at this hermitage that Yogananda wrote ''Autobiography of a Yogi'' and other writings, creating a permanent foundation for the humanitarian and spiritual work of SRF/YSS. This property includes an ashram

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