Yogoda survey
Yogoda Satsanga Society
Table of contents |
Founder
Paramahamsa Yogananda is the founder of Yogada Satsang Society. Abroad, it is known as Self Realisation Fellowship.
Year & place of founding
1917, Dakshineshwar, Kolkota, India
Aims & ideals
- To disseminate among the nations a knowledge of definite scientific techniques for attaining direct personal experience of God.
- To teach that the purpose of life is the evolution, through self-effort of man's limited mortal consciousness into God Consciousness; and to this end to establish Self-Realization Fellowship temples for God-communion throughout the world, and to encourage the establishment of individual temples of God in the homes and in the hearts of men.
- To reveal the complete harmony and basic oneness of original Christianity as taught by Jesus Christ and original Yoga as taught by Bhagavan Krishna; and to show that these principles of truth are the common scientific foundation of all true religions.
- To point out the one divine highway to which all paths of true religious beliefs eventually lead: the highway of daily, scientific, devotional meditation on God.
- To liberate man from his threefold suffering: physical disease, mental inharmonies, and spiritual ignorance.
- To encourage "plain living and high thinking"; and to spread a spirit of brotherhood among all peoples by teaching the eternal basis of their unity: kinship with God.
- To demonstrate the superiority of mind over body, of soul over mind.
- To overcome evil by good, sorrow by joy, cruelty by kindness, ignorance by wisdom.
- To unite science and religion through realization of the unity of their underlying principles.
- To advocate cultural and spiritual understanding between East and West, and the exchange of their finest distinctive features.
- To serve mankind as one's larger Self.
Monastic / Non-monastic
Monastic(includes Monks and Nuns) and house-holders
General philosophical outlook
Spiritual disciplines generally advocated
Kriya Yoga : a from of pranayama breathing and meditation technique
Administrative set-up
- Indian headquarters at Dakshnieshwar
- International headquarters is in Los Angeles, USA
Provision for joining
House-holder followers who practice Kriya Yoga. For becoming monastic member one should be single, in sound physical and mental health, free of family and other obligations, have studied the Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons for at least one year, and between the ages of 18 and 35.
Present chief of the movement
Sri Daya Mata
Activities
Religion & spirituality
Society has around 500 meditation centres in 54 countries
Social field
- 21 educational institutions in India
Cultural field
Relief activities
Province of its influence
India and abroad
Major publications
- Autobiography of a Yogi : Paramahamsa Yogananda
- Man’s Eternal Quest – Paramahamsa Yogananda
- The Divine Romance – Paramahamsa Yogananda
Related Links
- Self-Realisation Fellowship Homepage
- Yogoda Satsanga Society, Ranchi
- On Yogada Satsanga Society of India
See also Survey of Hindu organisations