News and Coming Events
New Meditation Circle
A few of our SRF members living in the Blue Mountains have started a Meditation Circle so that they can share in the joys of long group meditations close to home. Ten devotees attended the inaugural meditation on January 28.
They meet every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, 2 – 4 pm, in Woodford in a comfortable building nestled in the trees. Everyone is welcome to join them for meditation.
For further information please email us.
SRF Sydney Centre Stall at the Ganesh Visarjan Festival – Sunday 4th September, 2011.
Several thousand people attended this day, described by Hindus as ‘the most popular, colourful and divine event of the year’. Held by the Sri Venkateswara Temple at Helensburgh near Wollongong, the festival was celebrated with poojas, stalls, cultural programs, food, and children’s activities, culminating with a drumming and singing procession to Stanwell Park Beach, where the final immersion of Ganesha’s image in the sea took place at 3 pm.
Six members of Sydney Centre ran a stall at the festival with a great display of SRF books, CDs and DVDs, and information on SRF and our Centre. Here is a report by Satya....
“The day went off very well and we had quite a few inquiries beside the actual book sales. We were quite surprised at the number of people who already had read Autobiography of a Yogi. Many said that they already owned a copy. One gentleman showed us some chapters on his iPhone. We also met a couple of disciples who were YSS (the Indian branch of SRF) members in India.”
Brahmachari David now Brother Jitananda
Brahmachari David who grew up in South Australia is the first Australian born SRF monastic to take sannyas vows. Brahmachari David will now be known as Brother Jitananda.
Many will remember Brahmachari David from the monastic visit in April 2009. At that time he related to us a very interesting story of how he had first read "Autobiography of a Yogi"; how he went to India to become a monastic of Yogoda Satsanga Society (the Indian branch of SRF); and how he had to leave India due to visa requirements; he then received a timely chance to go to Mother Center in Mount Washington, LA to continue his monastic training under SRF.
Congratulations Brother Jitananda. Our love and prayers are with you.
SRF Silent Meditation Retreat at Hartzer Park, Bowral, NSW
— April 2010
An account by a retreatant, April 2010
RETREATS 2009 Photos
A selection of photos from our 2 Silent Retreats held in 2009 at Hartzer Park, Burradoo, a most scenic and peaceful setting, very conducive to spiritual nourishment. We have a theme for each retreat, the last one being "Surrender" -- we have included some of the quotes from that weekend. Retreat 2009 Gallery
CHRISTMAS 2009 Photos
Some happy pics from our Christmas Social which began with a meditation, followed by fun in the water and a delicious potluck vegetarian feast. Santa dropped in with a few wise words and lots of presents. We then had a lot of fun posing for Daya Mata's birthday card, and a wonderful day of fun and fellowship was rounded off with devotional music kindly provided by George on an unusual Indian instrument that he bought in America! Christmas 2009 Gallery
Interview with Brother Satyananda
Brother Satyananda, SRF International Headquarters, was interviewed by Rachel Kohn when he visited Australia in April 09. The interview was broadcast on ABC Radio National's "The Spirit of Things" program on 8 November 2009. The interview featured Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn for the first 29 minutes; Brother Satyananda's portion of the program begins approximately 29 minutes from the beginning of the recording. You can listen to the interview at the ABC website (link).
On November 8, SRF minister Brother Satyananda was heard throughout Australia in a nationwide radio broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, speaking in an interview on "The Spirit of Things," one of Australia's most respected radio programs focusing on spirituality and religion.
The interview was conducted by radio host Dr. Rachael Kohn during the six-day International Ayurveda and Yoga Conference in Sydney earlier this year. In this episode of the show, entitled "Meditation: Falling Awake," Brother Satyananda explains how the science of yoga brings about the experience of true happiness, or God. He also gives a practical method by which anyone can increase their life energy (prana) when experiencing fatigue, speaks of the metaphysical basis of healing prayer, and discusses many other spiritual topics.
SRF Website and Newsletter Signup Link
New Self-Realization Fellowship Website
“We all come from God. Once we were strangers, but when we love God we become brothers and sisters. That divine relationship is the strongest of bonds; it holds now and in the hereafter.” |
Brief History of Sydney Centre