Thousands Recharged by Self-Realization Fellowship 2011 Convocation
 A week of spiritual fellowship, meditation, kirtan, and the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, the father of Yoga in the West.
Hailing from all over the U.S. and 47 other countries ranging from Australia to Zambia, more than 4,000 meditators and spiritual seekers gathered for a powerful week of spiritual renewal and rejuvenation at Self-Realization Fellowship’s 2011 World Convocation.
Held August 7—13 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, the weeklong event featured the teachings of renowned spiritual figure Paramahansa Yogananda.
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 The Convocation was opened by Brother Achalananda (right), vice president of Self-Realization Fellowship. Events through the week were conducted by SRF monks and nuns, including classes, satsangas (informal talks), group meditations, kirtans (devotional chanting), programs for teens and young adults, and Kriya Yoga initiations. Special video presentations, with subjects including Paramahansa Yogananda’s return visit to India (1935–1936) and his historic 1950 dedication of the SRF Lake Shrine and Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial were also shown.
 One of the week’s highlights was an address by SRF President and Sanghamata, Sri Mrinalini Mata (left), who spoke to the entire assembly during the event’s final evening. This was the first time Mrinalini Mata had spoken at a World Convocation of SRF/YSS members since becoming president earlier this year. A condensation of her talk will appear in the Fall 2011 issue of Self-Realization magazine, to be published in early October. The entire talk will be available on DVD later this fall.
Other sessions focused on in-depth instruction in the yoga techniques taught by Paramahansa Yogananda for recharging the body with life force, harnessing the power of the mind through concentration, and contact of God through meditation.
The event’s many “How-to-Live” classes imparted practical ways to apply spiritual principles in daily life, including:
- “Forging Divine Consciousness in the Fires of Daily Existence”
- “Yama and Niyama: Skills for Inner Strength & Freedom”
- “Spiritualizing Marriage and Relationships”
- “Living Fearlessly”
- “Placing Our Lives in the Guru’s Loving Care”
- “Igniting Spiritual Enthusiasm”
 Throughout this year’s Convocation, special attention was given to the spiritually liberating technique of Kriya Yoga, as 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of Kriya Yoga in the modern world. During the week, many embarked on guided pilgrimages to the spiritual sanctuaries established by Paramahansa Yogananda in southern California, including:
- Headquarters of Self-Realization Fellowship, on Mt. Washington near downtown Los Angeles
- SRF Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades
- SRF Hollywood Temple and Ashram Center
- SRF Hermitage and Retreat in Encinitas, where Sri Yogananda wrote most of his inspiring life story, Autobiography of a Yogi
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