The Mother Center for this stellar tradition . . .

. . . is in Los Angeles. However, this lineage of stainless gurus arose from ancient Hindu cultures of India. And like the core essence of all great religions, the Self-Realization Fellowship is non-sectarian.

The SRF lineage began in 1861 in the Himalayas when Mahavatar Babaji initiated his beloved disciple, Lahiri Mahasaya, in the long-lost art of Kriya Yoga. Lahiri Mahasaya’s disciple Sri Yukteswar in turn trained Paramahansa Yogananda, and commissioned him to take these great spiritual fruits to the West.

In our time . . .

. . . there seems to be great potential for a synthesis of Eastern and Western wisdom. Several incomparable Eastern lineages bring their teachings to the North American continent, and this is one of them.

In fact, to show the basic unity of all religion is part of the mission of this line. That is, outer forms adapt to changing cultures and times. But the ancient soul journey, while unique for each person, still and yet is paradoxically always the same.

So Paramahansa Yogananda, the last of the four gurus of this line . . .

. . . and founder of the Self-Realization Fellowship, read Omar Khayyam, the Eleventh Century Sufi mystic. And he recognized the Rubaiyat as a sacred text. His commentary, published as WINE OF THE MYSTIC, unfolds for our time the shining heart of the much-misunderstood Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

By January of 2005, more than fifty years after the mahasamadhi of their deathless teacher, the Self-Realization Fellowship had made ready Sri Yogananda’s inspired commentaries on the inner meanings in the New Testament under the title THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. (Mahasamadhi: a great yogi’s final, conscious exit from his or her body.)

Paramahansa Yogananda’s flagship publication, AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI, debuted its 60th anniversary edition in 2006; still an incomparable treasure to seekers of all traditions. All these are available in theosophical and other bookstores. Or, one can contact the Self-Realization Fellowship directly by telephone at

(323)225-2471, or online at www.yogananda-srf.org.

With appreciation to Paul Heussenstamm for his painting of Paramahansa Yogananda;

www.mandalas.com.

Sixth: CHRISTIANITY

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