
Yogananda Seva Celebrates One Year - Thanks to You!
We are excited to share with you an overview of all the wonderful activities and growth Yogananda Seva has experienced during this first year of its service to Self-Realization Fellowship – thanks to the dedication, effort, and support of SRF/YSS devotees like you!

Do you remember when SRF/YSS President Brother Chidananda made the announcement at the 2019 SRF Convocation about the exciting new Online Meditation Center? Well, that was the first project we took on for SRF, and wow – we had no idea at the time how many of you would be inspired to help this endeavor, nor how important that first project would be!
It is through the love, dedication, and joyous service of many SRF/YSS volunteers throughout the world that has made the historic launch of this lay-disciple virtual community possible.
About the SRF Online Meditation Center in Its First Year
About You! Yogananda Seva Volunteers and Supporters in Our First Year
A First Time for Everything
Yogananda Seva has been able to help SRF/YSS achieve a number of “firsts” for our Guru’s worldwide spiritual family in the last year.
-Paramahansa Yogananda

The first time a lay disciple nonprofit like this one has been formed to support SRF
At the request of the SRF President and the SRF Board of Directors.

The first time SRF has offered regularly scheduled online group meditations
Serving devotees in over 80 countries and staffed by you! A worldwide team of dedicated SRF and YSS volunteers.

The first time SRF and YSS devotees have joined together in online Lessons study groups
And scriptural study groups, too! Studying Paramahansa Yogananda's commentary on the Gospels and the Bhagavad Gita.

The first time SRF and YSS monastics have led weekly group meditations online
In 6 different languages!

The first time volunteers have supported SRF by offering organized tech support
For SRF applications, such as the SRF/YSS Lessons app and Member Portal, in various international languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and German.

The first time the YSO young adult sangha joined together in an online event
With over 200 young adult devotees from over 60 countries!

The first time SRF and YSS monastics have offered a one-day online retreat
Attended by over 20,000 devotees worldwide and facilitated by over 40 volunteers serving from their homes around the globe.

The first time SRF and YSS monastics have conducted a continuous 24-hour meditation online
With an inaugural hour of meditation led by Brother Chidananda, and subsequent periods of meditation led by monastics joining from Paramahansa Yogananda's ashrams around the world.
Our First Year of Service Together
“Nothing could be created or accomplished by anybody unless it was first born in the mind of God. ”
-Paramahansa Yogananda
Brother Chidananda asks lay disciples to brainstorm how to mobilize devotees to support Master's work
In July 2018, Brother Chidananda reached out to several long-time SRF lay disciples and asked them to brainstorm how to mobilize Master’s vast pool of lay members so that devotees around the world could take a greater role in serving the Self-Realization Fellowship work and extending Master’s message.
Lay disciple work group submits a proposal at Brother Chidananda's request
Brother Chidananda asks a small group of devotees to form a work group and create a proposal on how to move forward with implementing and structuring the ideas that were presented. A proposal was submitted that same month.
The approved proposal is presented to the SRF Board of Directors
The group presented the refined proposal to the SRF Board of Directors at Brother Chidananda’s request. One of the lay disciples in the group reported: “We presented to 25 monastics in the library at Mother Center. They applauded when we finished. We were concerned because we thought we had proposed too much, but Brother Chidananda said it was going to be more far-reaching than we had envisioned.”
"All doors are open!" Approval is given to form a nonprofit and launch initial programs
In May 2019, Brother Chidananda gave the group the approval to launch a few initial programs and found a nonprofit to support those programs.
An additional group of lay disciple volunteers are brought onboard to develop the beginnings of the SRF Online Meditation Center. Read more on the blog!
Yogananda Seva is incorporated as a religious nonprofit in the state of California
Yogananda Seva’s Articles of Incorporation were filed with the state of California on July 8, 2019.
SRF Online Meditation Center announced at 2019 SRF World Convocation
At the 2019 SRF World Convocation, Brother Chidananda announced the formation of this new lay disciple endeavor and the creation of the SRF Online Meditation Center with the promise that the OMC would launch its first public online meditation soon.
Brother Chidananda conducts inaugural launch of the SRF Online Meditation Center
The first SRF online meditation was inaugurated by SRF/YSS President Brother Chidananda on Sunday, October 6, 2019. Watch the inaugural meditation here.
Yogananda Seva is given tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) religious nonprofit
Yogananda Seva was officially determined as tax-exempt as a 501(c)(3) religious nonprofit by the United States federal government on November 1, 2019.
SRF Monastics begin leading services at the SRF Online Meditation Center
January 2020 marks the beginning of monastic-led meditations and 3-hour long Saturday meditations at the SRF Online Meditation Center.
The Yogananda Seva Coordinating Council meets with Brother Chidananda at SRF Mother Center
The YSO Coordinating Council members met with Brother Chidananda at the SRF Mother Center to formalize the functions of this governing body.
Online meditation attendance balloons to over 19,000 attendees per week in wake of global health crisis
Due to the COVID-19 global health crisis and the temporary closure of SRF and YSS locations around the world, the SRF Online Meditation Center saw an attendance increase from about 4,000 attendees per week to over 19,000 per week.
New Yogananda Seva project teams form with the approval of Brother Chidananda
Brother Chidananda gave YSO approval to move forward with forming project teams for a Vanaprastha (Elder) forum, an Online Harmonium and Kirtan training program, a Lay Disciple Intentional Community Support forum, and a Lay Led Retreat program.
YSO Volunteer Portal Development Complete
After months of development, facilitated by a volunteer YSO tech team and a paid development company, the YSO Volunteer Portal launched into a beta test for YSO volunteers.
YSO Young Adult Sangha holds first online gathering
The YSO Young Adult Sangha’s inaugural global event took place on May 24 using Zoom videoconferencing, with approximately 250 participants from 29 different countries coming together in fellowship for a group meditation and a spiritual discussion.
SRF Online Meditation Center hosts first one-day online retreat led by Monastics
Thousands of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India devotees joined together May 30 for a historic online daylong retreat filled with meditation, study, prayers, video and audio presentations all focused on the noble truth “The Kingdom of God is Within You.”
SRF holds historic 24-hour meditation led by SRF and YSS Monastics
This continuous 24-hour meditation was a historic event led by SRF and YSS Monastics and facilitated by Yogananda Seva volunteers around the world. The remarkable online 24-hour meditation service united SRF and YSS as never before.
YSO celebrates its one-year anniversary
The growth YSO experienced in this first year can only have manifested through the blessings and grace of our Guru, Paramahansa Yogananda, and through the enthusiasm, support, and guidance of Brother Chidananda and the SRF and YSS monastics, and through the loving service and dedicated spirit of all of you – our YSO family of volunteers, supporters and friends around the world.
How Can I Help?

Make a Gift
Join us in supporting these inspiring programs. We invite you to become one of our monthly sustainers or give a one-time gift of your choice.
Volunteer with Us
You can offer your expertise and time to YSO project initiatives and build the future of this global lay community with us.
The Joy of Giving
I am thrilled to be able to donate to such a beautiful and helpful cause. I love you all!

Thank you all for connecting us through your selfless service to Gurus & God & each other. This is the answer to my prayers & what I wished for, to be able to serve devotees and people in many areas of our lives.
In Your Words: Guruji's Sevaks







Yogananda Seva Guiding Principles


All We Have Accomplished Together in this First Year!
Here is a selection of some of the programs we’ve launched together, through the dedicated service of YSO volunteers and the generous support of SRF/YSS members around the world.
To see a complete list of programs and service opportunities, register for and explore the Yogananda Seva Volunteer Portal.

SRF Online Meditation Center

Online Harmonium and Kirtan Training Program

Young Adult Sangha

Volunteer Portal

SRF Monastic Classes Subtitling

Lay Led Retreat Program

Lay Disciple Intentional Community Support Forum

Vanaprastha (Elder) Forum

Translations

International Help Desk
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