April 9, 2025

The wheel of guruseva (service to the guru) continues to turn at Greenfield, generating more and more Light. For more than four decades now, SRF devotee-volunteers have devoted their love and labor to Greenfield, in effect building a foundation for what’s happening now.

Let’s take a look at just some of the scenes from the Women’s Work Party and Retreat held just this past weekend (April 4-5):

• In the barn several women are busy sanding and painting porch furniture that will soon be needed for the new Greenfield Chapel.
• A solitary woman walks along the many garden paths, bucket and clippers in hand, giving careful attention to the literally hundreds of daffodils currently in bloom. She’s “dead-heading,” that is, snipping off wilted blossoms so the fresh blooms can shine in their full glory.
• Elsewhere, a group of women are taking down deer fencing that was installed last fall to protect decorative shrubs. Others are pulling weeds, hauling loads of mulch, and preparing garden beds.
• A car backs up to the barn delivering three garden benches destined for the new meditation garden centered around the recently-installed, life-size bronze statue of Lord Jesus. The benches feature white mosaics of roses, lotuses, and lilies. The SRF devotee who created the benches taught herself the art of mosaics with the help of YouTube and, clearly, a great deal of talent.
• In the barn a team of women is hard at work refurbishing a big pile of garden tools, scraping off hardened clay and applying oil to protect metal and wood.

Volunteering at Greenfield

You get the picture. During the work retreat, there was a whole lot of cleaning and clipping and pruning and hauling  going on. Not to mention preparing and serving tasty meals for all those attending the work party.

We also did energization exercises and meditated together. We did our best to practice the Presence while enjoying our various labors AND the company of other members of Master’s spiritual family.

All of this is not to discount men’s work. This one weekend work party was for women only. But on any given day at Greenfield, you’ll find both men and women doing a wide variety of tasks that come with keeping an SRF retreat center up and running.

With the new Greenfield Chapel under construction still on schedule for completion this fall, and with SRF membership steadily growing, the need for volunteers happy to participate in guruseva is ongoing.  See our Volunteering webpage for more information.

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March 20, 2025

Spring is here! Crocuses and daffodils slowly emerge, reaching for the light. And our new Greenfield Chapel also emerges, promising much Light to come.

The chapel actually looks much the same as it did last week—new green aluminum roof; green sides waiting patiently for new white siding; goopy, sticky mud around the exterior; a make-shift ramp serving as a temporary entrance way; work crews coming and going.

Construction Moves Forward

While the chapel may look the same from the outside, don’t be fooled. Workers continue their focus on completing systems that will soon be hidden behind the walls—HVAC, electrical wiring, and plumbing. All that needs finishing before they move on to putting up dry wall.

If you step inside the building now, you’re looking at the chapel’s skeleton—air ducts and wiring and pipes; wooden beams outlining the main chapel, lobby, and side rooms that do not yet have walls.  A platform with as-yet-uncarpeted stairs hints at where altar will eventually be placed.

Blessed, Already-Sacred Space

Curiously, however, the chapel space is already filled with Light. We haven’t even conducted a single service there, and it already feels like sacred space.

It’s worth remembering that just last fall our revered President Brother Chidanandaji presided over a ground-breaking ceremony that blessed the space where the chapel now stands. And decades of visioning, planning, prayers, and dedicated service (guruseva) from dozens of devotees have already gone into building this chapel. That’s a whole lot of Light.

If you are able and would like to contribute to the ongoing construction of our beautiful new Greenfield Chapel please consider donating to the Greenfield’s Building Fund. And please do keep holding this sacred project in your prayers.

Although there is no new video this week, here is a playlist of all construction videos so far

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March 6, 2025

Good news: Greenfield Chapel Is still on schedule to be completed this fall. (“God willing and the creek don’t rise,” as they so wisely say in this part of the country.)

So far, despite a relatively rough winter, including severe winds, construction has moved forward on schedule. And now, we’ve been watching a durable metal roof take shape.

Metal Shaping

Installing a large aluminum roof is a process to behold. The metal arrives in rolls—much like aluminum foil, but a whole lot bigger. Then  sections are cut and folded into appropriate shapes while still on the ground, kind of like creating the pieces of a gigantic jig saw puzzle.

Finally, the sections are hoisted up and secured in place. While aluminum roofing is more expensive than shingles, it’s way more durable, making it a good investment.

Roof work is scheduled for completion within the next week.

Meanwhile, inside the building HVAC ductwork is mostly done and HVAC equipment should arrive soon, if it’s not already here. And land grading around the outside of the chapel is just getting started.

What’s Next?

Looks like we’re still on track for interior drywall to start going up sometime in April. And work on the exterior grounds around the building will simply be a part of the scene at Greenfield until that blessed day when the Greenfield Chapel opens for meditation.

We can expect work crews, trucks, and assorted pieces of equipment coming and going for months to come. And we are so very grateful for all this amazing buzz of activity.

A big thank you for all your prayers, patience, and ongoing support!

To see a video of the latest construction progress, click here

And here is a playlist of all construction videos

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February 20, 2025

Recent interruptions due to weather may have slowed things down a bit, but construction progress on our beautiful new Greenfield Chapel IS happening.

While current progress may not be all that obvious on the exterior, newly installed windows make for dry conditions inside the building. So interior work on plumbing and electrical systems has begun in earnest. (And at least some of the work crew is now shielded from snow and wind.)

Long-awaited HVAC Upgrade

With all eyes mainly on construction of the new chapel building, other important projects have also been moving forward at Greenfield. In early December the aging heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system was totally replaced in a major upgrade.

While the older system did get the job done, it was both inefficient and expensive to run, not to mention noisy.

Big Job, Done Well

Replacing the old HVAC system was a big project that could have meant major disruptions. However, it went well and lasted only three days.

It took six workers to remove the very heavy boiler from the basement and also to pump out and remove two 250-gallon fuel oil tanks.

One of the new HVAC units needed to be installed in the attic. That came in through the second floor skylight.

Of course, all kinds of pipes and wiring needed to be removed and new hook-ups created. No need to go into all the details here. Suffice it to say that it was a major project that went off smoothly.

Sweet, Sweet Pay-offs

One major advantage is that the two outside heat pump units are extremely quiet. You have to be within 10 feet of them to determine if they are even running. This is a big improvement over the old AC units, which were so loud that even with noise barriers installed they were still loud enough to be heard in the chapel with the windows closed.

Another advantage is that with the removal of the boiler and fuel tanks from the basement, an appreciable amount of much-needed floor space is freed up.

The nuns are now experiencing warm and efficient heat, and can look forward to efficient cooling in the summer time. And all this with decreased energy bills!

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February 5, 2025

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While most definitely a thing of beauty to local devotees who’ve waited for years to see it manifest, our new Greenfield Chapel has not yet revealed its true form.

Really, at present we are only looking at its bare bones. What now looks like a roof, for example, is sheathing; the actual roof has not yet been installed. And the current dark green walls will eventually disappear under attractive white siding.

What Comes Next?

Chapel framing is now substantially complete. At this point, scheduled roof and window installation is likely already underway. Once that is complete, the chapel will be pretty much watertight and interior work can begin in earnest.

Throughout the month of February, interior plumbing, electrical, and HVAC should get underway. Weather permitting, in March we should see siding go up on the exterior, and interior dry wall installed.

Take a moment and catch the vision: In the not-too-distant future, the chapel’s white colonial exterior will mirror the existing style of the main house and other buildings on the site. And the goopy mud currently surrounding the building will give way to flowers and greenery.

The good news—the really good news—is that, despite the snow and icy temperatures in January, Greenfield Chapel construction is still on schedule to be completed in the fall of 2025.

Please continue to pray for the safety and efficiency of the workers on the project. And, if you are able, consider making a donation to the Greenfield Building Fund to help support ongoing expenses of building this chapel.

To see a video of the latest construction progress, click here

And here is a playlist of all construction videos

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January 29, 2025

A lot happens at Greenfield Retreat Center. With the sacred silence often rent by the excitement and noise of ongoing chapel construction, it would be easy to overlook the many forms of service that lie at the heart of this sacred place.

In coming weeks, whenever construction slows due to weather, we’ll focus attention on some of the many other service projects and activities underway here. It’s a long list. Here’s one project that belongs near the top of that list: rose petals for devotees around the world.

Petals for Home Kriya Ceremony

If you’ve had the blessing of receiving SRF’s new Kriya Yoga Lessons, you’ve likely held in your hands a small plastic envelope containing a card and dried rose petals—special petals that were blessed and made sacred in Master’s shrine at Mother Center. (The use and import of the petals are explained in the accompanying Lesson.)

From Mother Center in Los Angeles, these dried petals are sent out to devotees in multiple countries throughout the world. Long before the rose petals make it to Mother Center, however, they’ve made a significant stopover at Greenfield.

The Greenfield Connection

At Greenfield, a team of local women devotees has the sacred privilege of carrying out the multi-step process that prepares the petals. Under monastic supervision, members of the team purchase red roses, press and dry the petals, and insert them by hand into small plastic envelopes. This meticulous process requires concentration and mindful, focused attention—kind of like meditation.

This past year the Greenfield Petal Seva team has sent literally thousands of petal packets to Mother Center to be blessed and forwarded to brand new kriyabans and also to long-time kriyabans who request the new Kriya Lessons. So far the team has prepared packets in English, Italian, and Portuguese, with Spanish language packets soon to come. (Packets for devotees in India and surrounding countries are prepared in India.)

What with the current explosive growth of Self-Realization Fellowship, and with the new Lessons being translated into many new languages, the Petal Seva team looks forward to working together, with love and harmony, at this sweet, humble task on into the future.

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January 16, 2025

With all the snow and ice and freezing temperatures over the several days, you might well think that all would be quiet at Greenfield. Not so!

Of course, it was quiet on the few days when Greenfield was officially closed and also on days when snow made it impossible to drive down our lane. But once a path was cleared, the usual bustle started up once again. And that includes all the blessedly noisy construction work on our new chapel, which is once again rapidly taking shape.

Onward and Upward

That’s right. Even on the coldest, windiest days over the past week, construction continued. Piles of lumber arrived to be stacked in the snow. Construction workers, bundled to the gills in their winter gear, scampered about out in the open, hammering and sawing and hoisting completed sections of the building into place.

The good news is that the roof trusses on building are going up. The final outline of the building is coming into view—a thing of beauty, exciting to behold.

Once the trusses are complete, completing work on roof comes next. Then the workers will be able to spend at least some of their time working inside, out of the cold, cold wind. (Sounds like motivation to get these next steps done quickly.)

Bottom line is that despite the harsh winter weather of recent days, construction is still on schedule.

Our deep appreciation goes to the workers out there every day on the job. Take a moment to ask Divine Mother to bless and protect the workers as they labor in the cold and wind to build our beautiful new Greenfield Chapel.

To see a video of last week’s progress, click here

And here is a playlist of all construction videos

 

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January 7, 2025

Watching progress on the new Greenfield Chapel last week was almost like watching a time lapse video. It’s happening so fast that it’s fun to watch.

Seems like workers are constantly scurrying about on the construction site. It’s a regular ant hill of constant activity.

Meanwhile, devotees and nuns serving at Greenfield go about our tasks, focusing on whatever form of service we happen to be working on at the time. Each of us tries to work and serve as our revered Guru Paramahansa Yoganandaji taught us—with full attention on the task at hand, while also doing our best to practice the presence.

Surprised by Progress

After working for a while at whatever service we’re at Greenfield to accomplish, we come up for air and look about…or we just happen to walk or drive by the construction site, and…WOW!!! Whoa! Is that a new wall? Already? When did that happen?”

Within a few short days this past week exterior walls have been framed from the lower-level (basement) all the way to the top of the main floor. And workers have also started framing the porch. If weather permits—and in January that’s a pretty big if—the chapel could well be completely framed by the end of January.

After walls and roof are complete, the crew can begin work on the interior. That means things like installing electrical and plumbing fixtures. Of course, that’s not as much fun to watch on time lapse video. It does mean that once workers begin on the interior that weather will not be as much of factor.

We’re still on schedule for the Greenfield Chapel to completed sometime in the fall this year. Keep those prayers coming!

To see a video of last week’s progress, click here

And here is a playlist of all construction videos

 

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December 23, 2024

Suddenly, we’re seeing major progress.  Our new Greenfield Chapel is starting to materialize before our very eyes.

Progress seems to come in spurts. We waited what seemed like a long time for inspections, paperwork, and county approval to happen, while the building site just sat quiet. Waiting.

Then, work crews showed up and the foundation happened, quickly it seemed. Then once again, while lots of workers came and went, scurrying around the building site, we couldn’t see any visible results. That’s simply because the crew was working on things like underground plumbing and waterproofing the foundation. These are, of course, necessary steps, but they don’t look like much to the outside viewer.

Watch This Space

Then, this past week we saw major progress: Work crews completed the concrete floor slab on the lower level. That done, they started framing. Suddenly, in a flurry of hoisting and hammering, the basic structure of the lower level started to take shape.

Over the next couple of months, we should begin to see the building take shape—lower level framing, followed by main level framing of floor and walls.

As of now, construction is still on schedule. Weather permitting, we could very well be enjoying the 2025 All-Day Christmas Meditation in our new chapel.

To enjoy a video of last week’s progress, click here

And here is a playlist of all construction videos

Help  Build Greenfield’s Chapel

This is a good place to acknowledge the loving support of the many devotees who have made building this chapel possible. Thank you for your years of prayers, volunteer work, and financial support.

It’s important to realize that every member of the work crew on this project receives wages. Every load of lumber, cinder blocks, or cement, comes with a cost.

If you are able, and would like to make a donation to Greenfield’s Building Fund, click here.

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December 19, 2024

We revere Lord Jesus. His image graces every SRF altar in temples, ashrams, and meditation centers all over the world. Our beloved Guru Paramahansa Yoganandaji’s 2-volume Second Coming of Christ devotes more than 1,000 pages to his life and teachings. Jesus’s picture also graces literally thousands upon thousands of devotees’ home altars.

And—this is really important—Jesus holds a special place in our hearts and minds. Every devotee knows that we strive to manifest the consciousness of Christ in our daily lives.

Christ, Sculpted in Bronze

With Christmas season upon us, it seems appropriate to give some attention to the other construction project currently underway at Greenfield—a sacred meditation garden that pays special homage to our beloved Jesus.

The focal point of this new garden is an original, bronze statue of Jesus Christ blessing a couple of children, also sculpted in bronze.

Created by nationally-renowned sculptor and stone carver Malcolm Harlow, this set of 3 statues was especially commissioned just for Greenfield. It’s one of a kind.

Harlow garnered national recognition as an artist in stone during his many years of work in the National Cathedral in Washington DC. You may well have seen another of his statues. He  sculpted the statue of a George Washington that stands in front of the George Washington Office Museum in Winchester, VA.

Heavy Statues, Heavy Lifting

It should come as no surprise that bronze statues weigh a LOT. Moving these three statues into place required heavy lifting, not to mention a good deal of preliminary work—picking just the right spot in the garden, constructing cement platforms that will permanently anchor the statues in their new home, and some seriously careful maneuvering of the forklift. Harlow was here at Greenfield for some of the action.

The work to create this new meditation garden is already well underway—designing, planning, seeking Master’s guidance in creating the beauty that is to come. So far, only spring bulbs have been planted.  But a good deal of work has already been done to facilitate access to the garden. If you stand behind the garage and look down the hill, you’ll see new gravel paths and a couple of beautiful new wooden bridges.

Feel free to walk down and take a look around.  Do realize, however, that the garden is still a work in progress.

Once benches, custom-tiled by one of our talented SRF members, are installed and plantings are in place and in bloom, this new garden promises to be a very special place for prayer and meditation under the open sky.

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