November 18, 2024

No movement at all for months, followed by rapid dramatic progress for several weeks… That’s an apt description of how our Greenfield Chapel construction project got underway.

Now what?

Construction is ongoing, dampened somewhat by a couple of soggy, rainy days. The foundation walls and the steel beams that support the main floor are now complete and in place.

Back to the Earth

A  few things need to take place before the concrete floor slab gets poured:

Plumbing. Pipes to drain away all the waste water from the building’s sinks and toilets will be installed next. That means that workers will be back—you guessed it—digging in the ground directly under the spot where the new chapel is already starting to take shape.

Inspection. Once the underground preparations are completed, these need to be inspected. Construction plans call for that to take just one day.

Tending to the Sacred. This, from Sister Brahmani: “Mother Center has given us some soil from sacred places – Babaji’s cave, Mother Center, Encinitas, Lake Shrine, and Hollywood Temple. We will sprinkle this into the foundation area before the slab is poured.”

After the slab is poured and inspected, all the action will again move above ground where we can more easily watch the progress as it unfolds.

With Thanksgiving holidays ahead of us, construction will slow somewhat. Please do remember that we have a LOT be thankful for as we sit down to our celebratory meals. After years of planning and eager anticipation, construction on our new Greenfield Chapel is well underway and still on target, if winter weather cooperates, to reach completion sometime in the Fall of 2025.

Here is the latest construction video.

And here is a playlist of all construction videos.

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November 8, 2024

Foundation Nearing Completion

Suddenly, it’s there: Progress! After weeks of looking at earth being moved and holes being dug and cement being poured into holes, we’re now watching an actual building starting to take shape.

Over the past several days, work crews have laid the foundation walls--cinder blocks soon to be filled with cement and reinforced with rebar.

If you want to feel good about what’s going on at Greenfield, give thanks and take a moment to enjoy the latest construction video.

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October 29, 2024

Really Digging It

They’re at it again. Once again—after a pause that lasted almost three weeks—construction workers returned to Greenfield. Again, the air was rent with the sounds of heavy machinery leveling the ground, digging holes for the new chapel’s footings and foundation.

And (finally!) the actual substance of our new Greenfield Chapel was quite literally poured into all those carefully prepared holes. Click on this link to a time lapse video of all the action last week on the building site.

Why the pause? On October 4, the first day of actual construction, builders discovered a problem involving the alignment of drainage pipes and the chapel’s foundation. Adjusting the depth of the foundation required an engineer’s input and paperwork that needed Greenfield’s attention.

That’s all been taken care of. Let’s face it, if you’re going to find a problem, it’s a good thing to have it happen on day one and not further along in the construction process. (Fortunately, the required changes were not of the kind requiring county approval.)

 

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October 9, 2024

Together We Advance!

It’s happening! Finally!!!  Just before dawn on Friday, October 4th, construction actually began on our brand new Greenfield Chapel. October 4th just happens to be the feast day of St. Francis. Somehow that seems fitting.

All it took to get things underway was a couple of dry days in a row. Then, heavy equipment rumbled up the lane and workers started digging.

A Very Special Hole in the Ground

At this point they’re digging what looks like a basic hole in the ground. Don’t be fooled, however. This dig entails precisely engineered measurements, and it’s going to take several days.

Our chapel is being built on a hill. So of course that means workers will need to cut into the hill at just the right angle so the foundation and the floors above will be perfectly level. Eye-balling it won’t do; they’ll need the help of lasers and engineers to get that hole done just right.

Before the foundation gets  poured, workers are also digging deep holes for the footings. Footings (also called footers) are poured concrete structures, sometimes including rebar, that support the foundation itself, while the foundation supports the building above.

A whole lot of digging and measuring needs to take place before the foundation and footings are poured and actual components of the building itself make an appearance. We’ll keep you posted, every step of the way.  We have created a timelapse video of the work done on the first day, October 4, 2024, compressing eight hours into a two-minute video on YouTube. When you get there, read the text below the video for more details. Our plan is to have timelapse videos each week for the duration of the project.

Stay Tuned for Regular Updates

Bottom line: How long will it be before we get to meditate in our new chapel?

Builders envision completion as soon as September 2025. But that will depend on things like availability of machinery and work crews, not to mention the weather. Significant snow could slow things down significantly. And, of course, there are multiple inspections as each phase is completed. (Alas, we know from experience how long the approval process can take.)

In coming weeks, we aim to provide regular progress reports, along with lots of pictures.  In the meantime, life goes on  at Greenfield. As always, there’s a lot happening:

Regional Retreat Draws Devotees From Afar

The last weekend in September was a busy one for Greenfield: On the 26th, commemorative service for Lahiri Mahasaya’s mahasamadhi; from Sept. 27 to 29, a retreat that drew more than 70 devotees from 10 different states; then, on Sept. 30, a commemorative service for Lahiri Mahasaya’s birthday.

Now ask yourself: Do you think maybe the nuns who reside in the ashram at Greenfield and the many dedicated volunteers who serve at Greenfield were busy that weekend?

The answer, of course, is YES!

Serving Master’s Family

All of these events were held at the nearby 4-H Center. Let’s take just a moment to acknowledge and appreciate all the behind-the-scenes work (guru seva) that goes into preparing for and conducting multiple events over a five-day period.

Greenfield was honored to host and house the two SRF and YSS monks who conducted the retreats and commemorative services—Brother Jitananda and Brahmachari Bhaskarananda.

Breakfasts and lunches provided for retreatants were prepared at Greenfield, delivered to the 4-H Center, and served by nuns who live at Greenfield, assisted by women on work retreat at Greenfield.

A team of volunteers—local devotees along with some who drove in from a distance to help out—set up the altar, arranged seating, managed parking, set up and took care of audio-visuals, handled registration, answered questions and generally met the needs of retreatants. Then, they cleaned up afterwards.

Sacred Silence, Precious Time

As always taking the time to mediate together and focus on deepening our understanding of Master’s teachings refreshes the spirit.  As Brother Jitananda said: “We retreat in order to advance.”

Here are two photos of the dig, plus if you missed it above, the link to the timelapse video:

Here is a selection of pictures taken during the retreat:

 

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October 2, 2024

What’s it like to participate in a work party at Greenfield?

One recent sunny Saturday morning found a woman on her knees in front of the ashram practicing the presence of God. She also happened to be pulling weeds.

Not too far away, a group of men was busy applying stain to a newly constructed wooden bridge. Other devotees were planting flowers, weeding, cleaning furniture, preparing food items for an upcoming retreat, ironing table clothes etc.

Tasks for All Levels

Obviously, joining a work party involves, well…work. And sometimes it’s hard work. Assigned tasks might include such things as picking up fallen tree branches and putting them through a wood chipper, hauling lawn furniture into the barn for winter storage, planting trees and flowers.

Actually, there are a wide variety of tasks available for every degree of skill and physical ability. You could find yourself polishing little brass items or doing needlework.

However, while we work for a couple of hours, our gathering is not just about the tasks at hand. Along with the labor, a work party at Greenfield comes with not-so-hidden benefits of guru seva and spending time with other members of Paramahansaji’s extended family.

Enjoying Spiritual Fellowship

Greenfield work parties always begin with a period of meditation. In a lot of ways that’s the highlight of the day.  A few dozen devotees gather outdoors behind the ashram. We sit in silence, punctuated by the sweet sound of bird song. The meditation was brief, but in that sacred atmosphere it feeds the soul.

Then we scatter to our assigned tasks. After a couple hours’ work, we gather again, this time on the front porch, for pizza, salad, dessert…and fellowship. (Remember, the “F” in SRF stands for “fellowship.”)

We take full advantage of this opportunity to spend time with friends and also to meet new people (potentially, new spiritual friends).

How to Join a Work Party

Greenfield hosts a couple of work parties every year, typically about a week before a scheduled retreat. Our most recent work party (Sept. 21) helped spruce up Greenfield’s grounds before the retreat that was held Sept. 27-29. That retreat will be the subject of our next Greenfield’s Journey entry.

Work parties are included in our online schedule. Remember, you need to sign up ahead of time if you want to join in the fun and fellowship. Then, just show up on time with willing spirit and get to work!

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September 25, 2024

At long last, construction of the Greenfield Chapel is underway. Almost…

Why “almost”? The good news—the really good news—is that final approval for construction to get underway came through. We’re talking about the long-awaited, eagerly-anticipated official thumbs up from the county. Finally!

Once that approval arrived, however, county government then required that work crews draw lines on the ground showing where exactly the building was going to go.

Then, those lines needed to be inspected and approved. And then requirements called for fences and dams to control water and silt be installed. That’s been done. And then… It rained.

New Beginnings

So any day now—and it may even be underway as you read this—we can expect heavy pieces of equipment, construction noise, and work crews to invade the sacred silence of Greenfield for months to come. And that, dear devotees, is a beautiful thing.

Our beautiful new Greenfield Chapel will soon provide a place for us to join together in love and devotion, to fill with our sacred vibrations that come from serving and meditating together—a place where we can receive and radiate blessings for each and for our surrounding community.

While we wait, there is something tangible that you can do: Please use the noise and disruption that come with a major construction project as a sacred reminder. Let every time you hear construction noise, or face a challenge driving in or out of Greenfield because of construction work, serve as a reminder to pray for the safety of the workers. Pray for the skill and efficiency of the work crews. And pray for all of those devotees who will visit Greenfield Chapel on onto the future.

Keeping You Posted

Greenfield’s Journey will endeavor in the months to come to keep you updated on progress in building the chapel, in both words and pictures. Lots of pictures!

In the meantime, life and work at Greenfield goes on. In coming months we’ll also keep you updated and informed about other happenings at Greenfield.

As always, we deeply appreciate your prayers and support. If you are able and would like to donate to Greenfield’s building fund, please click here.

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September 4, 2024

“Through the voice of silence and peace God tries to speak to all His children in response to their prayers… The Sustainer of the universe is knocking at the gate of your heart trying to walk in through the portals of silence and create within you a garden of happiness filled with roses of immortal qualities.” —Paramahansa Yogananda

Silence—sacred, soft, soothing—lies at the heart of meditation.

When we meditate alone, inner silence serves as a portal to ever deeper calmness and sweet peace.

The Power of Shared Silence

What happens when we meditate in silence with other devotees? We support and sustain each other’s efforts. That’s exactly the intention of going on retreat. Along with an opportunity to escape for a time the stress and routine of daily duties, even a brief retreat provides much needed time to refocus and renew our spiritual practice.

Take Greenfield’s recent one day silent retreat for women as an example. August 24 was a perfect summer day, sunny but not too hot. We started the day with energization outdoors.

Then we meditated for the rest of the morning, just a couple dozen women, with Sister Brahmani offering brief words of encouragement and inspiration from Paramahansaji’s teachings. We chanted. We meditated. We chanted. We mediated some more, diving ever deeper and sweeter.

There’s something about meditating with other devotees that helps each of us. Through our mutual exchange of vibrations, we reinforce each other’s efforts.

After meditation we enjoyed a brief pre-lunch break, an opportunity to spend private time on the beautiful rural grounds at the Front Royal 4-H Center. Several women headed out for a walk to get in some exercise. One woman spread a blanket on the lawn to do hatha yoga postures. Others pulled out their SRF Lessons and settled in for some study time.

After lunch we took in a film of the 50th Anniversary of the dedication of Lake Shrine in Los Angeles. That featured brief talks by six monastics who were direct disciples of our revered Gurudev.

The day closed with energization exercises and a brief meditation.

It was just one sweet day, but what a treat—a Greenfield retreat feels like a sacred gift to oneself.

Greenfield Offers Regular Retreats

Upcoming Greenfield retreats include:

Sept. 27-29 — A 3-day retreat for both men and women.

Oct. 11-13 — A 3-day kriyaban retreat for women. This retreat is already filled. However, it is still possible to get on the  waiting list.

For details about these retreats and general information about Greenfield retreats, please click on the retreat button at the top of this website.

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August 21, 2024

It’s easy to love St. Francis of Assisi.  Legend has it that even birds flocked to hear his sermons in praise of God. That’s why garden statues of this 13th century Italian saint often depict him with birds and other adoring forrest creatures eagerly seeking his attention.

It’s no secret that our revered Guru Paramahansa Yoganandaji had a special place in his heart for St. Francis. In many of his writings and talks he tells of sensing the presence of St. Francis, of communing with him, even seeing him in visions.

Just how deep was Guruji’s love for St. Francis?

Perhaps the best way to answer that question comes from our beloved SRF President Brother Chidanandaji. In his closing Convocation talk, given just a few short weeks ago, he went into some detail about Guruji’s very special relationship with this saint. Master, he said, even attributed his poem “God, God, God” to Saint Francis and referred to him as “one of my patron saints.”

To hear more of this amazing story, please listen to Brother Chidanandaji’s closing talk on Youtube. Even if you’ve heard it before, it’s worth listening to again and again.

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August 7, 2024

“Convocation was the usual—just a week in Heaven!”

That’s how one local devotee, just back from SRF Convocation in California, described her experience there.

Devotees who opted to join Greenfield’s local Convocation events, held this year at Laurel Ridge Community College in Middletown, also had positive things to say about their experiences.

One long-time devotee described the new venue as “perfect.”  “The building, the dining room, the chapel were great,” he wrote. “It was a precious week.”

Another local devotee shared her experiences at length and with great enthusiasm: “I can’t imagine any place that could have been better. It’s easy to find, easy to access, and had more than adequate parking. The auditorium was comfortable, including the chairs, the space between rows and between chairs… The facility also provides great outdoor access to patio seating and walking, weather permitting. In summary, last week was nothing short of wonderful. All the planning and work leading up to it was evident every day. I LOVED the facility and hope it will be used again.”

A devotee who attended from out of state echoed that enthusiasm: “In my view,” he wrote, “it was the best alternative to going to LA—intimate and surrounded by nature. And NOTHING can beat the nurturing lunch option. I hope you continue with the venue and program in the coming years.”

Of course, no matter how we attended this year’s Convocation—in California, at home in front of our computers, or in Middletown—we’re all still absorbing the sacred content. How wonderful that we can revisit the kirtans, meditations, and classes again and again in the coming weeks and months on the SRF Convocation YouTube channel.

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July 29, 2024

“Lord, Thou hast given this monk a large family.”

In this very last line of Autobiography of a Yogi  our revered Guru Paramahansa Yoganandaji envisioned each and every one of us as members of his beautiful, ever-expanding family.

Perhaps that’s why the annual Self-Realization Fellowship Convocation often feels like a family reunion. We have something so precious in common. When we gather together, all that light and love and inspiration is contagious.

Have you noticed how fast our family reunion is growing and changing?

Convocation at Greenfield

This year Greenfield Retreat Center celebrated Convocation 2024 at a new venue—at Laurel Ridge Community College in Middletown. And, yes, it was good, in so many ways:

It was well-attended. The chapel was set up to seat 48, and 49 devotees from 10 different states signed up. Not everyone was there every day; people came and went, some coming for just few days or just a few events. So there was space for everyone.

There were lots of new faces. Many of our local devotees made the trip to California. And, of course, many have day jobs and weren’t able to attend.

Attendees came from as far away as Texas and Connecticut. (And, included in the mix of attendees were devotees born in France, Ghana, Colombia, Brazil, and India.) The gathering attracted devotees who have been on the path for decades, as well as those who’ve found SRF just within the past year and have only just begun receiving lessons. So discussions around the tables at lunch were interesting indeed, filled with eager questions and stories and sharing. Family reunion stuff!

Nuns from Mother Center joined us. We offer special thanks and appreciation to Sister Vinita, Brahmacharini Ann and Ms. Rita Conrad.

Laurel Ridge Community College Makes Us Welcome

The chapel set-up was great. Devotees viewed classes and kirtans and meditations, some live-streamed, on a HUGE screen. And that happened with barely a hitch, as tech people at the college offered good support, assuring that all was functioning as it should.

Lunch—healthy, vegan, gluten-free--was brought in each day from Greenfield’s kitchen, prepared by nuns and devotees on work retreat. What could be better?

It was nice and cool inside. Almost every day, temperatures were in the high 90s. So we did energization exercises indoors,  led by nuns.

Hope and Light for the Future

We opened this story with a quote from Paramahansaji. Let’s close with another from Autobiography of a Yogi. It’s especially meaningful in the light of what Brother Chidananda had to say at his closing talk on Friday night (July 19th).

“Every saint who has penetrated to the core of Reality has testified that a divine universal plan exists and that it is beautiful and full of joy… The blessed role of Kriya Yoga in East and West has hardly more than just begun.”

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