December 2020
Dear Friends,
As we enter the holiday season, our heartfelt prayers and warmest greetings reach out to our Glendale Temple family, wishing you a joyous uplifting Christmas permeated with the love of God, Christ, and Gurus.
We hope you will be able to join us for the live-streamed Christmas Satsanga with our SRF/YSS president, Brother Chidananda on Saturday 12, 9:00 a.m.
And on Saturday, December 19, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. we will be having our traditional spiritual celebration of Christmas with an online all-day Christmas Meditation. Add to calendar
Please note that this year our all-day Meditation will begin earlier at 8:00 a.m. PST, since as a virtual event it will be attended by thousands of devotees in various time zones.
Throughout the year many have expressed to us their appreciation for the various meditations and events that are held online for Guruji’s world family. At the same time, we understand that when the members of a temple meditate and seek God together for many years, a deep and enduring friendship develops among them, and it can be very strengthening and inspiring for the members of a temple to come together in spiritual fellowship. We therefore want to let you know that we will be having a special Zoom Christmas Eve Celebration just for the members and friends of Glendale Temple. The event will include Christmas stories, the singing of Christmas carols, an appearance by Santa, and more! All family members are welcome. We will be sending out a meeting invitation soon with additional details.
Brother Bhumananda
Minister in Charge, Glendale Temple
Recently I read a wonderful passage by Guruji about the birth of Jesus in Discourse 3 of The Second Coming of Christ. I would like to share it here because it beautifully shows the relevance of Guruji’s teachings to the challenges of our modern world. Speaking of the appearance of the angels to the shepherds on the occasion of Jesus’ birth, Paramahansaji writes:
The message of the "heavenly host" to the shepherds in the countryside of Bethlehem was "on earth peace, good will toward men." Peace in the world starts with peace in individual hearts. "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding" is the peace Jesus came to bring to man; it is the only sure foundation for world amity. It is found in the interiorized state of one's God-communion in meditation. Then, like an ever full reservoir, it pours out freely to one's family, friends, community, nation, and the world. If everyone lived the ideals exemplified in the life of Jesus, having made those qualities a part of their own selves through meditation, a millennium of peace and brotherhood would come on earth.
A person who is imbued with God's peace can feel naught but goodwill toward all. The crib of ordinary consciousness is very small, filled to capacity with self-love. The cradle of goodwill of Christ-love holds the Infinite Consciousness that includes all beings, all nations, all races and faiths as one.
May each of us be uplifted this Christmas into the radiance of that Christ-love which elevates and spiritualizes all life, and may we give that universal love to all.
A very blessed and joyous Christmas to each of you.
In divine friendship,
Brother Bhumananda
Minister
SRF Glendale Temple
If you would like to help us to cover our monthly Temple expenses of cleaning, gardening, maintenance, and utilities, please visit the Glendale Temple donations page and choose from the options provided.
Thank you for your generous support throughout this challenging year. May God bless you for your kind and selfless help.