SERVICES

Sundays

We meet most Sundays at 2:30pm

Most Sunday services finish at 4:30pm

General Information

All periods of meditation are silent. We practise the meditation techniques as taught by Paramahansa Yogananda in his ‘Lessons for Home Study.’

The lessons contain techniques for recharging the body, concentration and meditation together with the higher technique of Kriya Yoga, plus guidance on how to live a balanced material and spiritual life.

Visitors who do not know these techniques are welcome to practise any silent technique known to them.

For further information please see the types of service below and ‘Basic Guidance for Meditation’ under Newcomers

Self-Realization Fellowship services are offered free of charge and anyone is welcome to join us.

Please contact the secretary prior to attending in the event there is a change to the scheduled service.

Energization Exercises

We partake in Energization Exercises before the service begins. These are a series of psychophysical exercises developed by Paramahansa Yogananda to prepare the body for meditation and their practice takes up to 15 minutes. Visitors are invited to join us or, if they prefer, they can sit quietly in the meditation room.

Meditation Service

This type of service lasts for 2 hours. There are chants, readings, prayers and two periods of silent meditation each lasting approximately 35 minutes. This is the most regular type of service that we hold.

Reading Service

Reading Services last for two hours and fifteen minutes. There are prayers, several readings (more than in any other type of service), chants and up to four periods of meditation of varying lengths but they are usually shorter than in a Meditation Service (as above).

If a visitor has not practised meditation previously then this type of service is a good introduction.

Commemoration Service

Commemoration Services last for two hours and thirty minutes and this type of service is best suited to people familiar with the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda or with an appreciation of the relationship between a guru and a disciple.
There are prayers, readings, chants and devotional offerings. There are three periods of meditation of varying length, the longest approximately 40 minutes.

Three-Hour Meditation Services

There are three periods of meditation in the longer service. Two are approximately 30 minutes in length with a final one of up to an hour. There are also prayers, readings and chants in between the meditations.
Some of our members do not stay for the full service and leave after the second period of meditation. This is done during a chant and does not disturb the people who wish to stay for the long period of meditation.

Visitors are welcome to either leave or stay, whichever they prefer.