Chicago Center of Self-Realization Fellowship: A Beacon of Peace and Meditation
Feb 28, 2025 ● By Sheila Julson
Photo courtesy of Self-Realization Fellowship, Los Angeles, CA
Paramahansa Yogananda, an Indian monk, introduced yoga to the West when he arrived in Boston in 1920. Revered as the father of yoga in Western culture, Yogananda’s Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF), also formed in 1920, has grown into a worldwide organization of temples, retreats and ashrams.
For more than a century, SRF has disseminated Yogananda’s Kriya Yoga practice of meditation and spiritual awareness. The Chicago Center of SRF, formed March 1, 1963, has experienced several moves and expansions over the years but has stayed true to Yogananda’s mission: helping people harmonize the body, mind and soul through meditation and kirtan (devotional chanting set to music) while joining Eastern and Western cultures to see the commonality and spirituality in life.
“It’s a nondenominational faith community that has really given me a lot of meaning and purpose in my life,” says Heather Parish, a longtime member at the Chicago center. During her childhood, her mother introduced her to the yoga teachings of SRF, taking her to services and events.
Parish didn’t understand the organization or pursue its meditation practices until she was in her late 20s and felt something missing in life. While living in Sacramento in 1993, she saw an article in a local newspaper about Yogananda and learned of a nearby SRF center.
“My mom was glad to hear that I went back,” Parish reflects. After moving to Chicago in 1994, she found the local SRF center and has been actively involved ever since.
Brother Jayananda, from the SRF International Headquarters, in Los Angeles, adds that all of us are on some kind of spiritual path, and there are many directions toward getting there. Raised in San Diego, he sought spiritual answers to his internal questions after college. A friend had gifted him a copy of Yogananda’s book, Autobiography of a Yogi.
“It addresses the purpose of life and the answers these Indian teachings have to these questions,” says Brother Jayananda, an SRF monk of 46 years.
Local Self-Realization Community: A Haven of Calm
The Chicago Center of SRF offers two services each Sunday in River Forest. The 9:30 a.m. meditation service includes brief periods of chanting. The 11 a.m. service opens with a chant, a short period of meditation and fellowship teachings, along with guidance on incorporating meditation into daily life. Parish recommends the 11 a.m. service to newcomers interested in SRF.
“They can start to meditate, or if they don’t have a technique around meditation, they can focus on a visual point, praying, chanting or ‘talking in the language of the heart,’ saying whatever you want to say to your God,” Parish says. “We have an inspirational reading that usually comes from Yogananda’s teachings, and we close with a healing service and pray for the world.”
A social tea is typically held once a month, offering members and newcomers an opportunity to connect and explore involvement in the center. Kirtan takes place on the fourth Sunday of every month at 9 a.m.
Practicing meditation can provide a sense of calm and spiritual balance that may ultimately lead to emotional well-being and improved overall health. Parish observes a growing desire for calm in today’s world.
“Given the nature of the world, everyday life and everything going on today, many people are seeking some kind of way to connect to a spiritual path. People are more open to exploring meditation,” she notes.
Brother Jayananda adds that many people are seeking answers, and SRF recognizes that individuals venture toward their path because they are ready for spiritual peace.
“They get to us in a variety of different ways, but we don’t actively evangelize,” he explains. For those interested in Yogananda’s meditation, he recommends starting with Autobiography of a Yogi to understand SRF’s foundation.
“Meditation helps you to slow down and not let thoughts constantly race and run in your head, but instead being still and present,” Parish emphasizes.
As the world becomes increasingly fast-paced and chaotic, the Chicago Center of SRF offers a peaceful refuge, where individuals can explore and deepen their spiritual practice. Whether through meditation, community involvement or simply taking a moment of stillness, SRF provides a pathway for those seeking spiritual peace and harmony in their lives.
The Chicago Center of Self-Realization Fellowship is located at 946 N. Harlem Ave., in River Forest. For more information, call 708-366-0140 or visit ChicagoMeditationCenter.org.