SRF Notes

Discussing the beliefs and teachings of Self-Realization Fellowship and Paramahansa Yogananda with historical context and critical thinking.

History

  • The “Dark Ages” or the “Middle Ages”?

    The “Dark Ages” or the “Middle Ages”?

    SRF uses the phrase “Dark Ages”, referring to the period of time described by Swami Sri Yukteswar as falling in “Kali Yuga”, the less advanced period of his theory of the Yuga cycle. Since the Renaissance, it had become common to refer to the period of time from the fall of Rome to the beginning…

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  • History Chronoflow – Historical Events Influencing Paramahansa Yogananda

    History Chronoflow – Historical Events Influencing Paramahansa Yogananda

    I’ve put together a chronoflow diagram showing world events and people who influenced Paramahansa Yogananda (directly and indirectly), as well as historical time periods in India, and some scientific discoveries. I’ve also included some modern scientific theories and discoveries that might influence how we might interpret Yogananda’s work looking back from our modern perspective. You…

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  • Hinduism’s stance on LGBTQ

    Hinduism’s stance on LGBTQ

    The Hindu American Foundation has a detailed policy stance that includes historical and scriptural references to LGBTQ people.

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  • Misleading Footnote from Authors Known for Fraud

    Misleading Footnote from Authors Known for Fraud

    SRF cites book published by two co-authors who are well known for publishing fraudulent archeological claims.

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  • Lemuria

    Lemuria

    Lemuria is a modern myth. It’s origins can be found in the work of a 19th century zoologist Phillip Sclater (1829–1913), who hypothesized a sunken continent or land bridge to explain why similar fossils (lemurs) were found in Madagascar, India, and Australia.

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  • The Islamic Golden Age

    The Islamic Golden Age

    Self-Realization Fellowship says that the “Dark Ages” or “Kali Yuga” was between 701 BCE and 1699 CE. How can it be that the Islamic Golden age would fall in this so called dark period of history?

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  • The Gupta Period: India’s Historical “Golden Age”

    The Gupta Period: India’s Historical “Golden Age”

    The period of India’s history that is most often referred to as “the Golden Age” is the Gupta Period, which was between the mid 3rd century to mid 6th century CE. This is not what SRF is referring to when they talk about the Golden Age of India.

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