Self-Realization Fellowship Blog

As Brother Chidananda, president and spiritual head of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (SRF/YSS) conveys in his message welcoming readers to the Voluntary League of Disciples Handbook, Paramahansa Yogananda “devoted much time during the final years of his life to the formation of a vehicle or structure through which Kriyaban members of SRF and YSS worldwide could actively participate in the growth and progress of his work. Now that dream has come to fruition with the formal inauguration of the SRF and YSS Voluntary League of Disciples.”

Since that inauguration, in June of 2021, there have been many exciting new opportunities for members of this lay disciple order to offer service — and learn more about deepening their discipleship on the path. In this post we are happy to share with you some of those ongoing developments.

But first, here is some background about how being a Kriya Yogi in Self-Realization Fellowship relates to the question of whether someone also chooses to become a member of the Voluntary League of Disciples (VLD):

On this spiritual path, when one receives initiation into the technique of Kriya Yoga, he or she enters into the guru-disciple relationship — that most revered tradition of sincere spiritual seeking known in India for millennia — with Paramahansa Yogananda, and becomes a Kriyaban member of SRF or YSS (YSS being the name by which Paramahansaji’s work is known in India and several surrounding countries).

At that time of receiving the sacred Kriya initiation, Kriyabans take a spiritual pledge of discipleship. After being a Kriyaban for at least a year, if one wishes one can choose to join the VLD as well, taking an additional pledge of spiritual commitment to living a self-disciplined life according to the principles emphasized by Paramahansa Yogananda, and to regular service (seva) to SRF/YSS as an expression of devotion to the guru and desire to aid his work.

The Unique Support and Approach of VLD Classes

In an online satsanga held for SRF/YSS Kriyabans shortly after the inauguration, Brother Chidananda highlighted that “The Voluntary League of Disciples, first and foremost, is about discipleship, and then about serving the work with that consciousness — from that attitude, from that inner alignment with and dedication to Guru….This is the Voluntary League in a nutshell: Kriyaban disciples, of SRF and YSS, who make a commitment to living the life and serving the work.”

Regular VLD classes and discipleship events provide the spiritual backbone and support for lay disciple order members as they devotedly serve Paramahansa Yogananda’s work as a worldwide spiritual community.

Inspired by feedback from VLD members, this year a creative new approach to VLD events has been designed — to support members in fulfilling the pledge they have taken and to help them absorb the principles of Paramahansaji’s teachings more deeply into their consciousness.

The classes often include interactive activities such as questions sent ahead of time for personal reflection to prepare for the class topic; periods of meditation and reflection during the event, to apply the principles discussed; or introspective journaling on the class theme. Some of the themes of these classes have been “The Purpose of a Spiritual Pledge,” “Deepening Your Life as a Disciple,” “Fulfilling Your Divine Purpose,” and “Keeping Our Spiritual Striving Fresh and Ever New.”

Uniting East and West

Reflecting the global nature of the lay disciple order, which has members from more than 55 countries, some VLD events this year have been co-led by an SRF monastic livestreaming from the United States and a YSS monastic livestreaming from India. These events have been a wonderful showcasing of the universal nature of Paramahansaji’s teachings and have created a tangible experience of the unified worldwide community of lay disciples.

First VLD Member Retreat

Another new addition was the first-ever VLD member retreat in April 2023, a full-day event held in person at the SRF temple in Encinitas, California, and livestreamed to VLD members around the world.

In addition to inspirational talks, meditation, and chanting, the day featured unique interactive elements including guided introspection and journaling as well as a panel of lay members sharing their experiences on the topics of “how to live a balanced life” and “what it means to be a VLD member.”

Serving the Guru’s Work

While the VLD is first and foremost about deepening one’s discipleship and sadhana, an important element of the VLD pledge is the commitment to serving the work of SRF/YSS. VLD members contribute to Paramahansaji’s work in many ways: by serving at temples, centers, groups, and circles; by contributing financially; through employment with SRF or YSS; by participating in the Worldwide Prayer Circle; and by volunteering to serve in an ever-growing number of online programs and projects through remote work.

As the Voluntary League of Disciples enters its third year, we are filled with reverent gratitude and look forward to seeing how Paramahansaji’s vision for this lay disciple order will continue to blossom and unfold in the lives of current VLD members and to the great benefit of all those worldwide who feel drawn to this opportunity for discipleship and divine service.

To Learn More

To learn more about the Voluntary League of Disciples, please visit the VLD website. One of the helpful things you will find there is a short video clip from a talk given by SRF/YSS President Brother Chidananda, where he explains the purpose of the VLD.

If you have an SRF Member Portal account, you can also log in there to find the Voluntary League of Disciples Handbook, which includes a comprehensive presentation of the history and purpose of the VLD as well as the VLD pledge. The Handbook can also be accessed by SRF/YSS Kriyabans through the SRF/YSS app.