Self Realization Gardens ~ A Coastal Treasure
A Mere Stone's Throw From Where You Reside
7/27/2018
Established in 1937 by Paramahansa Yogananda, the Self Realization Fellowship, its 17-acre site a prominent fixture along the South Coast Highway in Encinitas, welcomes visitors the world over to follow the teachings of Kyira Yoga, founded a long time passing in Eastern India. The center is open to all, be it to follow the teachings covered during its daily sessions or merely to enjoy the pleasure of visiting its manicured gardens, beautifully intertwined with Koi ponds and spectacular cliffside views of the Pacific shoreline. One must enter the grounds and walk the paths to gain a full appreciation of its grandeur. Views from outside the grounds give little hint to the treasure that lies within.
The grounds, originally purchased by a devout follower of Yogananda as a gift to him for his private use was chosen as the first site for a Self Realization Fellowship retreat, opening the grounds for all who wished to visit. In the Hermitage on site, Yogananda scripted his classic, Autobiography of a Yogi, one such gateway for millions of readers to learn more about the spiritual teachings of the East.
All visitors are welcome to visit the meditation gardens in Encinitas, which are accessed on K Street. Open on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday afternoons between 2 pm. and 5 p.m., visitors are welcome to enter the rooms used by Paramahansa Yogananda in the Hermitage, which is now preserved as a shrine.
The beauty and serenity of the grounds cannot be overstated. The view along the footpaths that lead under a canopy of seemingly ancient junipers to the breadth and magnificence of the blue waters of the Pacific lends itself to an ideal setting for those visitors seeking meditation.