Blue Lotus Temple. Free, all are welcome!

Let me set the stage. Imagine it is April 1926, and you hear about this Indian yogi who is taking the U.S. by storm with his lecture tours. Everybody is talking about him. Thousands come from all over to hear him speak. A friend tells you he is coming to New York, to the most prestigious venue, Carnegie Hall, and was able to get two tickets.

You have never seen a dark-skinned Indian, let alone a “yogi,” before. You are intrigued. If nothing else, it would be a lively topic you could share with your girlfriends at bridge club. So, you say, “Yes, I will go.”

You walk into the hall, and it is packed. All 2,804 seats are filled with men and women, young and old, many with looks of excitement, others with curiosity, and a few not sure what they are feeling.

Paramhansa Yogananda, as they call him (but don’t ask me how to pronounce it), runs onto the stage. What a presence! Dressed in orange robes, with long flowing black hair, he seems like a king. At least, it felt that way.

He tells us that he would like to share a song called “O God Beautiful” and asks if we would all join in.

Something amazing happens at this point. Time felt like it stood still as almost 3,000 people chanted in unison with this man of God. Was it minutes or hours? I could not tell you, but my friend said that we sang for 1 hour and 25 minutes.

I wasn’t the only one having a profound experience. As I looked around, many seemed to be in ecstasy. I heard later that there were even miraculous healings that took place. Who would think, right there in Carnegie Hall!

I do not know what happened that evening, but I am determined to learn more from this beautiful man and what he calls the path of Self-Realization.

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This month (the actual day was not recorded) marks the 100-year anniversary of this event. In honor of this holy occasion, at the Blue Lotus Temple in Bothell on April 18th from 7–8:30 PM, we will gather together and chant “O God Beautiful” for one hour, followed by a meditation. 

We hope you can join us!