This is day two of a devastating fire event in Southern California. As I watch the suffering on the tiny screen in my palm, my heart aches for the tens of thousands affected directly as well as the millions of us with secondary levels of impact. Homes, businesses, churches, schools, all gone. People fleeing down windy canyon roads, sometimes on foot, sometimes with a dog, a cat, a child, or a horse in tow.
This fire has a particular pain for the millions who love Paramhansa Yogananda. The Palisades Fire, the first of several to break out on that windy, dry day in January, is home to a pilgrimage destination for Self-realization aspirants – Lake Shrine.
Long before Yogananda dedicated Lake Shrine, Native Americans recognized the sacred energy of this land. Later, in the 1920s, it became a movie studio project before falling into disrepair during the Great Depression. In 1949, Yogananda acquired it, dedicating it as a ‘Church of All Religions’—a sanctuary for seekers of every faith. For thousands, it has been a place of peace, reflection, and spiritual renewal. For me, it was a place of refuge and spiritual support during the seven years that I lived nearby.
You don’t have to be a disciple of Yogananda to love Lake Shrine. More than anywhere, Lake Shrine is a physical manifestation of Yogananda’s vision for world unity. The site hosts a beautiful memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, including some of his ashes. The gardens are sprinkled with uplifting quotes, symbols, and statues from all the major religions. Tucked within the glory of mother nature, it seems easier for the visiting throngs to receive his message of the universal one-ness of all truth.
At a time when the world feels so divided, Lake Shrine stands as a reminder of what unites us: our shared humanity, our quest for truth, and the beauty of nature as a reflection of the divine.
In 2002, after graduating from nearby Pepperdine University, I had the great blessing to live in the closest possible apartment to Lake Shrine. Nestled on the southeastern edge of the property, I could walk from my apartment to the temple for services in less than 5 minutes.
Watching the Palisades Fire swallow everything in its path, including all of the classic Pepperdine haunts, and lap angrily at the edges of Lake Shrine has forced me to sit with the fear of its potential loss. The loss of something sacred, something I thought was invincible.
As I lean into the possibility, I am reminded of a truth that: loss is not a condemnation, it is part of the natural cycle of life. The temple in Israel fell, the Parthenon was bombed, Notre Dame burned viciously. Out of these tragedies, the human spirit rose to meet the day.
Whether or not the fires consume Lake Shrine, what it represents cannot be destroyed. Yogananda’s vibrations will endure, just as the message of universal truth has outlasted temples, cathedrals, and sacred sites throughout history. From loss comes renewal, and from ashes, beauty can rise.
May the tragedies of these fires be softened by the outpouring of love, unity, and support—reminders that no fire can ever consume the sacred within us.
6 Comments
Thank you, Gita, for this lovely blog. The circumstances of our lives are frail. I am ever thankful for our teachings and for the relief and solace that we receive through the practices given to us. God and Gurus are the eternal safe place….so needed at this time in history.
Beautiful article, Gita. While there is so much loss, as you say – Light lives on. We are so very blessed that the Legacy buildings of Lake Shrine, by the grace of Master, will continue to bless many more souls.
Beautiful, well written article, Gita. I didn’t realize you had lived so close! Also when I went to University in LA I visited Lakeshrine often (and yet I was closer tot he mother center and forest lawn, going to Occidental College), and have been watching the developments of the Palisade fire with bated breath from afar. Looking forward to reading your whole book that I see you writing and stringing together someday! 😉 Blessings to you, Tulsi, Jay and Badriji
Thank you, Gita for being a divine channel from which great love and compassion flows. We are all blessed by your grace and kindness.
🙏🏾Master’s Blessings b
Dear Gita,
Thank you for addressing this issue of loss. As of today, Lake Shrine still stands, one of the few remaining structures of the Palisades fire. Sadly, my best friend, my nieces and family lost their homes just 3 blocks away. It also was a profound loss to a very connected and close knit community where my friend Carol had raised her girls and now grandchildren. Any thoughts on ways to help them navigate this? Children are 8 and 11.
Hi dear Priya,
Yes, it’s such a gift that Lake Shrine remains. I wake each morning, check the Cal-Fire map and say a prayer of thanks and loving support for the amazing firefighters keeping the structures and people that they can safe. I’m so very sorry for your best friend and her family’s loss of home and community. That is devastating.
When Harbin Hot Springs burned down several years ago, Kalidas’s sister and family came to Ananda Village and lived there for several months. It was a healing time for them I think. Their daughter became close with Tulsi and the community helped them collect what they needed until government aid came through to help get them back on their feet. All that to say, landing somewhere supportive and giving time to heal, grieve, and consider options seems like one way forward to consider.
The scope of this disaster, the sheer number of families displaced, schools destroyed, communities changed forever is hard to fathom. If Carol and her family wants to come to Portland, let us know, we would want to help in any way we can.
Love and blessings,
Gita