Last Friday, we had an appointment in the Pacific Palisades, which is a community in Los Angeles County. We were minutes away from one of our favorite gardens, the Self Realization Lake Shrine. When we lived in Los Angeles, we often took "time out" here.
The windmill (imported from Holland) was converted into a chapel. All religions are welcome and represented. It is nice to sit, relax and enjoy the serenity.
Across the lake is the Mahatma Gandhi memorial dedicated to world peace in 1950, when the gardens opened. A portion of Gandhi's ashes are part of this memorial.
It takes an hour to walk around and really enjoy the various elements of the lake and gardens. Koi fish and turtles abound in the lake. There are resident swans, and visiting ducks come to hatch their families.
As you meander along the paths, there are small built in benches to sit and revel and meditate.
The main temple is on the hill directly above the lake. You can see the golden ball of the building on the upper left corner of the picture.
"When the mind becomes still, you are in the Temple of the Infinite."
--Parmahansa Yogananda--
Comments(24)