# SRF Articles of Incorporation 1935

* Department of State
* Corporation Number
* 162095
Original Articles of Incorporation
of the Self Realization Fellowship Church
Willodd Andrews 221 H. J. Hallman Bldg., Los Angeles, CA Tucker 1445 Attorney for Self Realization Fellowship Church.
* FILED
* In the office of the Secretary of State
* OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
* MAR 29 1935
* FRANK C. JORDAN
* Secretary of State
* By (Signature See Original)
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF
SELF REALIZATION FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
    KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
    That we, the undersigned, the majority of whom are citizens and residents of the State of California, have voluntarily associated ourselves together for the purpose of forming a religious corporation under the laws of the State of California,
       And we hereby certify:
ARTICLE 1.
       That the name of the corporation shall be
"SELF REALIZATION FELLOWSHIP CHURCH"
ARTICLE II.
    That the purposes for which this corporation is formed are as follows:
    (a) To acquire by gift of contribution both real and personal property of any kind or nature whatsoever, or any right, title or interest therein.
    (b) To buy, sell or otherwise acquire, hold, own, use, manage, improve, maintain, develop, rent, mortgage, or otherwise encumber, and to transfer and to exchange real estate of every kind or any interest therein, to trade real estate of every kind and of any interest therein, and to trade in real property improved and unimproved in the state of California, and elsewhere.
    (c) To borrow and lend money and to make and issue promissory notes, bonds, debentures and evidence of indebtedness and to secure the payment or performance of its obligation by mortgage, deed of trust, pledge or otherwise.
    (d) To teach a religion or preech religion known as "Self-Realization Fellowship" (Yogoda Sat-Sanga), the practical aim of which is to make lasting youth and arrest old age by using the unlimited power of God and Cosmic Energy instead of trying to obtain health only from the use of the physical means of food and exercise.
    (e) To teach the following religious or spiritual philosophy in the State of California and the United States of America, to-wit:
    1. Universal all-round education, and establishment of Self Realization Fellowship institutions for the development of man's physical, mental and spiritual natures.
    2. Contacting Cosmic Consciousness - the ever-new, ever-existing, ever-conscious Bliss-God, through the scientific technique of concentration and meditation taught by the Masters of all ages.
    3. Attaining bodily and spiritual health through the Self Realization Fellowship (Yogoda Sat-Sanga) technique of recharging the body battery from inner life energy, concentration and meditation respectively.
    4. Intelligently maintaining the physical body on unadulterated foods, including a large percentage of raw fruits, vegetables and nuts.
    5. Physical, mental and spiritual healing.
    6. Establishing, by a scientific system of realization, the absolute basic harmony and oneness of Christianity, Hindu Yoga teachings, and all true religions.
    7. Serving all mankind as one's Larger Self.
    8. Demonstrating the superiority of mind over body, and of soul over mind.
    9. Fighting the Satan of Ignorance—man's common enemy.
    10. Establishing a spiritual unity among all nations.
    11. Overcoming evil by good; overcoming sorrow by joy; overcoming cruelty by kindness.
    12. Realization of the purpose of life as being the evolution from human consciousness into divine consciousness, through individual struggle.
    13. Realization of the truth that human life is given to man to afford him opportunity to manifest his inner divine qualities, and not for physical pleasure nor selfish gratifications.
    14. Furthering the cultural and spiritual understanding between East and West, and the constuctive exchange of the distinctive features of their civilizations.
    15. United science and religion through study and practical realization of the unity of their underlying principles.
    16. Finding the common scientific art of super-living underlying all religions. ​
    17 The establishment of a small altar of right meditation in each home in California and in the United States of America, India and all over the world and also Temples of Self Realization Fellowship for collective worship in California and in the United States of America and all over the world.
    18 The development of a world spiritual University at 3880 San Rafael Avenue, Los Angeles, California, headquarters, where an universal technique of salvation, art of self-realization, art of super-living and super-technique of body, mind and soul perfection would be taught.
    This corporation is one which does not contemplate pecuniary gain or profit thereof.
ARTICLE III.
    That this corporation shall exist perpetually.
ARTICLE IV.
    That the county in the State of California where the principal office for the transaction of the business of this corporation is to be located is Los Angeles County.
ARTICLE V.
    That the names and addresses of the persons who are to act in the capacity of directors until the selection of their successors are:
    The number of persons named above shall constitute the number of the directors of the corporation, until changed by an amendment to the by-laws increasing or decreasing the number of directors as may be desired. ​
ARTICLE VI.
    That the authorized number and qualifications of members of this corporation, the different classes of membership, if any, the property, voting and other rights and privileges of each class of membership, and the liability of each or all classes to dues and assessments, and the method of collection thereof shall be set forth in the by-laws of this corporation; that there shall be issued to each member a certificate of membership which shall be assignable and transferable as provided in the by-laws of this corporation.
ARTICLE VII.
    That the by-laws of this corporation shall be adopted by the directors named in the articles of incorporation and may thereafter be amended or repealed by any means provided in the by-laws.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF THE persons who are to act in the capacity of first directors of the corporation have hereunto set their hands this ______________day of March, 1935.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
On this (25th) day of March, 1935, before me,
Chas. D. Munro, a notary public in and for the county of Los Angeles, residing therein, duly commissioned and sworn, personally appeared Swami Yogananda, C. Richard Wright, Florina Darling, Karla Schramm, and Edith D. Bissett, known to me to be the persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument, and they duly acknowledged to me that they acknowledged to me that they executed the same.
    Witness my hand and official seal the day and year in this certificate first written above.
       Notary Public is and for the County of Los Angeles, State of California.