SELF-REALIZATION FELLOWSHIP
MOUNT WASHINGTON ESTATES
LOS ANGELES 31, CALIF.

May 11, 1951

Dear one,

Your coming was a memorable occasion for I felt that you caught the spirit of the work which the Masters and God are guiding. I cannot tell you how I feel about it. When a devotee works for God with the same interest as a husband works for his wife and children, then God is pleased to the utmost. Families are imposed upon us, but God's family is chosen according to our own soul's discretion. That is why Jesus intimated "who is my father, mother, brother, sister, but who loves God." Our human relationships, unless spiritual, are forgotten in future and become meaningless. Our divine relationship with our families or divine families become immortal. That is why no one’s love is real unless it is spiritual. Only by loving God we can love others with His Love in an interesting spiritual way.

I am so happy that you liked the SR Lake Shrine and that you tuned in with Stanley. I see all these contacts reflected in your recent efforts to spread the Cause in Detroit. So, it is good not to stay away too 1ong from the Mother Center.

I see that your promise to me of enhancing the work in two years has quickened from now on and you did not wait for the two years. Of course, it is less than two years now. Are you smiling?

The Detroit Center looks like the Taj Mahal and I am pleased that you chose such a place for the Center. The main Center should be in a centrally located place like this, but the retreat should be away from the heart of the city. On the outskirt of the city, the yogis say. In this transitory caravanserai of life created by God, it is so wonderful to find brother-souls like you who are wiling to work for God and thus find the meaning of life; and abiding by His wishes, ultimately enter into Him. Others who come to fulfill their desires have to roam on and on encountering endless suffering. Such is the law of God.

I was very glad to receive the Detroit Center Announcements and, to see that everything is being patterned according to the Organization. The leaflet is brilliant and the subjects selected by you are very well chosen. Please make more ministers, like yourself. They will come: and we will help build a new world even though it's growth may be slow. SRF is marching on! Detroit, being in the center of United states, has a great opportunity to draw true seekers, both from the east and west. 

I would like no better than you to carry out a sub-headquarters there. With your organizational power you can do something much greater, much more lasting, much easier, and much more secure than present-day business organization in which one works to pay taxes, ruining his health and happiness. 

Please remember me to Mrs. Black. I enjoyed having you to dinner in my room so much. I hope you won’t stay away so long this time. These days are precious days for all of us. We are planning another convocation this summer which you will hear about soon. 

I am now at my desert retreat for some time. All my love and blessings to you.

Very sincerely yours,

With all my live unendingly,

Paramhansa Yogananda

PY:vw

Mr. J. Oliver Black
18094 Parkside
Detroit, Mich.

PS: You have pleased me & with me the gurus, Christ, & God who ever manifest through me. Regards again to Mrs Oliver