About the Class
'The Second Coming of Christ' is a class of spiritual instruction based on a two volume book by the same name, which has been created out of the collective written teachings of Swami Paramahansa Yogananda on the subject of Jesus Christ and the Gospels.

The thrust of this Class is towards personal transformation through real spiritual practice built upon a greater understanding and deeper sense of compatibility between Eastern and Western spiritual teachings on the subject of Jesus Christ, and all that he taught.

The Class is taking place on a bimonthly basis throughout the year of 2006 in Reno, Nevada. Beginning with the first class in February, recordings and materials from all of the Class Sessions are being offered through this website.

The class consists of lectures, discussions, chanting, prayers and guided inner-work. It is designed to provide the maximum opportunity for greater understanding and embodiment of the teachings of Jesus Christ. More importantly, it provides a path of spiritual practice through which the Living Presence of Christ is awakened in each student's heart.

The 'Sacred Covenant' for the course is as follows:

The Purpose is: LOVE (An Awareness of Oneness)

The Vision is: Bringing Heaven to Earth

The Intentions are:

1-To enter into a greater understanding of the Principles that support the enlightenment of your soul and the resurrection of your flesh.

2-To engage in real spiritual practice for the revelation of your wholeness in Christ.

3-To experience 'Jesus Christ come again' as your life.

Class Participation
You can participate in the Second Coming of Christ Class as an individual from your own home. However, it is highly suggested that you consider inviting another person or a small group of people to join you. In this way, you enter into the scriptural promise that, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)

Following are the steps to get you started:

1. Read the 'Sacred Covenant' given above aloud. Then, close your eyes, go within, and silently ask your 'Higher Wisdom Self' if you are ready to participate in this Course. Also, ask for any additional wisdom that will guide you in making your decision. If you are drawn to be part of this course, continue with the following instructions.

2. Purchase 'The Second Coming of Christ' by Paramahansa Yogananda. This book can be obtained at a local bookstore, or from Amazon.com (links are given below).

3. Download the 'Class Syllabus' provided below. Set up the materials in a binder according to the 'QuickStart' guide provided in the downloads. Note: There are three 'major insights' presented in the Syllabus that will be used throughout the Course. These insights are also presented in greater detail in an 'interactive format' on this website. You may wish to further explore them: (click to open them)
• The Spectrum of Life
• The Coach to Everywhere
• The Creative Process of Life

4. Review the 'Class Assignments.' These are located on Page 2 of the Syllabus. Perform whatever reading assignments are given.

5. Listen to the Class Segments recordings. These recordings can be accessed by clicking on the link in the menu at the top of this page. Or, you can go there by clicking right HERE .

Please note that the actual class dates are Feb. 3-4, April 21-22, June 9-10, Aug. 4-5, Oct. 20-21 and Dec. 1-2, 2006. The recorded class sessions will be posted on this website approximately three weeks after each of the above class dates.

About the Instructor
Rev. Marcia Sutton is the founding minister of the Christ Church of Co-Creation in Portland, Oregon. In the mid 1990's, she left a growing and vibrant pulpit ministry in Northern California to pursue a 'new form of ministry' that would serve the revelation of Christ in humanity. Her previous career success in higher education and then in business provided the foundational skills that would lead her to consulting and working with ministers and church leadership teams.

She has facilitated thousands of people in the advanced application of the Principles of Universal Truth through retreats, classes and public appearances. She has also served as a Spiritual Director to many of the leading ministers in the New Thought movement. In addition, she has traveled to more than 45 countries and leads tours to sacred sites around the world. She ministers and teaches from the 'Sacred Days Sanctuary' in Portland, OR.

About Yogananda
Paramahansa Yogananda has been hailed as the 'father of yoga in the West,' and was instrumental in building a bridge of religious acceptance and spiritual understanding between the Eastern and Western cultures.

As a young man, Yogananda was encouraged by his guru, Sri Yukteswar Giri, to began a mission to bring the ancient philosophy and science of Yoga to the United States of America. To prepare him for this task his guru also impressed upon him the need to study the teachings of Jesus. In 1920, Yogananda set out for America and settled in Los Angeles, where he founded the Self Realization Fellowship. There he continued to study the teachings of Jesus and by 1932 began writing commentaries upon the Gospels.

Yogananda's first experience with the 'living presence' of Christ was during an extended trip to the Holy Land in 1935. It was there that he felt a deep affinity and sacred communion with Jesus. This inner communion continued for many years and culminated with the divine appearance of the blessed Lord Jesus before him at Self Realization Fellowship's Encinitas Hermitage in Southern California. It was on this occasion that Jesus revealed to him the deepest inner Truth of the Gospels.

Yogananda made his transition from this world in 1952. However, the bridge between the East and West that he first built in consciousness is now traversed daily by many thousands of people who experience both the outer face of God, emphasized in the West, and the inner face of God that has been revealed in the East. This is evidenced by the growing number of souls that are now prepared to enter into the full realization of the 'whole face of God' that is the 'second coming of Christ' within their individual being.

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:
The Resurrection of the Christ Within You
by Paramahansa Yogananda
This is a two-volume 'divinely inspired commentary' on the teachings of Jesus, as revealed through the Gospels of the Holy Bible. It is the culmination of a lifetime of devotion and study that resulted in a mystical visitation by the blessed Lord Jesus to the author at the Self Realization Fellowship Hermitage in Encinitas, California.

In the Introduction of the first volume, Yogananda describes this event in which the entire room was filled with the radiant Light of Christ, as Jesus revealed to him the inner wisdom of the Gospels. In his own words, he confesses that, "I am happy this book is coming through me; but I am not the author. It is Christ."

Over the years I have come to realize that the Christ will only go where It's invited, and that we are the only ones who can extend that invitation. Consequently, in order to reach that exalted state of Christ awareness, each of us must become responsible to invite the 'Light of the Living God' into our own being.

This extraordinary work by Yogananda provides us with the way and the means to do so. It is to be read, savored, studied and taken into the deep recesses of our being. Only then, do we meet that which was within us all along. Just as St. Paul promised, "Christ in us, is the hope of glory." - Colossians 1:27

THE BHAGAVAD GITA
Penguin Classics
This is one of the most widely available English translations of the great Indian spiritual classic, the Bhagavad Gita. The title means the 'Song of God.' It is the great dialogue between a young Indian prince named Arjuna and his God-Man mentor Lord Krishna. In the course of their discussions, the Mystery of Life and all of it's inner workings are revealed. This version is particularly useful because of the excellent introduction that set a true context of understanding fo rthe Western reader.

THE BHAGAVAD GITA
translated by Eknath Eswaran
This is probably one of the most elegant translations of the Bhagadvad Gita available today. Eknath Eswaran is an Indian born professor of English Literature who lived in the United States for many years. His Eastern sensibilities, combined with his strong Western literary skills, has uniquely prepared him to create an exquisite and most authoritative translation of this great Indian spiritual classic. Of particular value are the in-depth commentaries that he has prepared for each chapter of the book.

The Class Syllabus
The 80 page Class Syllabus was developed by Rev. Lloyd Strom, and has been prepared to support the teaching of the 'Second Coming of Christ Class' presented by Rev. Marcia Sutton.

Please be sure to download and read the 'QuickStart' in the first Packet before you assemble your Class Syllabus.

Downloads
Following are the 'Download Packets' that comprise the entire Class Syllabus. They are in Adobe Acrobat format. 'Click' or 'Right Click' on the icons to the left of each Packet Title to access the document:

Addendum No. 1
• 'Pearl of Great Price' - Bible Interpretation
• 'Where Is Heaven? Pt. 1' - Essay
• 'Where is Heaven? Pt. 2' - Essay
• 'On Viewing the Passion of the Christ' -Essay
• 'Christ and Karma' - Essay

Additional Addendum Packets will be added as they become available.

Support
Supporting the Students
Unfortunately, at this time we cannot offer follow-up personal support beyond the classroom to students who have been attracted to these specific Class materials. If you feel drawn to this work in general, you may wish to explore some of the retreats and other offerings available through this site.

Supporting the Source
If you have found these Class materials to be of value, you may wish to make a tax-deductible 'Appreciation Offering' to:

Christ Church of Co-Creation
10824 SE Oak St. #327
Portland, OR 97222