Serge Raynaud de la Ferriere Mahatma Chandra Bala the father of Surya Yoga in South America International Yoga and Yogis Association
Serge Raynaud was born in Paris, France, at 6 Rue Grand aux Belles. His father Georges Constantine Louis Raynaud was an engineer and mother Madame Virginie Marie Billet. His parents moved to Brussels, Belgium when he was two years old and his mother died there when he was only five years of age. He studied at Comunal de la Rue Americana, San Lucas School in Rue Pallais, the Boarding School in Boisforte (after his father was sent to the Belgian Congo to build bridges), and attended the Catholic University of Lovaine where he graduated in mining engineer like his father and grandfather. Although Serge grew up and studied in Belgium he would return to his native France in his early twenties and would die in Nice, France in the year 1962. He was founder of the Universal Great Brotherhood, a worldwide yoga organization having branches in more than 22 countries. Serge Raynaud de la Ferriere was initiated into the Yogic Sciences and Philosophies on March 17, 1950 by Swami Navaratman and Shri Guruji Yogaswami of Jafna, Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka). It was at this time that he was given the title of Mahatma Chandra Bala.Immediately following he took the vow of Sannyasin, which is a renunciate. It is a self-imposed temporary stage where one relinquishes all material well-being, such as home, clothing, money, family, sex, etc. Articles regarding Serge's stay in Ceylon,(Sri Lanka), and his Mission were published by : The Times of Ceylon, Colombo; The Ceylon Daily News, Colombo; The Thinkaran, and Tamil Daily Newspaper, on March 16, 1950. Also in the following magazine: Thangarajah, 21 St. Albans Place, Bombalapitiya, Colombo Ceylon. He achieved notoriety in the European and American press and radio, thus lending scientific credibility to the ancient science of astrology. [edit] The Life and Education At an early age, engaged in para-scientific investigations[citation needed].He demonstrated an interest in psychology, and began investigating man's relationship with the universe, ancient cultures, linguistics, philosophy, medicine, theology, parapsychology, and metaphysical studies. Dr. de La Ferrière also studied esoterism and masonry. At the age of twenty he became interested in yoga[citation needed]. At the age of twenty-one, in 1937 he earned a doctorate in Hermetic Philosophy in London, England and the following year in Universal Science in Amsterdam, The Netherlands[citation needed]. During World War II, he returned to France and worked as a psychologist and began his research in the sciences of astronomyand astrology. As a consequence of his astrological predictions, he achieved a certain amount of fame and popularity from the European and American press and radio[citation needed]. The Universal Great Brotherhood Nevertheless, Yoga continued to persist as the central point of his interest. Therefore, without discarding his responsibilities, public activities, or scientific investigations, he slowly begins to partake in various initiations within this Science of the Great Rishis of India and Tibet, and the Yogis of this ancient tradition. 1944-1947, he organized scientific organizations and gave many conferences where he expounded his theories. In 1946, he obtained a degree as a Doctor in Natural Medicine [citation needed]. During this same year as President of the International Federation of Scientific Societies, he asked the French Government to financially sponsor a research expedition on the ancient civilizations of South America; his request was denied. In February, 1947, he establishes The World Organization of Cosmobiology. On November 12, 1947, Dr Serge left Europe and travels to the American Continent. He arrives at New York and establishes the first Universal Great Brotherhood Center. After passing through Guatemala, he arrives in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 17, 1948 with the goal of making it the main office of the Institution. Once the Center of Caracas is well established Dr. Serge finds a beautiful spot in El Limón, Maracay, in the State of Aragua, Venezuela where he decides to construct an Ashram. Here he offered an education to the public gratuitously which encompasses the study and practice of ancient traditional teachings with the purpose of spiritual, artistic, and mental development. He also establishes an Initiatic College, Esoteric Center and Study Center free of charge, as well as a Meditation Center, and Yoga Institute. After a stay of 17 months in Venezuela, in 1949 he travels to New York to preside over the International Peace Conference celebrated in the month of June in New York. From there he departs to Asia through Brussels and France. Initiations On April 13, 1950, at Hardward India, he attended the Kumbha Mela, a pilgrimage which occurs every twelve years where all the holy men, rishis and sages come together as well as their followers hoping to reconnect and strengthen with their source. He continues through his pilgrimage to Tibet, where he is given the name of Tdashi Sis-Sgan Cakya Rimpochech, reaching, in the full moon of May of this same year, the almost inaccessible summit of Mount Kailas. After his visit to the Himalayas, he travels through Burma, Siam and other countries of the Far East and stops in Australia. He establishes a Center in Algiers, Africa during which time he registers the Universal Great Brotherhood, Dr. Serge Raynaud de la Ferrière Foundation with the United Nations. He visits 43 countries establishing the Universal Great Brotherhood and its branches of Study Centers of Universal Wisdom, Ashrams, Initiatic Colleges, Institutes for Perfectionment, Yoga Institutes, Social Services, etc., while giving more than 2,500 lectures and workshops to Universities, Medical Faculties, Rotary Clubs, The Red Cross, The French Alliance, Cultural Center, Public Schools, Churches, Freemasonry Temples, Rosicrucian Chapters as well as Theosophical Society Chapters. Serge was accepted and received everywhere with enthusiasm. He presented a clear and well balanced teaching, both scientific and metaphysical, neither predominantly orientalist or occidentalist. His teachings are many and varied, for example: Buddhism, The Bible, Philosophy, Ontology, Geophysics, Cosmobiology, Meta-Astronomy, Medicine, Hermetic Science. Universities and Societies have conferred titles and honors upon him, and scientists everywhere have adhered to his theories. Upon returning to Europe, he no longer wears his white vestments that were worn during his public lectures and lives and blends among everyone else. He settles down in Nice, France in the French Maritime Alps, where no one can recognize him, and begins to write The Psychological Proposals, Volumes 1 through 36, and his 61 circular letters, (at this point he had already written the books : The Great Messages, Yug, Yoga Yoghism, Art in The New Age, and The Black Book Of Freemasonry, black signifying the color of explosive gunpowder). The Universal Great Brotherhood is non sectarian, and non religious. All philosophies, religions, and cultures are studied with impartiality and preference towards none. The Universal Great Brotherhood was registered in 1949 in Algiers, Africa with the United Nations DPI (Department of Public Information) The Universal Great Brotherhood is a member of the United Nations ECOSCOC (Economic and Social Council) and has Consultative Status as of the year 2000. For more information regarding the Universal Great Brotherhood's status within the United Nations go to UNITED NATIONS'S NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CLICK ON THE RIGHT HAND UPPER CORNER ON SEARCH ENGINES AND NGO DATABASE.
