The inspiration for the founding of MFI, comes from Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952) - an eminent and prescient figure who tried to maximize the potential of all people. In order to accomplish this object, Yogananda collected heuristics of self-improvement, from ancient to modern worldwide, and founded Self Realization Fellowship to make them available to the public at low cost. As an example of his prescience, he anticipated the benefits of modern cryptocurrency/digital ledger technology discussing exchange clubs as scalable solutions to problems of stagnation and inflation of the Great Depression.
May MFI reflect only his highest ideals and aspirations for all.
“In place of a currency, credits are exchanged. A man goes to a doctor, and instead of paying the doctor with money, he gives him so many credits. The doctor then goes to the club and exchanges these credits for labor to have his house painted.” Paramahansa Yogananda in World Crisis, talk given on May 19, 1940 in Encinitas, California, 3rd printing, 1995 by Self Realization Fellowship.
MFI aims to limit and check socially and ecologically unsustainable financial policies. This will hopefully buy us time for the focus, introspection and effort needed for us to maximize our own potential in pursuing our objectives.
Autobiography of a Yogi,has been an influential book to leaders and stars from around the world over the last eight decades. It is really a collection of stories and legends that challenge people to investigate them and potentially enhance their abilities. First published in 1942, it has been recognized as a life changing book for such noteworthy individuals as Elvis Presley, Gandhi, Madonna, George Harrison and Ravi Shankar among others. At Steve Job's memorial service in 2011, countless more individuals were introduced to the classic when the late founder of Apple offered this book as a parting gift to all who attended his service.
Steve Jobs first read this book as a teenager and reread it every year that followed. When the iPad was first released, Steve Jobs called Mother Center directly himself - the headquarters of Self-Realization Fellowship - asking to speak to the leader of the organization. Sri Daya Mata answered the call, and he requested to see if she would consider allowing him to include the Autobiography of a Yogi to be distributed through the iTunes store - - and Sri Daya Mata, agreed. As the only book he had on his iPad when he died, the life story of Paramahansa Yogananda deeply affected Steve Jobs.
Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce.com was in attendance at that service, and at an interview that followed he noted that this unique gift was given in a small brown box to all in attendance as they left the ceremony. In Marc's mind, Steve Jobs was a very spiritual man, uniquely gifted with intuitive talents and keenly influenced by the life of this Master. "This is going to be good" he said to himself as he looked through the book. "I knew that this was a decision he made, and whatever it was, it was the last thing he wanted us all to think about."