Editing Sunburst (community) (section)

== Early Sunburst ==
Norman Paulsen, who started the Sunburst community in the late 1960s as a small group, was a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the 1946 spiritual classic, ''[[Autobiography of a Yogi]]''. Their teachings were described as a mixture of [[mysticism]], [[Christianity]], and the practice of [[Kriya Yoga school|Kriya yoga]]. The group also incorporated [[Hopi]] symbolism into their ceremonies. The group met in a [[mobile home|trailer]] in Santa Barbara to practice meditation. When they outgrew that location, they moved to an old ice cream factory.

Paulsen's book, ''Life, Love, God: Story of a Soul Traveler'', explains his concept of Self-realization, his idea that at the core of every human being is a pure Self, a consciousness of Christ, and the realization of this Self is attained through the practice of meditation.<ref name="Andre"/>

In 1971, Sunburst bought 150 acres north of Santa Barbara on Gibraltar Road. There they began raising organic vegetables, the enterprise that would become their main source of revenue through the years. They operated a small café called Farmer and the Fisherman, a juice factory, a bakery, and a wholesale warehouse from which they shipped organic food all over the country.<ref name="Spaulding"/>

Also In 1971, the group bought the Ogilvy Ranch approximately {{convert|150|acre|km2}} north of Santa Barbara and renamed it [[Lemuria in popular culture|Lemuria]]. At one time, the ''Lemuria'' property grew wheat, corn, and vegetables. Sunburst members planted orchards and vineyards and used [[Percheron horse]]s to pull their plows. Goats provided milk and cheese; bee hives provided honey. Lemuria even had a blacksmith and a school for members’ children.<ref name="Beresford"/>

In 1974, the ''Los Angeles Times'' published a feature article about the founder and his organic farming business.  The Times said the following about the community, ''the office, a converted ice cream factory, is headquarters for a unique brotherhood and business that includes four ranches, three organic food markets, a bakery, two restaurants, a trucking service, and a {{convert|158|ft|m|adj=on}} sailing-vessel being restored at San Pedro.''<ref>{{cite news|author=Russell Chandler|title=Sun Shines Bright on Brotherhood: 'Dream' Bears Fruit -- and Vegetables and Profits|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1974-02-03}}</ref>

During their early years, they referred to themselves as the “Brotherhood of the Sun.”<ref name="Beresford">Beresford, Hattie (July 5, 2007), "The Way It Was: The Many Faces of Ogilvy Ranch," Montecito Journal</ref>

Sunburst members practiced a holistic lifestyle based on [[meditation]], living from the land, [[organic farming]], and an eightfold path.<ref name="Weaver">Weaver, Dusk and Willow. (1982), ''Sunburst: A People, A Path, A Purpose: The Story of the Most Provocative Communal Group in America Today'', San Diego, California: Avant Books {{ISBN|0932238165}}</ref>

Part of this was documented by two members of the group, Dusk and Willow Weaver. The married couple's joint journal won the “Best Non-Fiction Award” at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference and was later published by AVANT Books in 1982 with the title ''Sunburst: A People, A Path, A Purpose''.<ref name="Weaver"/>

By the late 1970s, internal disagreements led to the Sunburst community losing members. This in turn caused financial constraints that led to the California property being sold, and some members moved to Big Springs Ranch in Northeastern Nevada and later Salt Lake City, where they began natural foods businesses.<ref name="Beresford"/>

In 1996, Sunburst returned to California's central coast with the purchase of Sunburst Sanctuary.<ref name="Andre"/>