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FROM THE HEART
    I returned last weekend from the John Main retreat and Seminar in
    Penang. Fr Laurence's moving Tablet article on his visit to India arrived
    while I was away so I'm attaching it now.

    What a rich feast this retreat and seminar was in the country where John
    Main began to meditate.Thinking back over the week many images and
    memories flood back which I'd like to share with you--

  • The walking meditation in the early dawn with the sound of the
    waves as our mantra – a back drop to all we did in the retreat.
  • ‘'Spend time just looking at the sea'' Laurence said and we did, and
    were absorbed into the ocean of God 's love.
  • Laurence's inspirational talks on the experience of God at the heart
    of all religions-“the harmony of the soul.''
  • The paradox of being in a Muslim country learning about the Koran
    and Muslim faith from a Catholic monk.
  • Margaret's wonderful seminar deepening our insights into the
    mystics and being introduced to the music that flowed from her
    heart.
  • The fun of learning to sing - and hum- as a choir led by Margaret
    with meditators from 23 countries.
  • The deep sharing and listening in the group sessions --‘where heart
    spoke to heart.'
  • The inspiration of the reports from the 9 National coordinators and
    14country representatives.
  • Laurence's power point which gave us an overview of his travel and
    an insight into the growth of the community around the world.
  • Being taken out of our comfort zone and stretched---physically by
    Givovanni, musically by Margaret and spiritually by Laurence.
  • Making new friends, sharing, listening, learning, teaching – with
    laughter,and a few tears along the way.
  • Laurence spoke about the major religions each having a note of
    divine harmony. In the joyous, hilarious, and at times moving
    presentations at the cultural event I felt we too had a note of divine
    harmony. We were in tune with one another, resonating with one
    another,rejoicing in the unity of our diversity.
  • I'm sure for all of us the most powerful memory of the Retreat and
    Seminar will be that of sitting together with meditators from 23
    countries united in the silence—and the Lord's prayer prayed in so
    many different languages. What a witness to our troubled world-
    the ‘community of love' Fr John spoke of and hoped for.

    But there was more! We travelled to Kuala Lumpur on pilgrimage stopping
    at temples and other places of interest and visiting areas of the city where
    John Main as a young civil servant would have lived and worked. The
    highlight of the pilgrimage was visiting the Pure Life Society where John
    Main first met Swami Satyananda and began to meditate.We were greeted
    by a dragon dance and children from the orphanage and were welcomed
    by Mother Mangalam.

    Mother who is 80 had met John Main when he had come to visit the
    Swami. She said it was a meeting of two great souls. Mother Mangalam
    continued the work of Swamiji after his early death in a car accident and
    leading the Society has continued his work and vision.

    The highlight of the visit was meditating with our community and members
    of the Pure Life Society in the temple where Fr John and Swamiji
    meditated together—a moving and unforgettable occasion.

    After a joyous vegetarian banquet with our hosts we were privileged to
    listen to a dialogue between Fr Laurence and a representative from the
    Muslim, Buddhist,Hindu and Sikh communities.

    For all these wonderful memories we thank Pat Por the Malaysian
    Coordinator, her husband Joe, Serena Woon and their team. Nothing was
    too difficult for Pat. In the midst of a busy life as Director of Services for
    the Catholic Hospital in Kuala Lumpur she managed to plan and coordinate
    the seminar with patience and love.

    ‘Terimah Kasih'   Thank you to the Malaysian meditation community for
    hosting such a joyous, friendly and memorable John Main Seminar in your
    beautiful ‘ Pearl of the Orient' Please watch for the cds of the Retreat and
    Seminar—they're a must have!

    In the words of Margaret's Prayer for Peace we sang together-

    Let peace fill our hearts ,our world ,our universe, peace, peace

    We hold  in our hearts all the trouble spots in our world today as a
    community of love and peace,

    Pauline Peters
JOHN MAIN SEMINAR - PENANG, MALAYSIA, 2006
Swami Satyananda Tree
Pure Life Society, 2006
Pure Life Society Pilgrims - 2006
Sister Mary Kay McNelis, John Main Seminar 2006
Margaret Rizza, Penang 2006