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THE NETHERLANDS
FROM THE HEART
    In 1999 I discovered Christian Meditation. That was after having practiced
    Transcendental Meditation for almost 18 years. There was no difficulty for
    me in changing from TM to CM, in fact I had been wondering for many
    years why meditation could not be available as a practice for Christian
    seekers. Having read the works of great Christian mystics I had found out
    that their prayer-life was all about surrender, faith, simplicity, grace,
    stillness. All very much the same as in the meditation I practiced

    After my discovery –by reading The Good Heart- I got into contact with the
    Centre for Christian Meditation in Belgium and I had a good talk with Agnes
    d’Hooghe who leads the Centre. Within a year I had attended the first
    School on the “Essential Teaching” and started my own meditation group
    in my hometown.

    But there was more to come. I was invited to attend the first European
    Meeting in Epernon, France, and after that I became coordinator for the
    Netherlands. Last year I was in Florence at the international meeting for
    coordinators. All the planning and the work that comes from that, all the
    people I meet etc. is all very interesting and inspiring, but most important
    is still my practice of daily meditation.

    In November, last year, I was interviewed for a Dutch television program.
    There were no questions about the WCCM, the meditation groups in the
    Netherlands, the number of meditators etc, while I had just prepared for
    these factual data (as I thought they would be interested in these facts). All
    they wanted to know was: “What is happening with you by meditating?
    What does it do to you?” And they hit the point by asking just this question!
    What is actually happening to me by meditation?

    Just sitting still and silent, repeating my word… It is a healing, harmonizing
    experience. When I get to the moment that I let go of all my worries,
    thoughts, feelings, ideas: it clears my mind, it brings peace to me.

    But it is not that easy; many days it is a struggle and very confronting.
    There is chaos in my head, I am full of emotions, feeling restless. Just by
    simply staying where I am, doing the work of the meditation is all I can do
    on such moments. Just being there on my stool and waiting, knowing that
    His Love and Grace are at work within me.

    I have had the experience of the Light of His Presence shining upon me,
    making me feel at one with All. This is a precious memory, but still I know
    that it is the daily practice that helps me to get through my tasks as a
    mother, teacher, housewife, etc.

    All the difficulties and troubles I can give my clear attention after the
    meditation. That is what meditation does to me: by ‘letting go’ during
    meditation I can give more and fuller attention after meditation.

    To be able to pass it on to other people and share the meditation in my
    weekly group is one of the things that I am most satisfied about in my life.

    Beppie van Beest
    The Netherlands
    February 2006
Mariya and Agnes, Florence, Summer 2005