Hi Lori, nice to hear back from you. I’m about half way through the book and have been writing small notes to go back on after I finished reading the whole book which I hope will be by sometime next week.

Tis the middle of the night here in Perth. I fell asleep around 8ish which is super early for me. Then awoke at around 1.30ish. Probably not a good thing to reach for electronic equipment in the middle of the night. I did attempt to listen to some relaxing music; however that didn’t relax me (ha ha).

I notice you have asked me a couple of questions re the book (I think) . I won’t stimulate my brain too much right now by answering them, however will endeavour to in the next week or two. If I don’t answer any of your questions ie. if I forget to, please feel free to prompt me for answers.

I don’t want to loose the continuity of us connecting, even if it means just writing a few lines to one another when we can. I’ve got a few things I need to sort out when I’m not feeling so fatigued which I’m hoping is within the next few days. I’m trying to eliminate all the material things in my apartment that I no longer use (not sure if I already mentioned that to you). By having less possessions I’m hoping this will allow me to grow spiritually by having more time to focus on the spiritual aspect of my life.

Cheers for now Lori (and it’s nice to receive your emojis) so hear is one back to you. ????

Dear Karel, lovely to hear back from you and not at all was your reply to me scattered. I easily understood and could comprehend all that you wrote. Tis 1am in the wee hours of Wednesday morning here in Perth and my phone tells me tis 10am Tuesday morning in Washington State – so you are right in the fact that here in Perth we are 15 hours exactly ahead of you in your part of the world.

I will try and keep this message short and reply in more detail in the next day or two. However, I am very intrigued that you belonged to “a church” where you were a student of Christianity for 40 years. I also was a student of Christianity. I was a practicing JW from the age of 38 (1988 till mid 2000’s). I started studying at a time when I was questioning what is life all about? I must say I do believe that being a JW taught me a lot and I funnily I don’t have regrets I being one. However for me, it was very hard to start thinking for myself once I left the organisation. I don’t know what church you belonged to however I can fully relate to everything you have written in your message that I’ve just read. I’ heard an ex JW lady contributing (part of their audience) to one of Gary’s and Linda’s old talk back shows only a few days ago. I cannot remember now what the topic was on, however I clearly remember that she was quite distraught about not being able to think freely for herself while she was a JW. As I write this, in large print at the back of the seat of the soul book it states “The Seat of the Soul encourages you to become the authority in your own life”. How grateful I feel and I’m sure thousands of others feel to be part of a group (the life school) whom supports and encourages us to use our minds and think. I have to say I did (and still do) miss the fellowship of my ex fellow worshipers. But hey, I guess that’s the price we pay for questioning authority. I’m certainly not looking back, I choose to look forward to learning more about myself; about others; challenging my beliefs and to chatting with like minded people like yourself. A new chapter of my life has begun and I wish you much personal fulfilment in yours too Karel.

As I mentioned I promise I’ll respond in more detail to your most welcomed reply to me and Sundar in a couple of days.

Bye for now Karel,

Take care;

Love Roslyn

Thank you Robina for the above information. I purchased the book from my local bookstore yesterday arvo and am now into my second chapter of it. After what you have said about your friends experience and after me reading just the first chapter of the book, I can clearly understand how listening on a CD would be challenging for me too. I’m actually finding that I continually need to re read sentences as I’m not understanding some things very easily.

For me, I can see I will need to read this book more than once to understand some things that I’m not fully grasping at the moment.

The great thing I am experiencing thus far, is in reading this book, I also have at my fingertips the availability to take advantage of listening to the information from the talks Gary and Linda have made available for us online. I’m finding this experience very unique; I’d be interested in any tips people can give me on using this site to its fullest potential.

I may get the CD further down the track. On some levels I don’t grasp information very easily so for me repetition is my best way of learning. I find my heart takes in information, however I find it difficult if someone was to ask me what I have read. Like the first lot of questions from chapter one. It was overwhelming for me, looking at the questions and not knowing the answers. I need to be patient with myself. All will be good.

Thank you again Robina for your reply. I very much appreciate it. I’ve been physically unwell for nearly a month now. So while I’m recuperating I’m very much enjoying the interaction of people’s suggestions/knowledge.

I’m looking forward to feeling physically stronger and continuing on my spiritual journey.

Love Roslyn

Sundar

Thanks again for your most recent response to me. Yes I will definitely be purchasing Seat of the Soul next week. I’m eager to get my hands on a copy of it. There is a copy available at my local book store. I’ve also seen online that there is a audio CD. I’m thinking of ordering it however before I do, do you happen to know if they are a series of CD’s of the actual book. I think maybe they are but not 100 per cent sure. If you don’t know, I may take the gamble and get them anyway. I like listening to CD’s at night – a calming voice like Gary’s carrying so much wisdom is sure to have good health benefits for me and to assist me in relaxing my overactive mind.

From all the positive, appreciative and heartwarming comments about Gary (and Linda) I can see why you only choose to read his/their books. I’ve just been reading from this site some of the lovely inspirational letters people around the world sent to Gary for his 70th Birthday. From those letters I can see Gary is loved and respected by so so many people and that He has humbly and sincerely had such a wonderful impact on so many peoples lives. I’m excited to learn from his teachings.

Coming across this site and the video of Gary and Oprah has opened my eyes and heart to the fact that I have access to some wonderful ways to keep spiritually growing. How grateful I feel at this very moment.

Karel,

I re read your reply to me and also during my search to learn more about this site this arvo, I can see that you are a fairly new member too. I feel you are as excited to learn from Gary’s and Linda’s teachings as much as I am. Am I correct in thinking you are?

Once again love to you both. I hope you have a pleasant Saturday over your part of the world as the day approaches a close here in Perth.

Ros

Dear Sundar and Karel – words do not quite express my gratitude to you both enlightening me on me feeling fearful. When I first introduced myself it is true, I did feel I was out of my depth. In hindsight I think I know why. It was my fear of the unknown and more technologically based than anything else.

Your responses to my fear have been thought provoking and I sincerely thank you both for enquiring further on where was my fear coming from. I know in my heart if I was attending a support group, meeting people (in person) whom I thought were on the same journey as me near my home or for that matter I was visiting another Australian State or overseas ie. the US I would be excited and far from feeling fearful. I thrive on learning “parts of me” that are actually unknown to me. Generally speaking I am open to the opinions of others and how they see me. I am not fearful of learning to become a more open and honest person, whom feels comfortable to speak my truth from my heart with integrity and conviction- all the while maintaining a sense of humility and trust.

I love to be challenged on why I think the way I do. However I need to clarify “my love to be challenged” as to date being challenged has mostly been by way of face to face or via phone conversations and not by the means of a keyboard. To talk one on one, via phone or even in a group conversation appears much easier to me. As you have mentioned Sundar if I communicate a few more times like I am now it will become easier. I trust what you are saying to be true and like most things in life patience and perseverance is required. I’ve found time tells a story for me and reveals a “truth” in me as to how long I am willing to persevere and be patient with myself for an outcome. At the moment it sure seems like it would have been a lot quicker to talk than type. I realise that would be the same for most of us…….especially us oldies – that for possibly the first half of our lives didn’t have exposure to the type of technology in today’s world. Like a wise friend once said to me there are the positives and the negatives to many aspects of life. Wow I need to add at this point how inspired I am by you Karel! Coming up 80. I don’t know you well , however I’m sure you have had your fair share of technological challenges. However I’m assuming that, and may be well out of order in saying this. You may have worked in the field of computers for all I know.

I’m sure you will be happy to know that during my waking hours (which has been a lot)… in the past 48 hours I have been “addicted” to much of Gary and Linda’s videos and some of the views of what others have written on this forum. I am learning that I have heaps to learn – especially understanding our different ways of communicating. What I mean by this is, my observation thus far is that I feel I am picking up on those conversations a certain style of communicating where it is evident to me that you both have a lot of knowledge/understanding on Gary’s and Linda’s style/way of communicating…….I may be incorrect in my observations and I am happy to be challenged in this area, however not just yet as I haven’t read any of their books at this point. I must say I have loved reading your views on different subjects so I’m certainly not criticising you.

I was talking to my daughter yesterday about my discovery of Gary and his second book Seat of the Soul. She laughed and said “I’m way ahead of you Mum”!! Turns out she purchased Seat of the Soul in Dublin,Ireland when she was working/living there in the early 2000’s. She said she only recently passed it on to a Charity. I’ve yet to source a copy – hopefully soon.

This definitely has taken me a long time to write the above. I’ve written the above on an iPad with it resting on my knee. Not so good for my posture and certainly challenging my patience at the present time. I need to find a more comfortable way of communicating ie. maybe from my laptop which will be a challenge in itself to learn how to use it again.

In closing, I’ll say goodnight as it’s possibly bedtime over your part of the world. It is 10am here in Perth. Do you both live in the US and if so, can I ask what part of the US do you live in. I’d like to know so I know the time difference between you and me. I have visited a few parts of the USA in recent years. It’s on my bucket list to visit there again one day.

I’m really over typing now and I honestly don’t have the energy to re read what I have written so I’m going to press “submit” and hope for the best. My best being that I’ve written from my heart with the intention that you both understand what I have written and I haven’t rambled on too much. My outlook is I can only move forward and get better at communicating in this style.

Love to you both,

Ros