I. Introduction

Over the years when teaching workshops, people have often commented that they liked the stories I tell, and that my stories offered them important learning. About eight years ago, my friend and colleague Molly Gordon suggested it would be a great idea if I wrote up my stories in a newsletter. And thus the Seishindo newsletter was born! Recently, as you know, I gathered all my stories about my life in Japan and created my book, Pure Heart Simple Mind- Wisdom stories from a life in Japan.

Since the book has been out, a number of people have said they would like to learn about my process of writing. Because of the interest shown, I am going to write a series of newsletters about my writing process. In the coming months I will also teach a teleseries on writing.

As I said in my last newsletter, if you would like to learn about how to be a better writer, please contact me at charlie@seishindo.org and I will place your name on a mailing list as a potential participant in my upcoming writing classes.

Needless to say, writing is a form of communication.

What might be a bit surprising to you, is that improving your writing skills can have a positive affect on your verbal communication style and your relationships with others. I hope that as you read through these rules, the reasons why this is so will become evident.

Dear Laughtercoachfriends,

we want to share, with you all, this obituary in memory of Annette, composed by Laura Scully, her daughter. (See below)

 Many warm greetings

from

John and Pauline

A pilgrimage is a journey of discoveries in the exterior as well as the interior world. Throughout history people have been travelling to extraordinary places with magnificent nature, religious memory spots and sanctuaries, encompassed by mythologies which are still speaking its symbolic language as a living cultural expression, even to this day. Himalaya is often called the roof of the world. The newly created state Uttaranchal consists of the two mountain ranges Kumaon and Gharwal. These areas are full of pilgrim places, temples, energy spots and legends about them. The people who live here believe Himalaya is the abode of God and that they are the neighbours. Every seeker that comes here to get spiritual uplift confirms their belief. Many yogis and spiritual masters have been residing here. Mahatma Gandhi also wrote about his visits here and praised what he saw and experienced.