World Peace News: Top Stories

Germany: British project's directors inspired by visit to Maharishi Peace Palace in Erfurt
by Global Good News staff writer

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9 May 2013

German and British coordinators for their countries' initiatives to build Maharishi Peace Palaces continued to describe the recent visit of a delegation from the UK to the newly completed Peace Palace in Erfurt, Germany. The group from Maharishi Foundation UK included five project directors for the Peace Palace to be built at Maharishi Garden Village in Rendlesham, Suffolk, England.

Please see Part I of this article: Germany: Maharishi Peace Palace in Erfurt transforms near and far environment - even in UK.

The visitors were warmly welcomed and hosted by Dr Eckart and Lila Maria Stein, who led the Erfurt construction project and are now directors of the Maharishi Peace Palace with its full slate of courses and programmes developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

During the two-day visit, together the German and English coordinators engaged in a series of almost nonstop, delightful, and very fruitful meetings that explored in detail many aspects of the planning, administration, design, and construction of the Erfurt Peace Palace. They were joined at times by other leaders who participated substantially in its development, including Gisela Wassner, Christiane Schuhmann, and Martina Bergmann. The UK group made use of every opportunity to learn as much as they could in the brief visit, starting from the moment they were greeted by Dr Stein at the Leipzig airport.

Everyone on the British team was deeply impressed and inspired by the overall dignity and beauty of the facility. One member, Dr Richard Johnson, director of the Transcendental Meditation programme in the UK, described several contributing factors, including the high quality of materials and workmanship throughout.

He also noted many design details, especially decorative elements significant in Maharishi Vastu architecture, according to which the whole facility was designed. The group especially enjoyed the 'magnificent' grand central meeting hall on the ground floor, with an inlaid marble design marking the Brahmasthan, the centre point of the building.

Dr Johnson also commented on the 'lovely feeling' of being in the Vastu Peace Palace. Every activity throughout the day—meetings, dining, Transcendental Meditation practice, even sleep, seemed permeated by the peaceful, blissful atmosphere that is a goal of Vastu design; an effect also supported by the daily group practice of Transcendental Meditation and its advanced techniques within its walls. They felt constantly nourished and refreshed by being in the Vastu.

The British group marvelled at the thoroughness and precision of the comprehensive Erfurt planning process, as well as its flexibility and creative design solutions—for example, allowing the building to expand to an additional storey as more funding support became available once construction began. Dr Johnson praised the great focus of Dr Eckart and Lila Maria Stein on all the innumerable details.

The two Erfurt directors emphasized to the guests several principles they considered invaluable to the successful, cost-effective management and rapid completion of such a project—including detailed planning, direct engagement with materials suppliers, and careful attention to communication with builders at every stage.

The visit sparked a collaborative relationship between the British and German directors, one marked by warm mutual appreciation and cooperation. 'I'm in awe of all the organizing power and gentleness of the team that bought this all together,' Dr Johnson said, expressing the UK team's thanks for their generous hosts' time, expert knowledge, and help—and their kind and thoughtful hospitality, including a traditional British tea. The group returned home inspired to quickly bring the Rendlesham Maharishi Peace Palace to fruition.

Dr Peter Warburton, Chair of Maharishi Foundation UK, commented that their visit to Erfurt was the catalyst for 'a total transformation of our planning for the Maharishi Peace Palace in Rendlesham'. With architectural renderings he outlined their updated plans to begin construction as soon as possible.

The Erfurt directors commended the expertise of the British group, who 'came well prepared' for substantive discussion, reflecting the advanced status of their project. Dr Eckart Stein pledged to remain in communication and to help in any way possible as their project advances. Acknowledging the comparatively much larger scale of the planned UK Peace Palace, he said, 'by next year you'll be welcoming us for a visit in your very grand Maharishi Peace Palace in Rendlesham.'

He also invited those in other countries to visit Erfurt, 'to learn how to build a Maharishi Peace Palace' and help realize Maharishi's plan for 3,000 Peace Palaces around the world, creating invincible, permanent peace in every nation.

See related article: Peace Palace in Germany offers courses, lectures for general public

Copyright © 2013 Global Good News Service

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