The Star Shines in Nepal

I am writing this on the plane home after a few extraordinary days with the White Eagle group in Nepal. From my visits, it really seems to me that the Nepalese people have the remarkable ability of presenting a smiling face and happy, positive attitude, no matter what hardship they are facing in their lives, being born into one of the poorest countries of the world. Our White Eagle Nepalese family are no exception to this, and I have been deeply touched by their commitment to service and the ideals of the true brotherhood of all people of every culture and religion.

I have personal links with this very special country which go back to 1989. In that year I visited twice! In January I went on holiday with an adventure travel group. The trip included time in the Chitwan National Park (elephant rides, canoeing and nature trails), and wild water rafting, camping at the riverside. But the life-changing highlight was my first glimpse of what is for me the most wonderful mountain in the world—

Machapuchare. When I saw it, a few days into our trek in the Annapurna region of the Himalayas, I did not know it was the holy mountain of the Nepalese, and no-one was allowed to climb it. I could see with my inner eyes a bright pulsating, shining six-pointed star above the Himalayan peak. I knew I had to get as near to it as I could. That first trek did not take me near enough. This led to my return in October that same year, when I was personally guided by a Sherpa friend I had made in the first trek to the base camp and into the Annapurna Sanctuary. I knew then that this amazing valley, surrounded by some of the highest peaks of the Himalayas, was and is an etheric meeting place of wise teachers of the Star Brotherhood who inspire the worldwide White Eagle work. Then, and on subsequent visits, I have been deeply aware of the special spiritual heritage of Nepal (and of course the bordering country Tibet, both in the heart of the Himalayas), and its deep connection with the White Eagle work.

Now it has been my great joy to re-visit—this time to meet with our White Eagle family in Nepal and to initiate our leaders there, Krishna and Sunita Ardikari, as Star Brothers, thus laying the foundations for our first physical brotherhood in the Indian subcontinent. (Dedicated co-workers will be joining in this work in due course.)

Something which makes the White Eagle work in Nepal very special is that our leaders are also personally committed to ‘brotherhood in action’ service in the community. During my visit I was asked to officially open and bless their ‘Haven on Earth’ Children’s Care Centre and help distribute blankets and food to the blind and disabled poor of Kathmandu. I also visited and talked with the children in a school for those who are truly desperately poor , also sponsored by our White Eagle family in Nepal. It was all an incredibly moving experience. For Krishna, Sunita and their group leaders and White Eagle workers, this is all an intrinsic part of their ‘Star service’. This touched my heart specially of course, because of my own work in founding the separate little charity, Star Action.

The final joy of my visit was to be presented with the first printed copies of my children’s book Peter Parrot and his Magic Star’ translated into Nepalese, with Rosemary Young’s delightful colour illustrations immaculately reproduced. It was an extraordinary moment in my life to hear Krishna’s right hand man, Keshib  talking eloquently about his hope that all Nepalese children would be inspired by this magical parrot (my idea to write these books had come when I was in Nepal all those years ago). Thank you Keshib and Krishna and all your amazing team of Star workers. Already, as I fly home to the UK, I am looking forward to my return!