MYSTIC AT THE EDGE

A Western Woman Coloured by Asia

Author:  Maureen Chen

Full of spiritual wisdom and insights, Mystic at the Edge is a book you can pick up at any time to uplift, enlighten, and encourage you.

The first part spans Maureen Chen's life from growing up in "White" Australia, marrying her Chinese husband, travelling through Asia in search of a monastery where they could pursue the teachings of Buddha; he to become a monk, and her a nun, onto Europe and back to Australia through Asia once again.  In Australia, Maureen and Tom come across the Brahma Kumaris and begin to follow their teachings.  They end up returning to Asia where Maureen opens and sustains a number of Brahma Kumaris Meditation Centres in various countries.

In parts two and three, Maureen shares deep and meaningful explorations and contemplations on practical spirituality and how her spiritual philosophy and lifestyle interface with wider world views.

Entertaining yet powerful, and perhaps at times challenging, Mystic at the Edge shows that spirituality is not about being flaky, counter-cultural, or religious.  Spirituality is a natural calling in all of us to practice being who we really are and support each other in making a better world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A native of Sydney, Australia, Maureen Chen has travelled, read and learned widely.  She has studied and taught Raja Yoga Meditation with the Brahma Kumaris for over 40 years, establishing and sustaining Meditation Centres in Australia, Hong Kong, Cambodia and the Philippines.

In Hong Kong, Maureen was the Moderator of the Hong Kong Network on Religion and Peace, Chairperson of Unity for Peace, Secretary of the Living Values Education and Secretary of the Asian Business Leadership Exchange, ABLE.  She also helped to establish the Foodlink Foundation, an NGO linking hotels and restaurants with social welfare organisations. 

Maureen went on to establish social enterprises for victims of landmines; the Khmer Independent Life Team (KILT), and the Peace Cafe - a vegetarian community cafe offering values and environmental training in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

In August 2010, she moved to India to devote her time and efforts exclusively to organising and facilitating over 50 programs for the Future of Power project, bringing leaders together to explore the use of personal power.

After returning to Sydney to coordinate activities at the national office of the Brahma Kumaris, she was pulled back to Asia and relocated to Taiwan where she opened a Meditation Centre in the southern city of Kaohsiung.

In 2020 Maureen relocated back to Australia to coordinate the activities of the Brahma Kumaris retreat centre in the Yarra Valley, Victoria.