The John Main Seminar

What is the John Main Seminar?

The John Main Seminar has been an annual event since 1984. It was established to honour John Main’s memory and develop the influence of his teaching in new fields and dialogue with the modern world.

Presenters include the Dalai Lama, Bede Griffiths on John Main, Mary McAleese on Reconciliation of Conflict, Bernard McGinn on Christian Mysticism, Richard Rohr, Charles Taylor, Thomas Keating and Sarah Bachelard and multiple speaker events on The Crisis of Change and Indigenous Wisdom.

John Main Seminar 2023: New Wine, New Skins

September 11-17, 2023, from Bonnevaux & online

Led by Cynthia Bourgeault, Andrew Harvey and Laurence Freeman

Cynthia Bourgeault, Andrew Harvey and Laurence Freeman will be addressing the crisis of our time and the contemplative wisdom that offers the world hope to emerge into a higher level of consciousness.

How did the John Main Seminar start?

The first seven Seminars were held at the former Benedictine Priory of Montreal, beginning the year after John Main’s death. They were relatively small-scale events and the presenters were all prominent members of the Community with high standing in their professional fields.

The 1991 Seminar was a transformative event for the WCCM, inded the birth of the organisational aspect of the ‘monastery without walls’. It was held in New Harmony, Indiana. The participants were representative of a growing global family. The presenter was Bede Griffiths, the pioneer of interfaith dialogue and friend of John Main who spoke on Main’s vision of community under the theme of The New Creation in Christ. Immediately after the Seminar he remained with the leadership of the Community and contributed to a three-day process out of which the WCCM’s organizational and structural constitution were established.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama led the 1994 Seminar, The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teaching of Jesus. The resulting book, of the same title, containing his commentaries on the gospels and dialogues with Laurence Freeman and other Christian teachers became an international bestseller in many languages. His Holiness also headlined the roster of former John Main Seminar presenters at the new millennium Seminar held in Belfast, Northern Ireland. That event involved over 3000 participants making it the biggest single organizational seminar of the Community to date.

Other Seminar presenters include: Jean Vanier (France), Fr. William Johnston S.J. (Japan), Laurence Freeman, OSB, Fr. Raimon Panikkar (India), former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, Abbot Thomas Keating, Prof Huston Smith, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Bishop Kallistos Ware, Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB, composer and singer Margaret Rizza, Robert Kennedy, SJ, James Alison, Timothy Radcliffe, OP, Philosopher and Theologian Leonardo Boff & Frei Betto OFM (Brazil), Fr. Joseph Wong OSB Cam, Daniel Madigan, SJ, Professor David Tacey (Australia) and Alex Zatyrka SJ (Mexico).

Still Present: The Life and Legacy of John Main in 2007 marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of his death. It featured a panel of speakers including Charles Tayor and Sarah Bachelard. Fr. Laurence. Cardinal Walter Kaspar was the keynote speaker at the 2008 Seminar in Germany on Unity: Local and Global.

The Seminar talks are framed by four periods of meditation a day and a final contemplative Eucharist. The WCCM’s Annual General Meeting is an integral part of this annual event. A three-day silent retreat led by Fr. Laurence is linked to Seminar.

View talks from past seminars

Past Seminars

JMS 2022: The Challenge TO Democracy: The Challenge OF Democracy

The 2022 John Main Seminar was led by a rare kind of politician – respected and admired by all parts of the global spectrum – who has devoted his life to the democratic process: Herman Van Rompuy. He has gained a unique knowledge of the world, its cultures, virtues and vices. His life has also been a spiritual journey, grounded in faith and leading him to a daily practice of meditation and to sharing in the mission of our community.

Democracy is too important to leave just to politicians. However imperfectly, democracy more than any other kind of government creates the conditions allowing humanity to reach its full potential. We all have to transcend personal interests in order to live in a democratic society and accept responsibility for our own freedom and future. It is also part of our spirituality because democracy is an ongoing conversation that demands truth, other-centredness and serves justice.

Herman van Rompuy is a Belgian politician who served as Prime Minister of Belgium and later as the first permanent President of the European Council, 2009 to 2014. Acknowledged as an international statesman of personal stature and wisdom, he also contributes to his fellow meditators in the WCCM. Because of his lifelong expertise in this form of poetry, he has been nicknamed Haiku Herman and this year was appointed by the Japanese government to the rank of Grand Haiku Master.

The talks themselves and the responses from an international group of young meditators explored:

1. Democracy, values and meditation

2. Global rivals: the Cold War between Democracy and Despotism

3. Defending and supporting democracy in times of rising populism

4. Government of the People by the People for the People: what changes are needed?

JMS 2020: One Heart, One Hope – Indigenous Wisdom and the Future of Humanity

The 37th annual John Main Seminar was hosted by WCCM Mexico in Mexico City with Fr. Alex Zatyrka as the featured speaker.

JMS 2019: A Contemplative Christianity for our Time

The 36th annual John Main Seminar was hosted by WCCM Canada in Vancouver with Sarah Bachelard as the presenter.

JMS 2018: A Contemplative Response to the Crisis of Change

The 35th annual John Main Seminar was hosted by WCCM Belgium in Bruges where Laurence Freeman joined eight other speakers from politics, finance, science and social justice.

JMS 2017: Praying with the Masters Today

The 34th annual John Main Seminar was hosted by WCCM USA, with Bernard McGinn, the renowned scholar of western mysticism.

JMS 2016: Where the Light Comes in…

The 33rd John Main Seminar took place in Trosly, France, home of L’Arche, where Jean Vanier led the event for the second time.

JMS 2015: Spirituality and Religion in a Secular Age

The 32nd John Main Seminar was hosted by WCCM New Zealand in Hamilton and was led by the Australian scholar of contemporary spirituality David Tacey.

JMS 1994: The Good Heart

The 11th annual John Main Seminar took place in London, UK, and welcomed The Dalai Lama as the featured speaker.

Past Seminars

Discovering new potential within our human dignity

I’m sitting here in Bonnevaux, our International Center in France and I am inviting you to come to join us

Reinventing the Christian mystical tradition

In this video interview, Andrew Harvey, one of the three speakers of the upcoming John Main Seminar 2023, New Wine,

Cynthia reflects on the upcoming John Main Seminar 2023

How do we find new wineskins with sobriety and continuity?

Cynthia Bourgeault is one of the three speakers of the upcoming John Main Seminar 2023, New Wine, New Skins, 14 –

Are we living in a disenchanted world?

In this episode, Charles Taylor reflects on what we mean by the word ‘disenchantment’ today, illustrates our modern society through

Can meditation contribute to dealing with the crisis of our time?

In this article, Peter Ng, Chairman and Founding Partner of Singapore-based Avanda Investment Management and National Coordinator for WCCM Singapore,

John Main Seminar 2013

Fr. Joseph Wong OSB Cam was the speaker in the John Main Seminar 2013 with the theme Desert Wisdom & Oriental Spirituality: Inner Silence.

JMS 2012: Spirituality and Environment

The 29th John Main Seminar hosted in Indaiatuba, São Paulo, Brazil, and was led by theologians Leonardo Boff and Frei Betto

JMS 2011: Alive in Christ

The 28th John Main Seminar was hosted by WCCM Ireland in Cork, led Timothy Radcliffe OP former Master of the Dominican Order.

JMS 2010: The Shape of God’s Affection

The 27th John Main Seminar was hosted by WCCM UK in Canterbury and led by theologian James Alison.

JMS 2009: When God Disappears

The 26th annual John Main Seminar took place in London, UK, and welcomed Robert Kennedy SJ as the featured speaker.

JMS 2008: Unity: Local and Global

The 25th annual John Main Seminar took place in Mainz, Germany, and welcomed Cardinal Walter Kasper as the featured speaker.

JMS 2007: Still Present – The Life and Legacy of John Main

The 24th annual John Main Seminar took place in Quebec, Canada, and welcomed Laurence Freeman, Balfour Mount, Sarah Bachelard, Peter Ng and Yvon Théroux as the featured speakers.

JMS 2006: The Fire of Silence Through Music and Mystics

The 23rd annual John Main Seminar took place in Penang, Malaysia, and welcomed Margaret Rizza as the featured speaker.

JMS 2005: A Lever and a Place to Stand

The 22nd annual John Main Seminar took place in Thousand Oaks, USA, and welcomed Richard Rohr OFM as the featured speaker.

JMS 2004: Heart of Flesh – A Feminist Spirituality for Women and Men

The 21st annual John Main Seminar took place in Vermont, USA, and welcomed Joan Chittister OSB as the featured speaker.

JMS 2003: Panel on Bede Griffiths

The 20th annual John Main Seminar took place in Reading, UK, and welcomed Andrew Harvey, Shirley Du Boulay, Bruno Barnhardt OSB Camspeakers as the featured speakers.

JMS 2002: The Kingdom of the Heart – The Jesus Prayer in our Daily Life

The 19th annual John Main Seminar took place in Ontario, Canada, and welcomed Bishop Kallistos Ware as the featured speaker.

JMS 2001: Spirit in the Desert

The 18th annual John Main Seminar took place in Sydney, Australia, and welcomed Archbishop Rowan Williams as the featured speaker.

JMS 2000: The Way of Peace

The 17th annual John Main Seminar took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and welcomed The Dalai Lama & Previous Presenters as the featured speakers.

JMS 1999: Return to the Light

The 16th annual John Main Seminar welcomed Huston Smith as the featured speaker.

JMS 1998: Heart of the World

The 15th annual John Main Seminar took place in San Francisco, USA, and welcomed Thomas Keating as the featured speaker.

JMS 1997: Reconciled Being

The 14th annual John Main Seminar took place in Dublin, Ireland, and welcomed Mary McAleese as the featured speaker.

JMS 1996: The Silence of Life

The 13th annual John Main Seminar took place in London, UK, and welcomed Raimon Panikkar as the featured speaker.

JMS 1995: On Jesus

The 12th annual John Main Seminar took place in San Diego, USA, and welcomed Laurence Freeman OSB as the featured speaker.

JMS 1993: The New Christian Mysticism

The 10th annual John Main Seminar took place in Toronto, Canada, and welcomed William Johnston as the featured speaker.

JMS 1992: From Brokenness to Wholeness

The 9th annual John Main Seminar took place in London, UK, and welcomed Jean Vanier as the featured speaker.

JMS 1991: Christian Meditation – An Evolving Tradition

The 8th annual John Main Seminar took place in New Harmony, USA, and welcomed Bede Griffiths as the featured speaker.

JMS 1990: Spirit and Psyche

The 7th annual John Main Seminar welcomed Eileen O’Hea as the featured speaker.

JMS 1989: On Wholeness

The 6th annual John Main Seminar welcomed Balfour Mount as the featured speaker.

JMS 1988: Christian Identity and Modernity

The 5th annual John Main Seminar welcomed Charles Taylor as the featured speaker.

JMS 1987: On Reading

The 4th annual John Main Seminar welcomed Derek Smith as the featured speaker.

JMS 1986: The New Church

The 3rd annual John Main Seminar welcomed John Todd as the featured speaker.

JMS 1985: The Search for God in Modern Literature

The 2nd annual John Main Seminar welcomed Robert Kiely as the featured speaker.

JMS 1984: Indian Scriptures as Christian Reading

The 1st annual John Main Seminar welcomed Isabelle Glover as the featured speaker.