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
The John Main Seminars
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.Click on each teacher’s bio to browse their publications, talks, and writings.
Widen Your Tent
John Main Seminar 2024
Led by Jason Gordon, Archbishop of Trinidad & Tobago
The international yearly John Main Seminar will be held in-person and virtually in New Harmony, Indiana, USA July 8-13, 2024. Our WCCM history is intertwined with this historic town, more aptly described as a village or a “space away”.
In 1991, Fr. Bede Griffiths led the John Main Seminar in New Harmony, with the theme “The New Creation in Christ: Christian Meditation and Community”. Our name was inaugurated at that seminar. Join this return to New Harmony with a contemplative gathering of individuals from all over the world to discern, and through discourse and silence, participate in ways to ‘widen our tents’.
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Available Seminars
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,
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,
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.
John Main Seminar 2018: videos of the talks are now available
The John Main Seminar 2018: A Contemplative Response to the Crisis of Change was held in Bruges, 20-23 Sep. All
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.
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 1994: The Good Heart
The 11th annual John Main Seminar took place in London, UK, and welcomed The Dalai Lama 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.
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,
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,
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.
John Main Seminar 2018: videos of the talks are now available
The John Main Seminar 2018: A Contemplative Response to the Crisis of Change was held in Bruges, 20-23 Sep. All
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.
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 1994: The Good Heart
The 11th annual John Main Seminar took place in London, UK, and welcomed The Dalai Lama 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.