PeterJi was born in 1951 in Sydney. He began his spiritual search at a young age by questioning the meaning of life. In 1975, he met his first master in India and while practising a certain meditation technique, had a profound awakening in June 1980. This created an ongoing presence in him, which deeply changed his life. He later returned to the West realising that his spiritual sadhana wasn’t complete.

In 1982 he met his beloved April Mai. From that point on he realised the paths of love and meditation were creating the holistic spiritual life that he had always longed for.

In 1986 they both began doing long retreats in the Satipatthana tradition. Two Burmese masters, Sayadaws U Janaka and U Pandita had a profound impact on their lives. Their formal practice continued for another eight years.

During this time they also met Barry Long, a Western master. PeterJi realised that Tantra was also a valid path to enlightenment and he explored the depths of relating in a new way. April and he spent nine years attending Barry’s formal meetings and were connected with this teacher till he died in 2003.

In 1992, PeterJi began teaching meditation to a small group of people on a weekly basis. Three years later he realised that enlightenment had come to a deeper fruition within him and with his masters’ blessings, he began to run seminars and longer retreats within Australia. He has also taught in the East and US.

PeterJi’s guidance appeals to people from many backgrounds that are looking to integrate work, meditation and tantric relationship into their daily lives. In demystifying the spiritual search, Eastern practices and Western approaches are often combined.

Last year PeterJi took time out to complete his first book. He is currently beginning work on the second book and his music.

Tune in regularly to his regular column called ‘What is Enlightenment’ in the Inner Self Newspaper available online at www.innerself.com.au ( East -West edition) Archives go back to November 09.