Shakti Khalsa, Bruno & Cornelia Würtenberger
Shakti Khalsa was born in New York City and, a child of the '60s, spent the '70s in India and then in an international spiritual community practicing and teaching Kundalini Yoga and meditation. In the '80s she expanded beyond the too small definitions of that spiritual community to work in the world as a restoration carpenter and active supporter of women's issues.
Discovering Avatar was a dream come true, the ability to have a spiritual life in the world. She now delivers Avatar in Austin, Texas, and other places to all who are ready to expand beyond their current definitions of self. Shakti can be contacted at the Gratitude Avatar Center in Austin at
512-447-8560 or 888-447-8560.
AJ: How did you discover Avatar?
Shakti: In 1994 I made a deliberate decision to move from the east coast to Texas. Having grown up in New York City, Austin was the most beautiful, warm and friendly place I'd ever been. Austin has a reputation for being a fun place where young people go to retire. I thought that I fit the profile. But there was trouble in paradise. After 25 years of spiritual searching, I still didn't know who I was or what my purpose was in paradise.
Then one day an Avatar Journal arrived in the mail. My partner read it but I didn't. Her excited response, to my surprise, was, "This is it! Avatar is what I've been searching for. I'm going to do the course." I wasn't ready.
Over the following months, I watched as her life changed dramatically for the better. I even encouraged my friends to do The Avatar Course. I still wasn't ready. Then she went to The Master Course. Upon her return she said she had a primary, "I am happy." Then she asked me if I wanted to be happy. The tears came as I realized that I had never even considered being happy. I had created a life of resistance. I was certain of what I didn't want but had no idea what I truly wanted in my life.
We spent a few hours together doing exercises from Resurfacing and I felt a tremendous relief. One week later I was at my first Avatar course.
AJ: How did your Iife change after Avatar?
Shakti: Prior to Avatar I had tried many techniques to quiet my mind. At times it was a three-ring circus.
In Section II of Avatar there is an exercise that enabled me to increase my awareness and connect with everyone and everything. In that moment I achieved what I had been longing for, for 25 years, the experience of a quiet mind.
For many years prior to Avatar I struggled with anger and depression. I felt it was out of my control. I had tried to process it, restructure it, put it on the side and even put it behind me. But still I carried it through my life. With Avatar I discovered the beliefs that were creating the anger and depression. They had been transparent to me. Now I know that I am the creator of these beliefs. I no longer feel powerless to change them. I have the tools to discreate them with ease.
AJ: What do you feel is special about Avatar?
Shakti: For me, the magic of Avatar is its simplicity. So many of us (including myself) have lived life through the belief that anything of value comes from struggle. That "no pain, no gain" thing.
I feel as if we are now in a very accelerated time on the planet. Many people are discovering the value of meditation. They experience peace during meditation, yet find it difficult to experience peace in the world. There is a separation between the spiritual world and the material world (actually an ancient spiritual belief).
What I love about Avatar is that everyone has the ability to be happy, to live in the world and have a spiritual life. You actually begin to experience life as a meditation. The result I see is people become more at ease with taking responsibility for their lives.
AJ: What is the most interesting or rewarding part of delivering Avatar?
Shakti: Each and every time I am with an Avatar student who has come face to face with a difficult life situation that they thought
would never change and through the compassion of Avatar they are freed from the past, I experience a miracle.
Recently, I had the honor of having my parents participate in The ReSurfacing Workshop. They are in their 70's and 80's and prior to the workshop I had the limiting belief that perhaps they were too old to change. To my surprise they were not the most senior students on the course. There was an 88- year-old who also participated. We were all so excited by the insights and gains they made with the ReSurfacing exercises.
AJ: What do you see as your role in assisting planetary transformation?
Shakti: When I was a child I always knew there was something more to life than what was being presented. The theme that was running through my life was to
find a way to make the world a better place. But I never knew how I could make a difference. Why was I here? The idea of service to humanity was just that, an idea.
I realize now that it's not revolution but evolution that will create planetary transformation. One human being at a time will realize their full potential. I am very excited to be a part of this process. Being an Avatar Master in the world is about taking full responsibility for my life. Not blaming others. It's creating the life I want and assisting others to do the same. There are many paths all with the same goal: peace of mind. I see the momentum building as we all become more willing to take full responsibility for our lives. It's the end of separation created by belief systems, and I am grateful to be of service in the creation of peace of mind on the planet.
Bruno Würtenberger is a founding director of Spirituelle Schule Schweiz [Spiritual School Switzerland] and author of the following books: "Die Freunde des Lichts," "Licht ist in Dir" and "Alles ist Liebe" (Govinda Verlag Schweiz I Deutschland) ["The Friends of the Light," "Light Is in You, and "All Is Love."]
He has more than 10 years' experience with natural healing and psychic counseling and has been a speaker at international conventions all over the world. He and Cornelia, married for 10 years, have one son.
You can contact Bruno by phone at
+41-(0)1-951-0405 fax +41-(0)1-950-1800 or at BrunoW@swissline.ch
AJ: How did you come to find Avatar?
Bruno: About 10 years ago, I was giving a talk at a big expo. As I walked through the exhibition, I noticed a nicely done Avatar booth. I read a few headings like 3000 SFr., nine days, enlightenment, Avatar, USA.
I had a weary smile for those people, and the following thoughts were triggered: So expensive, it's just about money... such great successes in such short a time... impossible... empty promises just to get people. The name Avatar sounded almost like blasphemy to me, somewhat pompous. Typically American, they are good business people... Too bad for the ones who fall into this trap.
These were my first thoughts about Harry's Avatar training. I know they did not put me in a good light. For all around me I saw people that had a more elevated consciousness than I had at that time; they were a sure sign
that I was only dreaming about freedom but had not realized it. They were a symptom of my tendency to judge people before I had understood them and before I really had a good look at what they have to say. In fact, I preferred to stay ignorant and to feel unfree.
Several years later, I had already founded the "Spirituelle Schule Schweiz" (Spiritual School Switzerland); someone wanted to use our classroom to give a presentation about Avatar. This was an excellent opportunity to listen. It seemed as though this talk was specifically addressed to me. I was impressed how the Master gave his speech and answered questions and handled objections from the audience. With no resistance and loving understanding. Yes, and since at that time my wife, Cornelia, had told me: "Either you do something for yourself, or I quit!" I decided to do this ominous course. This was one of the most important decisions I have made in my life.
AJ: What do you feel is special about Avatar?
Bruno: That the student always remains source. There is no coercion. A lot of lightness and joy go with the course. At the end, there is the feeling: "I am as good as I am!" And the experience that you don't have any limits except the ones you put on yourself.
AJ: What is your most interesting or memorable experience since delivering Avatar?
Bruno: Experiencing over and over how great people are. There are no hopeless cases. Each and
every one will make essential steps in his evolvement. Also to witness how Star's Edge competently deals with students and Masters, even in difficult situations, has deeply impressed me.
AJ: What do you feel is your role in assisting planetary transformation?
Bruno: I keep transforming myself. I become more peaceful, loving, enlightened. Whatever I do, think and feel contributes to an enlightened planetary civilization. Currently, I do this by writing books, delivering Avatar and teaching channeling. I also give a lot of talks at expos, on TV or on radio, wherever. My trick for success is: I am me, with all my strengths and weaknesses. The path to enlightenment is going inward, not outward. It's not really any kind of going forward, more like going back, back to one, back to source, back to what we usually call God. When we go all the way back, we come to source from where we went out into
polarity, into consciousness. And in the beginning of all things, we were all the same, all enlightened. We were, are, become and remain divine, forever.
AJ: What do you recommend for readers who haven't done Avatar?
Bruno: He who ventures, wins! You have nothing to lose and all to win! No one ever regretted to have found the true self. You will be amazed at what a wonderful being you truly are!
Who once found the self can no longer lose anything in the world.
Cornelia Würtenberger mother of seven-year-old Florian, has been married to Bruno for 10 years. She was formerly a therapist and yoga teacher, but now delivers The Avatar Course as well as functioning as the co-director of Spirituelle Schule Schweiz. She can be reached by e-mail at BrunoW@swissline.ch
AJ: How did you come to find Avatar?
Cornelia: Ten years ago, I first read about Avatar. At that time, it went against my convictions. I believed that one has to walk a long, arduous path to spiritual enlightenment. Nine days did not seem enough. At some point, an Avatar Master gave a talk at our spiritual center in Zurich, Switzerland. My husband attended this presentation while I stayed at home with our 3-year-old son. I was very curious about what he had to report. I knew for certain
that I wanted him to take this course, and also that I was going to take it. And we did.
AJ: How did your life change after Avatar?
Cornelia: After the nine days, I had the feeling of being totally here-where I can be known, where I can know and understand others. I had entered a completely new life. From this comes ever new courage and trust in the larger scheme of life. And I realize that I am this more encompassing one, this self-confidence. This transformed my life very positively:
family, profession, and purpose.
AJ: what do you feel is special about Avatar?
Cornelia: For me it's the simplicity of the course and the freedom that comes forth for everyone. I can apply Avatar, always, every where, and at the same time
become freer of it. I do not have to leave my everyday life to change something, I can be with whatever happens to be...
AJ: what is your most interesting or memorable experience since delivering Avatar?
Cornelia: Most impressive and my greatest joy is watching how the faces of the people who become Avatars change. The eyes start to shine brilliantly, and now, when I look into them, they allow so many connections to be made on so many levels. Wonderful!
AJ: What do you feel is your role in assisting planetary transformation?
Cornelia: The freer I become the better I can facilitate others to free themselves. My role is to be so happy, so free that through my presence light, love and trust can expand in all directions.
Volume XIV Issue 4