…left his body on 20th November 2015.
Satprem (aka John Kielty Bell) was born in England during WWII.
Krishna Gopa writes:
I first met Satprem at Marpa House, a Tibetan Buddhist retreat center in England in 1976, where he incongruously started beaming at me across the silent dinner table. We became friends and he said I should come to India with him to meet his master, so I did!
He was a wonderful, difficult, independent character. He led groups for a while in Pune and then left to do his own thing, reappearing every few years for a short visit: once at the Ranch and once again in Pune 2, at which time he told me he had returned to his Buddhist practice, immersing himself deeply in loving kindness meditation, rather than the rough and tumble provocation of groups.
I was moved to look for him again a few years ago, and found him situated in Tunbridge Wells, abiding in what I could only call a deep peace and love. He was still immersed in Buddhist practice and reminded me (via some loooong Skype talks), when I spoke of my difficulties, to simply sit and remember I am the Buddha.
He was painting up a storm too, and posting his work on-line on a regular basis. When the posts stopped, I found only silence from him but eventually was told by his neighbor and friend that he was ill and dying, but being well taken care of by friends and family. John left his body surrounded by those who loved him.
I will forever be grateful to him for giving me a magic key to step out of the life I was living and into a whole new realm at the age of 22. And then. 40 years later, giving me an ever-so-gentle prod back to that place. John didn’t only talk the talk. He walked the walk. I already miss him.
Tributes
Satprem! How perfect that Gopa has written about you!… because it was in your company that I first met Gopa – in my own house in London when you and I were hanging out. I was a recently initiated sannyasin, and our intimate friendship held me together while I wound down my life and practice to make the odyssey to Pune. You were such a gifted artist! I’m so happy to read here that you carried it forward because I still have, in some distant London cellar somewhere, a raft of your varied drawings, which were too good to chuck out. Though we had a difficult ending, thank you for having been so loyal and tight during that tough time when I had to say farewell to everyone. I am so glad you found your calling!
Savita Brandt
I remember participating in a group run by Satprem, called Satori (nothing to do with Who Is In?) which was held at the Blue Diamond (maybe we did not have enough group rooms available in the ashram). There was a mixture of techniques, including Encounter. I think it was the last day, after having done all the screaming and fighting, we were left without technique, left to our own devices. Some fell asleep on their mattresses, others felt bored, I enjoyed being in my own space and not to be asked to do anything. It was great! Thanks you, Satprem. Fly high, swim low, wherever you are going!
Punya
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