Philosophy
The modern monastery
A monastery is a place of silence, contemplation and seclusion from the world. Physical work, spiritual study and hospitality characterize monastic life.
We continue this tradition in the modern monastery – free from obsolete confessional constraints.
This inner path serves being here in this very moment. It includes everything, and it is oriented towards the divine.
Economic considerations are secondary, although good housekeeping and healthy finances are a necessity. Most of the people who work here do so primarily because they want to follow an inner path, grow and serve the modern monastery – as individuals and in community.
At Gut Saunstorf, near Lake Schwerin and the beautiful Hanseatic city of Wismar, surrounded by the wonderful nature of Mecklenburg, the inner monastery finds an outer home in a place of stillness.
The modern, trans-denominational monastery is open to all people who seek retreat and want to connect with themselves – regardless of their spiritual affiliation.
Founder & Spiritual Leader
OM C. Parkin
OM C. Parkin is the initiator and founder of the modern monastery. He teaches at Gut Saunstorf.
OM is wisdom teacher, mystic and inner scientist.
He has traveled the on the path of awakening, sharing the skills of navigating the paths towards ultimate recognition, avoiding their pitfalls and dead ends with spiritual mastery. He teaches how to discover and listen to the inner teacher. He accompanies whoever is interested on their path to the essential core of their being, the SELF. In Darshan, he passes on his knowledge of the Absolute in the presence of the still mind.
«Simply see with open eyes and open mind. Without hanging on to anything, by looking through into the depth of yourself. The realization can be found only by being while being aware of the eternity of Being.»
OM C. Parkin
The Chapel
Completed in 2020, the chapel is now the spiritual heart of Saunstorf Monastery and a space available to guests 24 hours a day for meditation and interior reflection.
Insight into the Monastery
Movie about the monastery
Tradition & Modern Age
Lived Spirituality
The modern monastery is both, a sacred place based on spiritual tradition, and an enlightened place of contemporary spirituality.
It bows to the monastic traditions and goes beyond them. It is a temple, a place of stillness, a place for preservation and transmission of spiritual knowledge, carrying the living flame of the heart into present time.
Modern mysticism combines the spiritual traditions of the East and the West. In the light of this teaching, the modern monastery becomes a place of inner union.
STEWARDSHIP OF THE MODERN MONASTERY
Gut Saunstorf Foundation
Promoter of the modern monastery is the non-profit foundation Gut Saunstorf – Place of Stillness. It promotes the protection and preservation of historical monuments by maintaining the manor house and the park, and it supports art and culture.
Management
Gerd Kanthaus & Sybille Heilmeier
The monastery hotel is run by Gut Saunstorf gGmbH. Its management is in the hands of the two managing directors Gerd Kanthaus and Sybille Heilmeier, supported by a team of over 30 employees and numerous volunteers.
Monastic Community
A Lively Sangha
