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Hunter
USA
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 Posted - Jan 11 2007 : 8:25:51 PM
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http://www.solarlogosfoundation.org/
Norman Paulsen—In Memoriam
“It has been my lifelong desire
to bear witness that God is alive
and can be felt, known and seen face to face.”
Norman Paulsen, beloved husband, father, teacher and dear friend, passed into mahasamadhi on Saturday, December 30th, 2006. He exited this life fully conscious, just as he had entered at birth. Norm’s huge heart and generous spirit touched everyone he met, and his love of God transformed countless lives.
Norm was born in Santa Barbara on February 3, 1929 and grew up in Lompoc andNorthridge. His grandparents had emigrated from Denmark to the Lompoc Valley in the late 1800’s. Norm’s father, Charles Paulsen, was a Justice of the Peace in Lompoc for many years and became one of the first American ordained Buddhist ministers.
Norm led a colorful life filled with many varied activities, including work as a telephone lineman and a brick mason, and stints in the Merchant Marines and the U.S. Marine Corps. As a young man, he spent several years in the monastery of Paramahansa Yogananda, where he learned the daily devotional practice of meditation that he carried with him throughout his life. It was at this time that Norm was given the vision and inspiration that would lead to the founding of Sunburst Communities.
After Norm left the monastery in 1951, he had a series of inner experiences culminating in a journey into Cosmic consciousness—a face to face meeting with the ineffable light and love of God, merging with the eternal Divine Presence. Through the inspiration of this transformational encounter came his lifelong desire to share Spirit’s infinite joy and love with all. It was his mission to convey the possibility of this journey for every seeking soul.
Norm loved the sea and sailing ships. One of his greatest joys was restoring old schooners and sailing with his friends. Another lifelong enthusiasm was weightlifting; even at the monastery he could be heard clanking away late into the night, much to the chagrin of his fellow disciples. Norm was also a cowboy from way back, getting his first horse at age eleven. Throughout his life, he had a great connection with horses; he loved communicating with them, riding them, and just being around them.
In l969, Norm began to meet young people who were interested in meditation and a way of life that would nurture the direct experience of God. Out of this gathering, Sunburst Communities formed. Thousands of people benefited from the inspiration Norm offered freely, and the tools of meditation that helped each one discover the Divine within themselves.
Norm founded Sunburst Communities on the principles of simple, natural living, and high thinking. Through this vision Sunburst Organic Foods and Sunburst Markets, some of the first large-scale natural food stores in the country, were also created.
Most of all, Norm loved to talk about God, and encourage others to make the journey to their own face to face meeting with the Divine. This was his enduring message, and has been Sunburst’s guiding light throughout the years. Sunburst continues to this day as an ever growing, loving fellowship of souls, as well as spiritually-based residential communities. The members have also created a retreat center dedicated to sharing the Spirit and love that Norm so abundantly expressed.
One of the greatest blessings of Norm’s life was his helpmate and beloved wife of 26 years, Patty. Her tireless and enthusiastic efforts helped bring many of Norm’s projects to fruition, including the publishing of his autobiography, Christ Consciousness, and a book of Sunburst’s teachings, Sacred Science: Meditation, Transformation, Illumination. She was also instrumental in producing Sunburst’s meditation video and various audio recordings of Norm’s inspirational talks. Norm and Patty enjoyed their time together immensely, manifesting Spirit’s dreams in work and play, in service to all beings. This past year, Patty’s loving care for Norm continued throughout his illness.
Words can never describe the deep blessings of Spirit that flowed ceaselessly from Norm to all his fellow “travelers” on Earth. The beauty and strength of his teachings will forever live in the hearts of his friends and dear ones. We love you, Brother Norm, and we thank you for always seeing our true souls, for holding strong to your purpose through all of life’s trials, and for encouraging each of us to find our eternal connection with the Divine.
Norm is survived by his loving wife, Patty; his beloved son, Aarn; daughter-in-law, Teresa; three grandchildren, Timothy, Dawn and Michael; two great-grandchildren, Caleb and Makiah; and countless dear friends.
A memorial service will be held on Norm’s birthday, February 3, 2007, 11 am at Sunburst Sanctuary and Retreat Center, 7200 Highway 1, Lompoc. Please email us at solarlogos@utech.net or call (805) 736-6528 for directions or more information. In lieu of flowers, gifts to support the continuing work of Sunburst would be deeply appreciated. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 2008, Buellton, CA 93427.
We are here upon this Earth to bond with God, our Divine Mother and Father. God wants to experience the creation and express joyfully through each one of us. What a wonderful privilege it is to have these bodies, these eyes, these hands, these hearts—to love one another, to care for one another, to become true caretakers of the Earth garden with our Divine Mother and Father, I Am That I Am.
—Norman Paulsen
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Man of the North, Norman Paulsen, mahasamadhi
