Tribute to Paul Henwood – 2nd September 2025

Tribute to Paul Henwood

2nd September 2025

Jai Shri Mataji!

We share the sad news that our much-loved friend, Paul Henwood, passed away unexpectedly this morning as he was about to start his day’s work. This wonderful soul is no longer with us.
We share with his family both sorrow and gratitude, sorrow because we have lost someone whose presence was a quiet, steady, encouraging light in this world; gratitude because we were blessed to have known a soul deeply rooted in grace, love, simplicity, and authenticity.

Today, we pay tribute to the life of a great man who was deeply loved by his family and touched the lives of the many who knew him. Paul was a Sahaja Yogi from the earliest days of the establishment of Sahaja Yoga in Australia. He was a spiritual man of the everyday, a soul who understood that transformation doesn’t begin in grand gestures, but in small, honest acts of love and kindness to all, and in caring for the natural environment.

Paul believed in being the change we wish to see in the world. He lived softly, steadily, and sincerely caring for the natural world and working to return the environment to its natural state as best he could. Paul had a heart full of humility, mercy, gentleness, and unconditional love. He was not driven by ambition or recognition but was moved by compassion and had a faith that wasn’t complicated; it was real.

Paul created a presence of calm around himself and those he loved in a world addicted to noise. He gave freely of himself, forgave more than was asked of him, and loved with great strength. The greatest witness to God’s divine love is not how loudly we speak it, but how clearly, we reflect His nature through our deeds and the example of our lives.

Paul’s legacy is not etched in the significant buildings he helped construct, but in our hearts. We also pay tribute to his foundational and significant contributions to many projects that helped create the stage upon which Sahaja Yoga is enacted.

The Golden Builders : Paul Henwood

 

Paul was one of the original Australian Golden Builders and contributed extensively to the transformation of 10 Clarence St, Balmoral Ashram, Scullin Ashram, and the construction of Wamuran and Gidgegannup.

Shudy Camps UK

Internationally, Paul worked on the Shudy Camps project and helped design and build the first major school building at ISPS which now serves as the junior school.

International Sahaj Public School (ISPS)

Paul and his family lived collectively in many ashrams through the 80s and 90s. Eventually, he moved from Lewisham Ashram to French Island, truly a move to live his dream, to live on, and off the land and to regenerate the bush.

And now, as we say goodbye, may we walk as Paul walked, with kindness, courage, authenticity, humility, simplicity, and integrity. May we too, be the change, and live as vessels of God’s divine grace and love.

Rest well, Paul. You have fought the good fight. You have finished the race. You have kept the faith, and now you are home.

Sincerely, his brother Chris

 

“…Sweeping into the current of your Mother’s love.”

“So you have to believe in yourself and enjoy the way gently you are sweeping into the current of your Mother’s love. Just enjoy that. Like a flower that falls into the current and flows and enjoys all the beauties of that current. In the same way, you should enjoy. When that enjoyment comes into you, you will start trusting. And trust your Mother.”

Shri Mataji – Seminar, Open your Heart Dorset England 2nd August 1981