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Enlightenment Journal | 35

th

 Anniversary Issue | Fall/Winter 2016–2017

Tilling Spiritual Soil:  

30 Years of Selfless Service

An Interview with Jerry Caldwell

In honor of CSE’s 35

th

 Anniversary, Enlightenment Journal interviews long time 

CSE member, Jerry Caldwell. Jerry and his wife, Illy, have been attending CSE 

for thirty years and have served, and continue to do so, in significant and varied 

volunteer roles during the entire time. We are delighted to include Jerry’s story of 

his CSE experience in our anniversary issue.

How did you first discover CSE?

Thirty years ago, my wife, Illy Caldwell, was part of a women’s prayer group 

that met at the Day Spring Chapel in Los Gatos. She and I began to attend the 

services at this small church and there we met Yogacharya O’Brian in the earliest 

incarnation of what later became the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment (CSE). 

There was a strong emphasis on being inclusive of all religious and spiritual 

beliefs and I knew right away that this was the place I wanted to be.

We followed Yogacharya O’Brian’s ministry from Los Gatos to the Odd 

Fellow’s Lodge in Campbell and then on to Winchester Plaza where CSE had its 

own space in an office plaza instead of sharing a space with others. This was a 

step up for the CSE community and we enjoyed our own garden pathway and 

glass windows. At the end of each service we all picked up our chairs to make 

space for the Hatha Yoga class that Julianne Rice gave each Sunday after service. 

Tell us about your history of volunteering at CSE

We both started out as greeters at the Winchester location, but pretty soon we 

were so “blown away” by Yogacharya’s vision of things to come that we became 

CSE Board members as well. That’s when CSE became incorporated and its own 

“entity.” We kept growing and before we knew it, we needed a larger and more 

visible location so we started a fund drive to raise money to help bring about the 

manifestation of CSE’s new home. 

Once we were in our current location, I became the Ground & Garden’s keeper. 

I thoroughly enjoyed working with my team to keep the grounds beautiful and 

stayed in this volunteer position for ten years. We re-built the underground 

sprinkler and watering system and cleared up a lot of overgrowth to support 

Yogacharya’s vision of the atmosphere that she wanted to create for all of the 

guests who would be welcomed into our beautiful new home. At the same time, 

Illy and I were on the Board for a few more terms over the years.