Bede Griffiths

Bede Griffiths ( born December 17, 1906 in Walton-on -Thames, UK, † May 13, 1993, birth name of Alan Richard Griffiths ) was a British Benedictine monk and one of the most famous Christian mystics of the 20th century. He was particularly known for his religious dialogue with Hinduism, for which he received much recognition. He took over from 1968 to Sat-Chit - Ananda Pilergerort Ashram (also known as Shantivanam ) in southern India.

Biography

Childhood

Alan Richard Griffiths was born in Walton-on -Thames as the youngest of four children. The painter his father's business soon went bankrupt, so the family lost prestige. His mother has since worked as a maid and so ensured the survival of the family. The family belonged to the Anglican Church, so that Alan was also baptized in this church. He showed early good intellectual assets. At age four he already learned French, Latin, and with seven of nine Greek.

After a few years at a private, preparatory school Alan came up with twelve years at the boarding school Christ's Hospital School in Sussex. At that time he was interested especially in English literature. He also learned to play the piano. Alan naturally strong poets such as Wordsworth and Keats was influenced and developed a fanciful relationship to nature. Griffiths was attracted to pacifism and refused to military groups, organized at the school to participate.

At the end of his schooling, he should have had a key to his life experience: While walking he claims to have received an inspiration which he called the golden cord later ( The golden string). Through this experience, had become him realize how he should handle his life. In 1954, he wrote in retrospect, a book about his way to the Catholic Church and called it: The golden string

Studies

Since Griffith was always top of the class at school, he soon got a scholarship. In October 1925 Griffiths went to Oxford, where he studied English Literature at Magdalen College. As a teacher he had the researcher and author C. S. Lewis, who was a good friend soon. On Lewis 's advice, Griffiths began also to study philosophy. In 1929 he left the University and continued his studies at home, which was now in Newbury. There he began to study the Bhagavad Gita and the Tao te Ching.

After graduating, he spent the next time with two friends in the countryside. With self- milked cow's milk, which they sold then, they secured their income. The three men wanted in this experiment of nature closer.

Monastery existence and India

In 1930 Griffith visited for six weeks, the Benedictine Prinknash at Gloucester. After this time, he felt so secure that he converted to the Catholic Church. On 20 December 1932, he was dressed as Benediktinernovize and took the monastic name " Bede ", which is etymologically considered Germanic- Celtic origin, and signifies eternal, alive, immortal.

From 1947 to 1951 Bede Griffiths prior was in the monasteries Farnborough and Pluscarden. However, he had no pleasure in the leadership of a monastery, and so he tried to give up this function. He had already made contact with Indian literature, and also the teachings of Father Benedict Alapatt moved him. So he decided in 1955, after he was exklaustriert to go with Alapatt to Mumbai, India. After Sanskrit studies and 10 - year stay in the Ashram of the Belgian Trappist Kurisumala Francis Mahieu Bede Griffiths took over in 1968 the pilgrimage Sat-Chit - Ananda Ashram (also known as Shantivanam ).

He died on 13 May 1993.

Prominent voices Bede Griffiths

" His vision has shown him the way to the hearts and minds of the people to open up to the peace and unity, which grow out of the understanding of the mutual recognition of the great religions. "

" Bede Griffiths is an authentic witness to the wisdom of the great religions. He reveals a masterly and wonderfully God's presence. "

" Bede Griffiths is one of the few spiritual masters of our time, of which there are unfortunately too few. "

Works

  • The Golden String: An Autobiography, (1954 ), Temple Gate Publishers, 1980 Edition: ISBN 0-87243-163-0, Medio Media, 2003: ISBN 0-9725627-3-7
  • Christ in India: Essays Towards a Hindu - Christian Dialogue ( 1967), Temple Gate Publishers, 1984, ISBN 0-87243-134-7
  • Return to the Center, (1976 ), Temple Gate Publishers, 1982, ISBN 0-87243-112-6
  • Marriage of East and West: A Sequel to The Golden String, Temple Gate Publishers, 1982, ISBN 0-87243-105-3
  • Cosmic Revelation: The Hindu Way to God, Temple Gate Publishers, 1983, ISBN 0-87243-119-3
  • A New Vision of Reality: Western Science, Eastern Mysticism and Christian Faith, Temple Gate Publishers, 1990, ISBN 0-87243-180-0
  • River of Compassion: A Christian Commentary on the Bhagavad Gita (1987 ), Element Books, 1995 reprint: ISBN 0-8264-0769-2
  • Bede Griffiths, Temple Gate Publishers, 1993, ISBN 0-87243-199-1
  • The New Creation in Christ: Christian Meditation and Community, Temple Gate Publishers, 1994, ISBN 0-87243-209-2
  • ( co -editor with Roland R. Ropers ), Psalms for Christian Prayer, Harper Collins, 1996, ISBN 0-00-627956-2
  • John Swindells (Editor), A Human Search: Bede Griffiths Reflects on His Life: An Oral History, Triumph Books, 1997, ISBN 0-89243-935-1
  • Bruno Barnhart (Editor), The One Light: Bede Griffiths ' Principle Writings, Temple Gate Publishers, 2001, ISBN 0-87243-254-8
  • Thomas Matus (Editor), Bede Griffiths: Essential Writings, Orbis Books, 2004, ISBN 1-57075-200-1
  • Universal Wisdom: A Journey Through the Sacred Wisdom of the World. Bede Griffiths, Harper Collins, 1994.
Walton-on-Thames Order of Saint Benedict Church of England William Wordsworth John Keats C. S. Lewis Enclosed religious orders Dalai Lama Integrated Authority File
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