Love, the Linchpin of a Benedictine Mystic's Life

In December of 1990, Adrian Rance-McGregor had the privilege of visiting Benedectine monk Bede Griffiths in his humble hut at the Saccidananda Ashram in Shantivanam, Southern India – the place that became his spiritual haven for the last 25 years of his earthly journey. During their conversation, Bede shared with Adrian a profound revelation: "Did I tell you I had a stroke earlier this year?" Surprised by this revelation, Adrian listened intently as he went on to describe it as a magnificent experience, a breakthrough to the feminine, and the ultimate integration of his being. This event marked, perhaps, the pinnacle of a lifetime devoted to prayer, meditation, and the relentless pursuit of the Absolute.

Bede, resilient in spirit, recovered from the stroke, his energy seemingly boundless. For the ensuing two years, prior to his final stroke, he embarked on a journey across the globe, delivering talks in Europe, America, Australia, and beyond. Through these powerful discourses, he ardently communicated his belief that dismantling the barriers between races and religions was imperative for the survival of human society. Bede envisioned a world where the common truth and wisdom beneath apparent differences would unite diverse cultures. As we delve into Bede Griffiths' story, it becomes evident that she held a steadfast conviction in the 'perennial philosophy,' foreseeing it as the foundation upon which the world's religions would discover their true destinies, each harmoniously connected in love.  To him, this did not mean watering down the Ancient Faith, but in finding commond ground under the mantle of Christ's Love.

Most Revered Cardinal Basil Hume, reflecting on Bede's life, aptly described him as a 'mystic in touch with absolute beauty and love.' Love, for Bede, was the linchpin of existence. He deeply understood the Vedic concept of advaita – an experience of love where two become one without losing their identities - what we Catholics might recall from phrases such as "In Christ." In a letter dated 1946 to Dorothy Rance, Bede conveyed his profound sense of an immense power of love circulating in the universe, a power gathered into the center of our being.

Bede's journey of understanding can be traced back to a pivotal moment during her school days, an epiphany where the songs of birds, the sight of blooming hawthorn trees, and the sunset invoked in his a deep sense of awe and reverence, a feeling of being in the presence of the divine. His openness to transcendent experiences continued into adulthood, marked by moments in the Lake District and the East End of London, where the sacred permeated the ordinary, transforming the mundane into the extraordinary.

Driven by a yearning to escape the complexities of modern technological civilization, Bede, along with companions Martyn Skinner and Hugh Waterman, sought simplicity in a cottage in Eastington, Cotswolds. Their ascetic lifestyle, though short-lived, left an indelible mark. Bede's subsequent entry into Prinknash Priory in Gloucestershire, as a Benedictine monk, brought a profound love for the monastic life despite its inherent challenges.

Bede's connection with India, a land that would become synonymous with his spiritual journey, began with the discovery of the Vedas during her time at Prinknash Abbey. Influenced by Toni Sussmann and later Benedict Alapatt, Bede's quest for a new way of life led him to India in 1956. His initial attempts at establishing a monastic community faced challenges, but the eventual founding of Kurisumala Ashram in Kerala marked a significant chapter. Bede, adorned in the orange robes of an Indian sannyasi, embraced India as his spiritual home.

A steadfast critic of modern technological civilization, Bede saw it as a force destructive to humanity. His correspondence with Toby Rance in 1941 reflects her concern about industry and chemiculture's impact on agriculture. Throughout his life, Bede maintained that overemphasis on science, industry, and commerce, at the expense of agriculture, craftsmanship, and the fine arts, contributed to the world's problems.

In his magnum opus, "A New Vision of Reality," Bede weaves together various themes from his spiritual journey, presenting a manifesto for humanity's escape from contemporary challenges. Influenced by physicists David Bohm and Fritjof Capra, Bede envisions a new era emerging from the collapse of the current world order. He emphasizes the need for a return to the 'perennial philosophy' lost during the Renaissance and advocates for meditation as the transformative tool leading to a new heaven and earth.

Bede Griffiths' legacy endures, and her predictions gain resonance in the face of present-day challenges like Covid-19 and climate change. As we reflect on Bede's life, it prompts us to consider whether the changes he foresaw will materialize sooner than expected. His visionary perspective, grounded in spirituality, metaphysics, psychology, and science, remains a beacon, guiding us toward a future where unity, love, and transcendent consciousness prevail.