the bede griffiths sangha newsletter

ManyofyouwillknowthatBrotherMartinhasbeenactingasSuperioratShantivanamwhilstFrGeorgehasbeenawayinKeralastudyingforaresearchdegreeintheology.Unfortunatelyforus,albeitfortunatelyfortheashram,BrotherMartinisnotnowabletovisitEuropethissummer.Withgreatregret,MartinhashadtocancelhisvisitbecauseheisneededatShantivanam.AswediscoveredwhenwevisitedtheashraminJanuaryandFebruary,heisverybusytherewithmanygueststobeattendedtoaswellasthesocialworkprojectsinthesurroundingvillages.Inadditiontherearetwoimportanteventsinthelifeoftheashramthissummer.Oneisthesimpleprofessionoftwonovices-andtheotheristheordinationofBrAmaldasasapriestinJuly.Veryspecialeventsforthem,andbothveryspecialmilestonesinthe

growthofthecommunity.SeveralplannedmeetingswillgoaheaddespiteBrMartinbeingunabletocomeanditiswonderfulthatthereistheenthusiasmandcommitmentforthis.TheParkPlaceSeminarwillgoaheadasitissuchanimportantpartoftheannuallifeoftheSangha.InplaceofBrotherMartin,therewillbeaspecialopportunityforSanghamemberstohearabout,andreflecton,thegreatmystic,andoneofthefoundingfathersofShantivanamHenrileSaux,Abishiktananda.ThereseO’Neillhaskindlyofferedtoorganisethebookingsforthiseventandthebookingformisenclosedwiththisnewsletter.Finally,welcometoDavidandGillian-wehaveourfirstmembersfromEgypt!

TheBedeGriffithsSanghaNewsletterTheBedeGriffithsSanghaiscommittedtothesearchfortruthattheheartofallReligions

March2004Volume7Issue1 BrotherMartin’sVisit

TheSwamiBedeDayanandaTrustbuildingsneartheashram.ItisherethattheTrusthasanurseryschool,atypingschool,acomputercentre,andthetailoringinstituteArecentadditionisastitchingunitfunded

THEBEDEGRIFFITHSSANGHANEWSLETTER2 ATASTEOFSOUTHINDIAFriday25June2004TheOthonaCommunityinvitesyoutoaDayOutinSalisbury.FeaturingspectaculartraditionaldancersontourfromKalaiKaviriCollege,Tiruchirapalli.AlsoJyotiSahi(whodesignedShantivanamʹstemplevimana)speakingonʺFacesofJesus‑anIndianperspectiveʺ.SarvadhanaSangam:pioneeringsocialactioninTamilNadu.AndChristian/Hinduliturgy.Fordetails:Susannaon01308897130, ormail@othona‑bb.org.ukwww.othona­bb.org.uk/southindia k2.net

KalaiKaviriLiturgicalIndianDanceGroupJune2004UKVisit PROGRAMMES of LITURGICAL and SPIRITUAL DANCE This award* winning troupe has toured most major western European countr ies. It is now on its first visit to England, en route for its USA and Canada tour. Indian classical dance or Bharathanatyam has a long history of liturgical dances for temple worship. As part of Christian inculturation Kalai Kaviri University College of Fine Arts, which has an open access programme for all castes, has choreographed this tradition for local church worship and scr iptural themes as well as for Hindu temple festivals (it has performed 45 times in Hindu temples in the last ten years). The dances use a sophisticated language of movement and gesture (‘mudra’) to communicate. The effect for the West is a new spir itual dimension – with all the colour, grace and energy of South Indian dance drama. The Group will be giving workshops and performances at temples and churches in London, South England and the Midlands. For details of the programme contact: bernardkilroy@uk2.net 01252 843133 (also fax) www.SOULutions.co.uk/ InscapeRetreats www.kalaikavir ifinearts.com

ChristmastriptoShantivanam2004Shantivanamliterallymeans‘ForestofPeace’anditisindeedawonderfuloasisofpeaceinourtroubledworld.Theregularityoftheday,withitsBenedictinerhythm,meetingpeoplefromallovertheworld,prayersthreetimesadayinthechapel,talksbyBrMartin,andtheover-ridingsenseoffriendshiponthespiritualjourney,allmakeShantivanamaveryspecialplace.TheashramwelcomesvisitorsandaparticularlygoodtimetovisitisDecemberforthecelebrationofFatherBede’sbirthdayon17thDecember,andforChristmas.SeveralSanghamembershavealreadyexpressedinterestintheproposedvisittoShantivanamthisDecember.AdrianandJillarewillingtohelpfacilitatethis,andtohelppeoplemake

travelarrangements.Wewillbeflyingoutbeforethe10thDecemberandwewillbethereforatleastthreeweeks.WewillbehappytomeetSanghamembersatTrichyorChennai(Madras)andtravelwiththemtotheashram.WewillalsoarrangesomevisitstolocalsitesofinterestincludingthefamousSivatempleofChidambaram,andvisitslocalsocialworkprojects.Ifyouwanttocome,orwouldliketodiscussitfurther,pleasephoneAdrianorJillon01227752871oremailbg.sangha@btinternet.comTheScottishSanghaWillbeholdingaweekendretreatatDunblaneFriJune18-SundayJune20costforfullboard£95FordetailscontactMaryLaidlaw01505614988marylaidlaw@btopenwoprld.comSteveWoodward.Tel01355224937swoodshawk@hotmail.com

THEBEDEGRIFFITHSSANGHANEWSLETTER

SusannaisaSanghamemberwholiveswiththeOthonaCommunityinDorset.InJanuaryshewenttotheWorldSocialForumaftervisitingShantivanamMyWSFexperiencebeganonthe34-hourtrainjourneytoMumbaiwhenIspottedaWSFbannerproudlyhangingoutofatraincarriagewindow.Onseekingouttheowners,Imet12womenfromtheTamilNaduWomen'sCollective.WiththeirlimitedEnglishandmysignificantlymorelimitedTamil,Igatheredthattheyworkedonsavingsschemesandmicro-credit,(Ihavesincefoundoutthat'snotthe

halfofwhattheydo),andthattheywereHindus,MuslimsandChristiansworkingtogether.Itgavemeasneakpreviewofwhatwasinstoreinthenextfewdays,thediversityandtheunity,theparticipationofsomanyworkingatgrassrootslevel.TheWSFisheldasacountertotheannualWorldEconomicForum(WEF).HeadsofcorporationsandgovernmentsgototheWEF.TheWSFisheldtogivetherestoftheworldavoice.WhilethereweresomeNobelPrizewinners,governmentministersandauthors,thevastmajorityweregrassrootsactivists,individualsandgroupsofordinarypeople.Over100,000ofusfromsome130countrieshadcometolearn,shareexperiencesandjusttobewithfellowcitizenscommittedtoaworldofequality,dignity,justiceandpeace.TheWSFwasahugecelebrationofprotest,pluralismanddiversity,ofhope,struggleandcreativity.Itwasinspiring,challenging,thought-provoking,heart

wrenchingandheartwarming.Itcontainedthemostamazingamountofenergy,itwasaplaceofanticipation,curiosity,exchangeandconnection.Therewasanoverwhelmingselectionofseminarsandworkshopsoneveryimaginabletopicandmanyunimaginableones.Thousandsgatheredinhugehalls;fourorfivepeoplesatchattinginacircleonatentfloor.Thesubjectsincluded:Treesforsurvival,ResistanceinArtArtinResistance,MuslimWomenandSexuality,TransitofVenusMassExperiment(Ineverdidfindoutwhatthatwas!),WomenreimaginingtheUN,Engineers'Ethics,NotoWarToysandSheaNutCosmeticsWorkshop.IwasinvitedtoattendtheinternationallaunchofIFAT'snewFairTradeOrganizationmark.(www.ifat.org).SymbolicallyheldinDharavi,Asia'slargestslumarea,itwasareminderthatfairtradehelpssmallproducerstosustaintheirrurallivelihoods,andavoidendingupinsuchurbanslums.FairtradeisagoodexampleofwhatWSFisabout.Apracticalprotestagainstthefreemarketandneoliberalpolicieswhichrulemostoftrade,it'saneffectivewayofestablishingconnectionsbetweenpeoplearoundtheworld.Buyingfairtrademarkedcoffeein

theCo-op(unsubtleplugforBritain'smostethicalsupermarket)doesmakearealdifferencetothelifeofacoffeefarmerandhisfamilyinNicaragua.(Www.fairtrade.org.uk)Ataworkshopontheroleofspiritualityindevelopment,IwasdelightedfirstlytositnexttoanIndianpriestwho'dbeentoShantivanamandsecondlythatthespeakersdefinedspiritualityasbeingbeyondreligions.Theyhighlightedhowthewesterndefinitionofprogresshadledtothemarginalisationofspiritualitywithinsocietyandhowreligionsoftenthrivedoncontrolratherthanfreedomandwereusedasatoolofoppression.NGOsfrequentlysawreligionasoneofthemaincausesofunderdevelopment.Thespeakersgavetheirvisionforanauthenticspirituality.OnewhichseesmeaninginpainandsufferingandmeetsGodinthemarginalised;isaccessibletoall;doesn'tcondemnorcondonebutbringshealingforvictimsandaccusers.(cfGandhiifyouhatetheoppressors,youhavelostthestruggle);includesothers'genuine(continuedonpage6)(Continuedfrompage3)spiritualitiesandconnectstotherestofcreation.Theyhadavisionwherespiritualitycancontributetodevelopmentinsociety,allowingforpeople'shopeandmeaningtobe

3TheWorldSocialForumatMumbaiSusannaHodgson

TheWSFMarchinMumbai

THEBEDEGRIFFITHSSANGHANEWSLETTER

ItwasadarkIndiannightin1959,inUttarPradesh,some70milesfromtheHimalayas,andtheecumenicalcommunityofJyotiniketanwereendingcomplineastheyalwaysdid,standingatthedooroftheChapeltogivethePeacetotheneighbouringvillages.Bythelightofthekerosenelampstheysawastrangefigure,patientlywaitinginthemangogrove.Hewaswearingthesaffronrobesofthesadhu,awanderingmonk,andthebagscontaininghisworldlypossessionswereslungroundhisneck.ItwastheBenedictinemonkHenrileSaux,betterknownasAbhishiktananda.HehadcomeatthesuggestionofRaimonPannikar,apioneerinEast-Westdialogue,buthehadbeenlostuntilthelanternsshedlightontheashramanditschapel.Thecommunitymemberstookthewanderertotheirhearts;itwasthebeginningofaremarkablefriendship,particularlybetweenAbhishiktanandaandMurrayRogers,theashram'sfounder.Bothmenwereintheirforties,bothChristians,bothconsideredtohavewanderedfromtheirtraditionalpaths;butinsomewaystheywereverydifferent.MurrayRogershadcometoIndiaasanAnglicanmissionaryundertheauspicesoftheChurchMissionarySociety.Hewasatall,imposingfigure,marriedwiththreechildren,thesonofanEnglishstockbrokerfromaprivilegedbackground.

SoonafterhearrivedinIndiahehadfallenundertheinfluenceoftheGandhianmovementandbeenforcedtore-thinkhisideas,especiallyonpoverty.HedecideditwasnotpossibletosharetheChristianmessagebystandingoutsidethesituation,soheandhiswifeMaryresignedfromtheChurchMissionarySocietyandaskedthatnomoreallowancesshouldbesenttothem.Godisinthemudandthesuffering,theyargued,andthatiswheretheywantedtobe.AbhishiktanandawasaFrenchman,anold-fashionedpriestofBretonseafaringstock,whohadspentthelastnineteenyearsasaBenedictinemonkinthemonasteryofKergonannearBriac.Hewasbeardedanduntidy,hischarmlyingmoreinhisvitality,hisgesticulationsandhishumourthaninhisphysicalappearance.HiscomingtoIndiain1948wasthefulfilmentofadreamthathadlingeredroundhisconsciousnesssincehewasanovice-hewantedtobringBenedictinelifetoIndia.AtthetimeofthismeetinghewaslivingatShantivanam,anashraminTamilNaduhehadfoundedwithanotherFrenchpriest,FrMonchanin.OverwhelmedbymeetingthegreatIndiansageRamanaMaharshi,hehadbecomesoattachedtosilenceandsolitudethathewastospendhislastyearsasahermitintheHimalayas.Asamonkhehadofcoursetakenvowsofpoverty,buthe

tookthevowtoitslimitsaying'Nomanisfreeuntilhehasnothing.'AbhishiktanandahadnevermetanAnglican,norhadhemetamarriedpriestofanydenomination.AtfirsthefoundithardtobelievethatMurrayandMarywereChristiansatall,indeedhewas,saysMurray,'chary',constantlyneedingtoremindthemthathewasaRomanCatholic.NonethelessMurray'soveridingimpressionwasofamanwhowasdeeplyauthentic,openandhuman.Hewasasolitarywholovedcompany.TheirseparatelivesandthesizeofIndiameantthattheyonlymettwoorthreetimesayear,butthesetimeswerechargedwithenergy.Theywereseriousandtheyjoked.Abhishiktanandahadarefreshinglydown-to-earthunderstandingofGod,seeinghim,asDonaldNichollnoted,'asmuchinthemakingofagoodsouporthecarefulhandlingofatrainasinourmostbeautifulmeditations.'HehadnoproblemseeingGodinotherdenominationsorreligions,sowhenfriendsofthecommunitycameoverforBibleStudy,thatveryProtestantactivity,Abhishiktanandaenteredintoitwithgusto.MoreoftentheysatunderatreestudyingtheUpanishadstogether,whenAbhishiktanandawouldreadapassageandsay,'YouandIhaveChristianhearts,whatechoisthereinyourChristianhearttowhatyou'vejustheard?'

ThePriestandtheSwamiShirleyduBoulay4

ShirleyduBoulayiscurrentlywritingabiographyofHenrileSaux,alsoknownasAbishiktananda.ShewillbeamainspeakerattheSangaSeminaronAbishiktanandaatParkPlacethisJuly

Abishiktananda

AsthefriendshipgrewMurrayappreciatedmoreandmoretheraredepthofholinessinAbhishiktanandaandAbhishiktananda,forhispart,sawthatMurray'sworkatJyotiniketanwasarealcontributiontothechurch;heevencametoseethevalueofamarriedpriesthoodand'thesacerdotalvalueofthecouple'.Butitwasmorethanmutualadmirationthatdrewthemtoeachother.Bothfelttheynolongercompletelybelongedtotheirowntraditionsandwere,asMurrayputsit,'blessedlyathomewithafelloweccentric.'Theysharedavision,alongingtofindGodbeyondthedifferentreligions,beyondtheclothingofnameandform.Bothlongedtogetbacktothe“source”,whereallisone.Abhishiktanandahaswrittenextensively,crucialtoallhisthinkingbeingthevalueofexperience.AtaroundthetimehemetMurrayhewroteinhisdairy:“IfIamthebearerofamessage,aspeopletellme,thenwhatisthismessage?Youcanbearwitnessonlytoyourownexperience.ThereisonlyonethingIknow,that“Iam”.ThisIam,aham,whichburstsoutinallcreation,ineverything,ineveryevent,naturalorhistorical.”HealwaysremainedChristianandfaithfultohisBenedictineroots,buthisdiscoveryofadvaita,ornon-duality,thefundamentalinsightoftheHinduscriptures,causedhimthegreatestanguish.Abhishiktanandacalledadvaita'aroyalsecret.'Advaitaispurebeing.ItisChrist's'BeforeAbrahamwas,Iam.'ItisthemysterythatGodandtheworldarenottwo.Itistheultimatteexperienceofmysticssuch

asMeisterEckhart,Rumi,TeresaofAvilaandJohnoftheCross.ThefulladvaiticexperiencewaseventuallyknowntoAbhishiktanandaandthenhefoundreconciliationandgreatpeace,butonthewayhewastornapart.HowcouldhereconciletheapparentincompatibilitybetweenChristianityandadvaita?WhatifinadvaitahewasonlyfindinghimselfandnotGod?Thetensionbroughthimtothepointwhenhewroteinhisdiary:'Iwrestlewiththeangel.Iconstantlytrytodenytheultimatevalueofadvaita.'ForyearshetriedtoreconcilehistotalcommittmenttoChristwithhisconvictionthattheadvaiticexperienceisthedeepestexperienceknowntoman.Murraydescribedhisownvisionas'ThewishthattherealityofGod-Father,SonandSpirit-mightgrowinsideme,mightswallowmeup,itIdaredtoletit.'ThislongingforwhatcanbeseenasaChristianunderstandingofadvaitamusthavebeenbalmtothesoulofAbhishiktananda,whoformanyyearsfoundfewwithwhomhecoulddiscusstheoverwhelmingtensioninhislife.Abhishiktanandadiedin1973sowemustrelyonMurray,whonowlivesinEngland,toanswerquestionslikehowtheydealtwithdenominationaldifferences,forinstancetheEucharist.Atfirst,whenAbhishiktanandawasstayingatJyotiniketan,hewouldcelebrateMassalone,standinginhisroom,wearinghiscrumpledRomanvestments,usinghisportableMasskitandLatinmissal.GraduallyheandMurraycametocelebratetogether,sometimescross-leggedbytheGanges,the

altar-stonearock,takenspeciallyfromtheriver.Notwantingtocauseoffence,leastofallinanythingconcerningtheEucharist,theyneverconcelebratedinpublic.Anotherquestion,inevitableintheIndiancontext,wasthatofguruanddisciple.ThoughAbhishiktanandawasnotconcernedwithhavingdiscipleshelivedbothexperiences,hisgurubeingSriGnananandaandhisclosestdisciple,attheendofhislife,ayoungFrenchmancalledMarcChaduc.Wasthereanythingoftheguru/disciplerelationshipbetweenhimandMurray?ThehumilityofMurray'sansweristouching:'IthinkIwasn'tdeepenough-toputitinaveryWesternway-tomakeuseofwhatSwamijihadtoshare.'MurrayfeelsthatSwamiji,ashewasknownbyhisfriends,wasSanchoPanzaandDonQuixoterolledintoone.HewasSanchoPanzainthathewasdown-to-earth,nevertakingforgranted,forinstance,wherethenextmealwascomingfrom.HewasDonQuixoteinthecouragewithwhichhetiltedatwindmills,evenatthestructurethattriestokeepChristianityinoneboxandHinduisminanother.“Not”asMurraysays,“becauseyoucanfindwheretheyinterlockandsaythisdoctrineagreeswiththatdoctrine-notonthatlevelatall,butbysurpassingboth.Hemovedbeyondcomparisons-that'sarealwindmill.”(TheTabletcutthisline-woulditbewickedofustore-instateit???)SoprofoundwereAbhishiktananda'sexperiencesthathesometimesthoughthewasmad,andMurrayfeelsthecourageofhispersistence

onthishardpathwasallthemoreremarkablebecausehehadapainfulsenseofinferiority.Thoughwellversedintheologyandphilosophy,hefeltnervouswithlearnedpeople;hewasoverwhelmedbythem.“Hecouldn'tcopewhenhewasfacedwithahumanbeingwhospokeabouttheeternal,abouttheChristianexperienceortheadvaiticexperienceasiftheyknewwhattheyweretalkingabout.Swamijiknewthathowevermuchheknewhewasinthefirstform.Hewasextraordinarilyhumble.”PerhapsevenmorethanmostofusAbhishiktanandaneededappreciationandlove.(Theyalsocutthis)“Beyond,alwaysbeyond”Abhishiktanandausedtosay,andthattookhimtorealmswheresomeChristiansdoubtedhisChristianity.JustashecouldsharewithMurraythetensionheexperiencedbetweenChristianityandadvaita,sohewasabletosharethoughtsthatwere,atthetime,unacceptabletomany.ForinstancehewrotetoMurrayjusttwomonthsbeforehisdeath,“TheChristImightpresentwillbesimplytheIAMofeverydeepheart,whocanshowhimselfinthedancingShivaortheamorousKrishna!Andthekingdomispreciselythisdiscovery...ofthe'insideoftheGrail!Theawakeningisatotalexplosion.”Ifproofofthedepthoftheirfriendshipwereneededitlayinthedepthoftheirsharing,initscombinationofintensity,humourandtrust.ItlayinAbhishiktananda'sgriefwhenMurrayandhiscommunityleftIndia,farexceedingtheconcernheusuallyfeltwhenpartingfromfriends;itlayinthe

THEBEDEGRIFFITHSSANGHANEWSLETTER 5

THEBEDEGRIFFITHSSANGHANEWSLETTERthreedayjourneyhemadefromhishutintheHimalayastoDelhi,tospendjustoneeveningwithMurray,whowaspassingthrough.AsforMurray,hesayshisfriend'openedmyeyesonwhatitmeanstobeinGod.Irememberhimsaying“PrayerissimplybelievingthatyouareinGod.”ApartfrommyfamilySwamijiisthegreatestgiftGodhasgivenme.'Friendshiplikethisnotonlychangeslivesbutcanaffectthespirituallivesofpeoplearoundthem.Hereweretwopeoplewhocouldshareataverydeeplevel.TheycouldevensharewhatAbhishiktanandacalledthe'Ah'oftheKenaUpanishad.'Thatwhichisthehearingbehindhearing,thethinkingbehindthinking,thespeechbehindspeech,thesightbehindsight.Itisalsothebreathingbehindbreathing.’ThisarticlewasfirstpublishedinTheTablet

6DearSanghafriends,ItwasgoodtomeetoldandnewfriendsatPrinknash,somemighthavebeensurprisedtoseemewearingorangeclothes,wonderingwhy.WeassociateorangerobeswhichyouknowviaBedewithaHindumonkSannyasin/Swami.Wellletmeusethisopportunitytosharesomethingwithyou.TheuseofthewordHinduorHinduism,allthoughquietcommon,isamisnomer.Variationsofthiswordwereusedbyinvadingforces,whetherAlexandertheGreat,Persians,MogulsorBritishtodescribethelandbeyondtheriverSindhu.FurthermoreitsusewaspopularisedbytheBritishasausefultoolto"divideandconquer"thatwhichwasMoslemand-theothers.The'others'lumpedtogethermanycultures,states,legalsystems,customsandreligiouspractices;ahugevarietyofthings,albeitallsharingtheVedicTruththatalllifeissacredandgovernedinallaspects(includingexpressionsofreligiouslife)througheternalprinciples.ThesearereferredtoasSanãtanaDharma.All“Hindu"culturesevolvedoutofthisexpandedvision;andmanystillrefertotheirreligionasSanãtanadharma.Sotocutalongstoryshort,aSwamiisnota"Hindumonk",butamonkdedicatedtotheSanãtanaDharma.Nowwhatisthat?TheSanãtanaDharmaisnotreferringtoaparticularGod,faith,prophetorreligion,itislookingatuniversalprinciplesbehindallreligions;thusitisaddressingallhumanbeings(regardlessofaparticularfaith,time,placeofbirthorpracticeofworship).Itis"scientificapproachthatlooksatthreecomponents:theworld,theindividualandGod.

Theworldiswhatis;theindividualexperiencesthisworldandGodiswhatevergovernstheinteractionofboth."Thesearemeaningfulonlyinrelationshiptoeachother(Jiva,Jagad,Ishwara),evenmutuallydependent.Furthermoresincetheyarevariables,theyneedtobesupportedbyareality,asubstratum(likeacanvassupportsthepicture)independentoftime,form,custom,tradition,cultureetc.ThisUltimateRealityisthe4th.FactorofattentioninSanãtanaDharma.NowinallthisthereisnomentionofanyparticularGod,faith,dogma,historyetc.Becauseitisnotspecificitisopentolookatprinciplessharedwithinthe"communityofreligions".Thuspeoplewhoareopencanlearnfromeachotherinalldifferentreligionsi.e.gobeyondaspecific(thuslimitingaspect)touniversalTruth.ThisprocessiswhatFatherBedeandotherslikehimwereinvolvedin.ItisfromthisunderstandingthatIfeelabletohelptobuildbridgesinourminds.AsaformerWesternDr.ofPhilosophyIdedicatedmylifetotheuniversalTruth,whenacceptingDikshatobecomeSwami.BridgingthegapbetweenWesternandEasternmind-patterns,iswhatbeingaSwamiisforme.Ifanyindividualorgroupwouldliketogetintocontact,maybe,wecanexpandourmindstogetherandanswersomequestions.SwamiNityamuktanandanityamuktananda@yahoo.co.ukincorporated.Inavideomessage,NelsonMandelasaidthestruggleagainstapartheidshowedwhatpeoplepowercouldachieve."Allformsofdiscriminationiswrong.Determination,commitmentandclearmindednesscanleadtoabetterworld.Agoodworldispossibleandthrougheffortsitwouldbecomeareality,"hetoldus.TheWSFprovidesauniquespaceforthe

marginalisedanddisenfranchisedpeopleoftheworldtohaveavoice.Theemphasisisonlearning,understandingandsharing,providingachanceforpeopletodiscusstheirstrugglesandchallenges,andtolooktogetherforsolutions.Thechallengeformeisabouthowweliveineachmomentandhowwetreatthosearoundus.AsGhandisaid‘Bethechangeyouwishto

seeintheworld’sus1868@onetel.net.uk

THEBEDEGRIFFITHSSANGHANEWSLETTER

TheWordMadeFleshJyotiSahi

7FromthelettersofFatherBedeFallinginlovewithIndia

FatherBedeiswidelyknownforhisbooks,mostofwhichareinprinttodayandwhicharestilllovedandvalued.Whatisnotsowellknownisthathewasalsoaprolificletterwriterandworkisnowstartingonaprojecttocollecttheseletterstogetherforapublication.HisletterstohisfriendDrMaryAllen,whichspantheyears19451967,providewonderfulinsightsintohowhereactedtohisencounterwiththeEastwhenheeventuallywenttoIndiain1955.TheextractsgivenhereshowsomethingofhowFatherBedecametofallinlovewithIndia.InMarch1955,FatherBedesetsailforIndiawithhisfriendFrBenedictAlapatt;hispassagewaspaidforbyMaryAllentowhomhewrote:

Ican'ttellyouhowthesightoftheseblackandbrownpeopleaffectsme.ItbringsbackallthatIhaveeverlearntfromD.H.Lawrence.Theyseemtolivewithadifferentkindoflife.Itispartly,Ithink,thatthebody,beingcontinuallyexposedtothesunlivesitsowndeeplifeanddrawsthesoulafterit.Thereisawonderfulsenseofwell-being,asthoughtheyaredrinkinginlifecontinually.Itglowsintheirlimbsandtheireyesandfaces,inthewaytheysitandstandandwalk…Itfilledonewithasenseofworshipforallthebeautyinlifewhichwehavedrivenoutofit.Weendeduponthesea-shoreandwatchedthesunset.Itsetasalwaysinaredballandthenthewholehorizonwasfilledorangeandyellowlightandamassofcloudabovewascaughtintheradiantglow.IthinkIfeltmoreopentonaturethanIhavefeltsinceIwasatschool.Idon'tknowwhetheritwilllast,butitislikethebeginningofare-birth.(Aden,April3rd1955)

…Myloveforthepeopleandthecountrygrowsdaily.HowIwishIcoulddescribeitalltoyou.Itistheencounterofeastandwestwhichismostfascinating…andwhatgracethereisineverything!Thedignityofthehumanform,thebeautyofthewomen(theirsarisarestilltheloveliestthingsIhaveseen)thegraceoftheirmovementswhethertheysitorstand;thelaughterandthejoyandthequiet,easypeacefulways.WhenIseeallthesepoorpeople(andtheirstandardoflifeisscarcelyabovethatofananimal),Ikeepsayingtomyself'blessedareyoupoor,foryoursisthekingdomofheaven'.IfthekingdomofGodisinloveandpeaceandjoyandkindnessandtruth,thenthesepeoplepossessit,andallourwesterncivilizationisamereaccident.(Kengeri,April17th1956)ImustsaythatafterenvisagingsomanywaysIwhichImightpossiblebecalledontodie,asIwouldmostwillinglyforIndia,Ihavenowdiscoveredatotallynewone.IamreallyafraidthatImaydieofsheerloveandhappiness!Ifeelinclinedtosayeachday,Nuncdimittisservustuum,domineinpace.DoyouknowwhatImean,howthesightofanythingabsolutelybeautifulmakesone

wanttodie,becauseitbringstheeternalsonear?WellthatishowIfeelwhenIgoaboutthestreetshere.(KengeriMay1955)…Ifeel(India)very,verydeeplyasmyhomeinasense,&yetnotseparatefromPrinknashorfromEngland.Thebeautyofit,foronething,isoverwhelming.Thenightskywithitsstarswhicharesomehowsonear&warm&friendly;thecrescentmoon,therisingsunseenthroughthemangoes,&aboveallthesunset,dayafterday,thewesternskyradiantwithred&gold&orange,along,deepafterglowwhichgoesonallthroughCompline.Ihaveneverfeltsomuchonewithnature.Thenmyloveforthepeopleissodeep&strong…Itseemedasthoughabarrierhadbeenbroken&IhadtouchedtheheartofIndia.ThereisnodoubtthatIndiastandsformyunconscious.ItouchsomethingtheredeeperthanIhaveeverknown,&somehownecessaryforme.(KengeriDec18th1955)

THEBEDEGRIFFITHSSANGHANEWSLETTERBOOKREVIEWTHEBOOKOFONEDennisWaite(OBooks2003)288pp£9.99ISBN1903816416TheBookofOneisanexcellentresourcebookforAdvaitaVedantawebsites,books,organisations,dictionary,indexandreferencesarecarefullytabledinAppendicesetc.ThepurposeofthebookistoshowwhatAdvaitaisanditismuchmorethanausefulresourcebook.Themainbodyofthetextusesacriss-crossingbetweeneasternandwesternphilosophyveryhelpfullyforwesternreadersseekingtheintellectualbackgroundtothisparticularspiritualpath.WaiteoffersAdvaita(whichmeans'nottwo')asthetraditiontoanswerallthequestionsof'life,theuniverseandeverything'.WhileTheBookofOneoffersmuchtoengagethemindsofmodernseekersafterthemysteriesoftheeast,itisquiteclearaboutthedepthofchangeinvaluesandthinkingthatislikelytobeneededtofollowthepath.MembersoftheBedeGriffithsSanghamayfindtheimportanceofmeditationinAdvaitaparticularlyinteresting.Thereisachapterdevotedtothesubject.DennisWaitehasmadehisextensivesubjectmatteraccessiblebydivisionintosections,byemployingaveryclearlayoutandsub-headings,aswellasaconsistentlylivelystyleandhumorousquotations.ThepaceofthebookisprettyrapidandIfoundinlargepartsofthetextthatthepolishedprocessofDennisWaite'swritingmadeveryenjoyablereading,forexampleinthechapteronAppearanceandReality,hetakesusthroughmetaphorsandparadoxinadelightfulway.SanghamemberswantingtowidenorrevisethetheoreticalfoundationsoftheirmeditationarelikelytofindTheBookofOneisveryinterestingandveryinformative.AngelaStoddart(ASanghamemberfromThrowley,Kent)Angela@cforstal.surfaird.org

SanghamemberKenKnight,isaSanskritscholarandhasofferedtoprovidereaderswithaseriesofshortguidestothemeaningofcommonlyusedSanskritwords.ThismonthheoffersanexplanationofthewordadvaitaTherearesixschoolsofphilosophybasedintheVedas:sankhya,yoga,mimamsa,vaishesika,yogaandvedanta.EachcontributestotheteachingsofFatherBedebutitisvedantathatisattheirheart.Tounderstandthethreebrancheswithinvedantawemayusetheanalogyofthedropofwaterinthesea.Thedropofwatermaybeintheseabutalwaysindividual,itmaymergewiththeseawhichisofthesamenaturewhilemaintainingitsindividualityoritmaymergetotallywiththeseawhenthefalsesuppositionofitsindividualityisrealised.Thesebranchesarecalleddvaita(duality),visishtadvaita(qualifiednon-duality)andadvaita(non-duality)respectively.ThefirstistobewitnessedinourtimesintheHariKrishnamovement,whilethelastisverypopularinthevariousgroupsattemptingtoteachShankara'sphilosophy.Thesecond,beingtheteachingofRamanuja,islesswell-knownbutismoreintunewithFatherBede'steachingsthantheothers.Advaitameans'not-two,non-dual'.Thisisthesimplestwayofsayingthatthewayofnegation,vianegativa,isthecorrectwaytorevealthatwhichisineffable,beyondnameandform. St.John'sreportedwordsofJesus,inChapter17ofhisgospel,areoftendescribedasbeingadvaitininessence.Theymaywellbe,butanincorrectexpressionhasriseninrecenttimes'Christianadvaita'.Such a theo-philosophical position is impossible tosustainandHenriLeSaux,SwamiAbhishiktananda,demonstrates this in his life. For many years hemaintainedaholdonthesupremacyofhisTrinitarianteaching as the ultimate experience ofUnion in thedivine, of the 'I am' experience. However, after hisrigorousretreatintotheHimalayasattheendofhislifehewaswriting:'YetIaminterestedinnoChristologyatall.IhavesolittleinterestinaWordofGodwhichwillawakenmanwithinhistory…TheWordofGodcomesfrom/tomyown'present';itisthatveryawakeningwhichismyself-awareness.WhatIdiscoveraboveallinChristishis'IAM'…itisthatIAMexperiencewhichreallymatters.ChristIstheverymystery'thatIAM',andintheexperienceandexistentialknowledgeallChristologyhasdisintegrated.'This is an expression of the 'tat tvamasi' statementwhichisatthecoreofadvaita.hilken_98@yahoo.comKenKnight-AsanghamemberfromDowne,Kent

8 SANSKRITCORNERADVAITA

FatherBenedictAlapattplayedacrucialroleinthelifeofFatherBede.Hewasthe'agent'throughwhichFatherBedefirstestablishedasmallBenedictinecommunityatthevillageofKengeri,nearBangalore,butthefoundationfailedtoobtainecclesiasticalapprovalandlastedlessthantwoyears.BenedictAlapattfollowedhiscommitmenttoestablishthecontemplativelifeinIndia,thistimewiththehelpofthesistersofStCecilia'sAbbey,Thisaccount,bySrBede,ofStCecilia'sAbbey,paystributetothelifeofBenedictAlapattandhispartinthedevelopmentofChristianmonasticlifeinIndia.OurretiredAbbess,SrBernadetteSmeyers,hasaskedmetowriteonherbehalftothankyouforyourkindgoodwishesonthethoccasionofher100 birthday.OneoftheachievementsofherlongabbacywasthemakingofamonasticfoundationinIndia.Hereishowithappened.TheoriginatorofthefirstfoundationofBenedictinenunsinIndiawasFrBenedictAlapattOSB.Inhissearchformonasticism,FrAlapattbeganwiththeSilvestrineBenedictinemonksinCeylonnowSriLankabuttheyweretoomuchengagedinteachingandpastoralwork.SohecametoEuropeinquestforacontemplativeformofBenedictinemonasticism.Idonotknowthedetailsofthedates,butheseemstohavereceivedamonasticformationandmadeprofessionofvowsattheAbbeyofStAndré,Bruges,Belgium.Thiscommunity

wasnotfullycontemplative,butitwascommittedtothemakingoffoundationsincountrieswhereChristianitywasdeveloping.PerhapsFrAlapatthopedtheywouldbeabletobeginoneinIndia.IamnotsurewhetherhisgoingtoPrinknashAbbeynearGloucesterwasonaccountofpoorhealth,needingamilderclimate,orwhetherhewasinsearchofEnglishspeakingmonksforhisproject.Whicheveritmayhavebeen,hiseloquencegainedhimthesupportoftheAbbotandcommunity,andinparticularFatherBedeGriffiths.ItisastrangefactthatalthoughChristianitycametoIndiaveryearly(treasuredtraditionsayswiththeApostleStThomas),Christianmonasticismdidnotfollowlater,afteritsdevelopmentinEgypt,PalestineandSyria.Haditdoneso,itwouldsurelyhaveflourished.Christianityitselfremainedlocalisedinthesouth-west,firstinKeralaandtheninGoa.FrAlapattmaintainedthattheIndiansoulwasnaturallycontemplative,awisdom-seeker;buttheseaspectsdidnotappeartohavemuchimportanceinChristianity,evenwhenlivedbyIndianpeopleinan'Indianised'form.Buthedidnotconsiderthat'Indianisation'(or'inculturation')wasthemainfactorrequiringattention:thiswasthepre-occupationsofEuropeantheorists.ForFrAlapatt,'inculturation'wasnotsomethingtobeimposedbyEuropeans;ratheritwasthenaturalinnerdevelopmentofIndiansbeingtruetothemselvesastheylivedthemonasticlife.Anditwouldtaketimeandexperience,advancingstepbystep.SoFrAlapattandFrBede

wentouttoIndiatogether,fullofhopeandenthusiasm,tofoundacommunityofBenedictinemonksatKengeri,nearBangalore.Butafteratimetheirviewpointsbegantodiverge.FrBede,inspiredbytheFrenchpriestpioneer,FrMonchanin,begantofeelstronglythatamoreIndianorHindulifestyleshouldbeadopted,andthatFrAlapattwasnot'Indianenough'.FrAlapatt,however,consideredthatamoreup-to-date'westernised'formwascalledforbythechangingofthetimes,andtheprogressivemodernisingofIndia.HeacceptedthatmoderntechnologywouldspreadinIndia,asinalldevelopingcountries,andthat,althoughasimplelife-stylemustbemaintained,educatedpeoplecomingtothemonasterywouldexpecthygiene,propermedicalcareandareasonablyuseofmoderntechnology.Hewasarealist-notaromantic.Neverthelesstheexperiencewasnotwithoutitsfruitsandthereisasenseinwhichbothcanbeunderstoodascorrect,andtheCatholicChurchinIndiaiswiseenough,andbroad-mindedenough,toincludebothinafruitfulway.Thetwomonkswenttheirownways,butremainedongoodterms.FrAlapattdecidedtoconcentrateonafoundationofnunsandwantedthemtohavetheirinitialformationinaBenedictineAbbeyinEngland.HeaskedFrBedetoinitiatecontactsinthiscountry.FrBedefirstcontactedStanbrookAbbeyandpresentedFrAlapatt'sschemeandrequest.Atthattime(1962)thatcommunitywasconsideringmakingafoundationinSwedenandsopassedtheinformationandrequesttoMotherBernadettehereatStCecilia'sAbbey.Afterprayer

THEBEDEGRIFFITHSSANGHANEWSLETTERFathe

rBenedictA

lapattSrBed

eMBarker

OSB

FrBedewenttoIndiain1955throughhiscollaborationwithBenedictAlapatt.InthisarticleSrBede,ofStCecilia’sAbbey,Ryde,IsleofWight,UK,tellsthestoryofBenedictAlapatt’ssubsequentcontributiontotheestablishmentofthecontemplativelifeinIndia

9

THEBEDEGRIFFITHSSANGHANEWSLETTERandconsultation,sheandthecommunitydecidedGodwasaskingthisofthem,andafavourablereplywassenttoFrBedeandFrAlapatt.FrAlapatthadgatheredtogetherfiveofhisnieceswhomhejudgedhadarealreligiousvocation,andplacedthemforayearwiththeReligiousofJesusandMaryatPoonainordertolearntheEnglishlanguageandmanners.HethenpersonallyaccompaniedthemtoEngland,andbroughtthemtoStCecilia'sinAugust1963.Wetookinculturationseriouslyrightfromthebeginningoftheproject,andduringtheyearthatelapsedbetweenthefirstcontactbyletterandtheactualarrivalofthefirstfiveIndiangirlsescortedbyFrAlapatt,wereadupeverythingwecouldaboutIndia,itshistoryandculture.WeborrowedfromtheIndianEmbassyinLondonslides,filmsandtapes,whichincludedIndianmusicandclassicaldance!Wewantedtobeabletounderstandthegirlsbetter,andhelpeasetheculturalshockofcomingtoEurope.Theywerepostulantsforoneyear;novicesfor2years;andthenmadetemporaryvowsfor3years.TwomoreIndiangirlscameafewmonthslater.DuringtheirtimeatStCecilia'sFrAlapattvisitedthesistersseveraltimes.HespokeseveraltimestoAbbessBernadette,myselfandthecommunityaboutthewhatswhysandwhereforesunderlyinghisprojectforcontemplativemonasticlifeinIndia.ItwashisburningconvictionthatChrist'slightandlovewouldneverpenetratefullyintotheheartsoftheIndianpeoplesuntiltheycouldseeandexperiencethatChristians

cananddoliveanasceticlifeofprayerandcontemplationonaparwiththeHindusannyasis.ThisdeepspiritualaspectseemedtobelackingfromChristianityinIndiauptothatpointintime.Themanyreligiousorderspresentwereactiveinteaching,medicalandsocialworkexcellentinthemselves,butapparentlylackinginspiritualdepth.A

handfulofconventsofCarmelitenunsexisted,butthesewerehiddenawayandunknown.AfterdeliveringhisnieceshereinAugust1963,FrAlapattstayedatnearbyQuarrAbbeyforseveraldays,andusedtocomeovertocelebratemassandseehiscandidatesandhowtheyweresettlingin.AfterthathespentfivemonthsorsotravellingaroundEngland,givinglecturesandtryingtoraisesomefundstowardsaneventualpurchaseoflandforhisprojectedfoundationfornuns.FromtimetotimehewouldreturntotheIsleofWighttoseehowhisniecesweregettingonbeforehereturnedtoIndia.Hehasaskedustocompletetheirgeneraleducationasfaraspossible,soquiteaprogrammewassetup.Severalofthecommunity

hadbeenprofessionalteachersbeforebecomingnuns.FrBedevisitedStCecilia'sAbbeyatleastoncewhiletheIndianswerehavingtheirmonasticformationhere.HewasinEnglandonalecturetourandhestayedabout3dayswiththemonksatQuarrAbbeyandspentmostofthedaysatStCecilia's.HespokewithAbbessBernadette,withthe

MistressofNovicesandmyself(Iwasherassistantatthattime)andhetalkedtothecommunityingeneral.HewasagoldmineofinterestinginformationaboutIndia,andgaveusmuchusefuladviceaboutformationandlifestyles.Wefeltateasewithhim,andonthesamewavelength.Hewasveryencouragingconcerningthefoundation,andsharedFrAlapatt’shopesforitsfuture.FrAlapattwantedthenewfoundationinIndiatobeIndianrightfromthestart,withanativesuperior,andweagreedtothis.HefeltthattheIndiannunsshouldberesponsiblefortherunningoftheirmonasteryandhewantedthemtohaveathoroughandall-roundformation.Hewasaheadofthetimes.Hewasoneofthefirsttobringnative

vocationstoEuropeforformation.Untilthen,theusualprocedurewasforagroupofEuropeanstosettleinadevelopingcounty,foundanddetermineformanyyearsthelifeofthemonastery.Then,onlyafteralengthyperiod,whentheyjudgedthenativesready,allowanativesuperiortogovern.FrAlapattalsoaskedustoberesponsiblefinanciallyforthepurchaseoflandandtheerectionofbuildings,withon-goinghelpaftertheywereestablishedasacommunity.Theseconditionswereacceptedandfulfilled;butnotwithouteffortandsomedifficultyasmaywellbeimagined!TheSecondVaticanCouncilhadnotyetended,butFrAlapattwasforeseeingtheuseofthevernacularfortheliturgy.HewantedtoemploynottheSyrianritewithitsdifficultlanguage,butthesimplerandmoreuniversalRomanritewhichhesawasmoreopentoadaptation.HewantedhismonasticfoundationtouseEnglishwherepossible,becausethiswas/isthegenerallanguageusedthroughoutIndiaandheforesawvocationscomingfromanydifferentlanguageregions:timeprovedhimright..AbbessBernadettetookoneoftheIndiansisterswithher(SrTeresitanowtheAbbessatShantiNilayamAbbey,nearBangalore),tothefamousmonasticmeetingatBangkokin1968,duringwhichFrThomasMertontragicallydied.ThetwothenwenttoBangaloretojointhetwopioneernunsfromStCecilia's,whohadalreadybeeninIndiathreeyears,prospecting,buyingsuitableland(20acres)andoverseeingthebuildingof

10

FrBedeandFrBenedictAlapatt

THEBEDEGRIFFITHSSANGHANEWSLETTERsolidbutsimplemonasticbuildings.AbbessBernadettereturnedtoEnglandafterthreeweeks,andin1969theremainingIndiansisterswenttoBangalore.TheyallmadetheirfinalmonasticvowsinIndiaatShantiNilayam,constitutinganall-Indiancommunitythere.Duringthenextyearsthecommunitygrewslowly.Itprovednecessaryforoneortwoofournunstostayonwiththemtoassistforacoupleofyears,helpingthemsolvealltheproblemswhichinevitablyarose.Foryearswecontinuedtohelpthemfinancially,togetbooksandequipmentandhaveacoupleofbore-wellsdrilledtoallowaproperwatersupplyforirrigation.Thecommunityhasslowlybuiltupnumbers;theyhaveexpandedthepoultry-farm,extendedthecultivationofthelandandbuiltasmallretreathouse.FrBedevisitedthemseveraltimes;andoncepreachedaweek-longretreattothem.ThesisterswereprudentlyguidedbySrTeresita,andhaveslowly'Indianised'theirlifestyle.ThesistersarefreetochoosewhethertheywishtowearasaffroncolouredsariorawhiteBenedictinehabitoftunicandscapular.Oursistershaveattemptedtwodaughter-foundationsof'ashram'style:butbothfailedthroughlackofinterestandvocationsinthistypeoflife.AthirdfoundationinthefarnorthofIndiaatShillong,whichwasrequestedbytheBishopthere,istakingtimetodevelop.Bothculturallyandethnicallyitisverydifferentinthefarnorth,andthereisstrongresistancetoanythingviewedas'Hindu'.Sotherewillhavetobeanotheranddifferentprocessofadaptationupthere!The

possibilityofasecondfoundationinnorthIndiaiscurrentlyunderconsideration.Twoyearsago,nineBurmesegirlsgotacrosstheborderfromMyanmarandjoinedShantiNilayam.Thismayresultlaterinafoundationintheircountryifthepoliticalsituationeasesupalittle.In1996,ShantiNilayam(numberingover30sisters)wasraisedtothestatusofanAbbey,andSrTeresitaelectedasabbess.TheprudentmiddlecoursethatFrAlapattadopted,betweensimplicityandtheuseofmoderntechnology,isexemplifiedinthecommunityatShantiNilayamwherethesistersusemoderntechnologywhereappropriate.Buttheyavoidhavingmorethatisstrictlynecessary.Theyhadatypewriterfromthestart,butnowthenecessityforreliableandspeedycommunicationwithplacesabroad,RomeortheUSAorBritain,hasobligedthemtoadoptemail!Thesistersparticipateininter-religiousmonasticdialogue,sendingdelegatestovariouseventsinAsia.SomehavevisitedBuddhistandJainmonasteries.RecentlytwoBuddhistnunsresidedatShantiNilayamforafewmonths,attherequestoftheDalaiLama,inordertolearntypingandcomputerskills.Itwasaverypleasantecumenicalcontactandsharing.SuchrelationshipwouldbeentirelyinaccordwithFrAlapatt'soutlook.WhatFrAlapattforesawandprudentlyplannedandworkedfor,hasgraduallybecomereality.ItwouldbeveryinterestingtoknowhowmuchheinfluencedFrBedeintheirinitialcontactsinEngland,andthenduringtheirfirsttwoyearstogether

inIndiaatKengeri..CertainlyFrAlapattmusthavecaptivatedFrBede'sinterestinIndia,andthepossibilitythathesawforcontemplativeChristianmonasticlifethere,otherwisehewouldnothavegonetherewithhim.ThatFrBede'sviewpointgraduallydivergedanddevelopedinanotherdirectionissimplypartofthestory.IdothinkthatFrBedewasconsiderablyinfluencedbyFrAlapatt,particularlythevitalroleofaChristianasceticlifeofprayerandcontemplationinordertomanifestthelightandloveofChristtothesoulofIndiaandformabridge.ItseemstomethatFrBedewaslivingjustthatidealduringthesecondhalfofhislife.PersonallyIthinkFrAlapatt'srolehastendedtobeoverlooked.We(theoldernunshere)gottoknowhimquitewell,andIfeelthathislife-storyremainstoberesearchedandwritten.Heneversucceededinreallyfoundinghismonasteryformonks,sufferingfailures,setbacksandmisunderstandings.Hecouldbeopinionatedandtactless!Onecauseofsufferingforhimwashisappointmentbyhisbishoptobechaplaintoalargeboy'scollegeandnottothenunsatShantiNilayam.FrAlapattdiedonDecember6th1981;hehadabadheartconditionandwasinanursinghomeforhislastyears,sufferingalotfromdepression.ThecommunityatShantiNilayamremainedincontactwithhimandnewsofthenunswastheonethingthatcheeredhimup!Heisconsidered(rightly)tobetheirfounder,asmuchasAbbessBernadetteandStCecilia'sAbbey.ShantiNilayamwasbothhis

consolationandhislastingachievement.Ihopeallthismaybeofsomeinteresttoyou.WehopethatyourSanghawillhelppeopletodeepentheirspirituallives,throughcontactwithDomBede'swritings.Hewasanexceptionallygiftedmonk.Withallgoodwishesandinunionofprayer,inChristourLord.SrBedeOSBTocontactStCecilia’sAbbeyvisit:www.stceciliasabbey.org.ukTocontactShantiNilayamAbbey,Bangaloreemail:shanti@bgl.vsnl.in

FatherBedeathisbirthdaypartyDecember17th1990

11

SanghaContactsandGroupsEnglandBeds:Bedford,PeterForrest01234831361Bucks:Marlow,MichaelDay01628474034Cornwall:Penzance,SwamiNityamuktananda01736350510Devon:Exeter,JoanUzzells01392276825Dorset:MichaelGiddings01308897159Essex:ChrisCollingwood01815044476Gloucestershire:TimothyandVictoriaGlazier01453839488Hants:Gosport,SueHowse02392528601Kent:Canterbury,Jill&Adrian01227752871MeditationGroup1stFridayofeachmonth7.15p.m.LondonN4:AnnO’Donoghue02073591929LondonSE(Kent):HilaryKnight01689861004MeditationGroupWednesdays7.30p.m.LondonN/Herts:EdgarHolroyd-Doveton02083864323Northants:HenryWorthy01604513032MeditationgroupThursdaysat8p.m.Oxon:OxfordShirleyduBoulay01865310332Somerset:TauntonValeriaIves01823432468Somerset:BathKevinTingay01761470249Staffs:StokeonTrentSrSophia01782816036Suffolk:WendyMulford01728604169W.Sussex:GillianMaher01444455334Chichester:ThereseO’Neill01730814879Group2ndTuesdayofeachmonthYorks:BarnsleyMargaretCadnam01226217042NorthernIrelandBelfast:SighleMaryO’Donoghue02890287471MeditationFridayat7.00pmBallyhornanStanPapenfus02844841451ScotlandAberdeen:AngelikaMonteux01224867409GlasgowSteveWoodward01355224937Edinburgh:LairdMcLean01314781673WalesWestWales:JoanWalters01646692496NorthWales:JonathanRobinson01766514225OverseascontactsAustralia AndrewHowieiona@netspace.net.auDenmark VickyLasheras:lasheras@mail.tele.dkEire MichaelWoods+35350248696France NerteChaixmichoule2@wanadoo.frIndia Br.Martin: Sahajananda@hotmail.comSwitzerland UrsMattmannursm@bluewin.chUSA OklahomaCarolynCowan: ccmission@cox.net NevadaJackieGreedy7758830854 CaliforniaSantaBarbaraNicholasDewey 8058980865Ifanyonewouldliketohavetheirnamesaddedaslocalcontactspleaseletusknow.Pleasealsoletushavedetailsofanygroupsyouwouldlikeincluded

RETURNADDRESSBeechTreeCottageSellingFaversham,KentME139RHUKTHEBEDEGRIFFITHSSANGHA

ForfurtherinformationcontactAdrianRanceandJillHemmingsPhone:+44(0)1227752871bg.sangha@btinternet.comWe’reontheWebwww.bedegriffiths.comandhttp://uk.msnusers.com/sahajanandaashramSanghaEventsStantonGuildhouse,Stanton,Glos.April2004.Weekendsilentretreat(fullybooked)SummerSeminaronAbishiktanandaatParkPlacePastoralCentre,Fareham16th-18thJuly2004.(Bookingforminthisnewsletter)Silentretreat,StNon’sRetreatCentre,StDavid’s,Wales.9-16thOctober2004.ContactJoanWalters01646692496AdventRetreat,StPetersGrange,Prinknash4th-6thDecember2004ChristmasatShantivanamIfyouareinterestedintravellingtoShantivanamforChristmasthisyear,tojoinagroupofSanghamembersthere,pleasephoneJillon01227752871andputtinginthelight,ournewgrand-daughterEleaMaryBarton,asisterforCamille,andMaryLaidlawfromScotland,whohasjusthadanoperation