A Human Search: Bede Griffiths Reflects on His Life : An Oral History

by Bede Griffiths, John Swindells

Book by Griffiths, Bede, Swindells, John

163 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1997

About the author

Bede Griffiths (1906-1993), born Alan Richard Griffiths and also known as Swami Dayananda (Bliss of Compassion), was a British-born Benedictine monk who lived in ashrams in South India. He was born at Walton-on-Thames, England and studied literature at Magdalen College, Oxford under professor and Christian apologist C. S. Lewis, who became a lifelong friend. Griffiths recounts the story of his conversion in 1931 to Roman Catholicism while a student at Oxford in his autobiography The Golden String.

Although he remained a Catholic monk he adopted the trappings of Hindu monastic life and entered into dialogue with Hinduism.

Griffiths was a proponent of integral thought, which attempts to harmonize scientific and spiritual world views. In a 1983 interview he stated,

"We're now being challenged to create a theology which would use the findings of modern science and eastern mysticism which, as you know, coincide so much, and to evolve from that a new theology which would be much more adequate."

Reviews

[Sumon Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great work. The search of a man for truth. From agnosticism to anglicanism and then to Catholicism. This book is an open talk by Bede Griffiths. One would really wonder, how a man who was so intelligent and had a promising career could give up everything to live the life of a monk, a life of renunciation and prayer. For me personally, it looks rather strange.

Also, this is a nice exposition of a man who is totally changed by the spirituality of the east. One man who really got accustomed to the way of India. One who is transformed by the Indian spirituality. One who found a healthy equilibrium between what is truly Indian and what is genuinely Christian.

He is very open in speaking out. Be it in looking at the Church with a realistic eye, be it in speaking out openly about some of the conventional notions of the Catholic Church.

In short, it is indeed an ideal autobiographic work for anyone who is in the genuine search.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating memoir by a man dedicated to truth and committed to experience rather than dogma. Bede Griffiths points to the essence of all religions and spiritual paths and how they can be distilled down to the deep inner life and experience. Lovely thought-provoking memoir despite the clunky writing.