Home Biography Advisors Bede Griffiths Centers Camaldosese Institute

Purpose

The Bede Grifflths Association was founded to promote the renewal of contemplative life in the contemporary church and world. This renewal requires, in Fr. Bede's words "a marriage of contemplation and action."

Activities

Promoting the awareness and practice of contemplative prayer, and helping people to dispose themselves to receive the grace of contemplation which, Fr. Bede believed, is offered to everyone. Contemplative practice and experience will, in turn, nurture a spirit of peace and compassion among the peoples of the earth.

Continuing the pioneering work of Father Bede in the area of interreligiious dialogue. This too, he understood, is crucial for the peace of the world and the future of our global family.

Disseminating Fr. Bede's vision in various ways: through making available the books, articles and recordings of Bede and other spiritual teachers, through retreats and contemplative prayer groups, through operation of the Bede Griffiths website and publication of The Golden String bulletin.

Furthering the ongoing life of Shantivanam, Fr. Bede's Ashram in Southern India, and supporting the Ashram’s projects on behalf of the poor in the surrounding villages. The life of the spirit – contemplative life –must be integrated, Bede taught, with the social and economic life of the larger human community.

Events

May 2 - 3, 2008

Oneness & the Heart of the World with Fr. Thomas Keating & Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee. Join us in Boulder, Colorado for a Friday Evening Talk & Saturday One-Day Seminar for a unique meeting of two mystical traditions, which will explore the onenesss that is at the heart of all spiritual traditions, and the contribution it can make at this present time of global transition.

Friday, May 2nd: 7:00pm - 9:30pm , $20 and Saturday, May 3rd: 10:00am - 5:00pm , $85 Advance Registration Requested, or it is possible to book at the door. More details available at: Oneness & The Heart of the World, or email us at events@goldensufi.org

May 9 - 11, 2008

East and West -The Universal Call of the Spirit. A retreat based on the teachings and spirituality of Bede Griffiths, OSB, and Abishiktananda (Henri Le Saux OSB). Presenter, Cyprian Consiglio, OSB, a monk of the Camaldolese Congregation. This practical application incorporates the best of Eastern philosophy and practice with Western spirituality toward the new mysticism of the 21st century. The retreat will include prayer, song, meditation, exercise and teaching. Location: Dominican Sisters Meeting Room, 6501 Almeda, Houston, Texas 77021. For details contact claudiamorgan@comcast.net, 713.668.1209 or www.wccmtexas.org. View retreat brochure.

May 24 - 25, 2008

Mahasamadhi Celebration commemorating Father Bede Griffiths will be held at Osage Monastery, Sand Springs, OK. USA. Monk and author Bruno Barnhart from New Camaldolese Hermitage, Big Sur, CA will speak at 7 pm Saturday May 24, on "The Mystery and Paradox of Sophia, Lady Wisdom". On Sunday, May 25, at 7 pm he will speak on "Wisdom and Prophecy in Bede Griffiths". For more information, please email: osagemonastery@juno.com

May 28 - June 1, 2008

Major Interreligious Dialogue at Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky. This conference will deal with the relationship of monasticism to ecology, the environment, sustainability and eco-spirituality. This will be a follow-up of Gesthemani I & II sponsored by Monastic Interreligious Dialogue in 1996 and 2002. Contact info: M.I.D. website: www.monasticdialogue.org or E-mail Fr. William Skudlarek at wskudlarek@csbsju.edu

July 1 - 5, 2008

10th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Contact information: Sakyadhita, International Association of Buddhist Women, 923 Mokapu Blvd, Kailua, HI 96734. Web site: www.sakyadhita.org Brochure: Mongolia.pdf

July 12-17, 2008

Sophia Summer Institute & Retreat - A Gathering to Celebrate Thomas Berry's work.
Some of the participants include: Brian Swimme, Stephen Dunn, Diarmuid O'Murchu, Mary Southard, CSJ, Gail Worcelo and Bernadette Bostwick SGMs, John Surette SJ, and others. Topics include: Journeying Thru the Cosmos with Thomas Berry; Sacred Baquet Sacred Dance; Living the Dream of the Earth: Ways into the Future; Global Prophets--Thomas Berry and Teilhard de Chardin, and more.

For full information contact: The Sophia Center at Holy Names University, 3500 Mountain Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619-1699; Tel. 1-800-794-8813; Fax. 510-436-1338; Email. sophiactr@aol.com

 


I know that Great Person of the brightness of the sun beyond the darkness.
Only by knowing him one goes beyond death.
There is no other way to go.
— Svetasvatara Upanishad

 

What's New

Bede Griffiths: 'The Function of a Mantra'. Audio Clip 8:32 min. WCCM Series.

Bruno Barnhart: 'Our Hunger for Wisdom'. NCR podcast.

Pascaline Coff: 'Riches of Interreligious Dialogue'. NCR podcast.

Articles

>>The Resurrection. !988 Homily given by Fr. Bede Griffiths

Newsletters

>>Golden String -Winter 2007-2008.pdf

>>Sangha -Autumn 2007.pdf

>>Newsletter Archive

Spiritual Tours

Dr. Meath Conlan's Diverse Journeys website features upcoming spiritual tours to Shantivanam and other ashrams in South India.

Dr. Conlan is available for Bede Griffiths Workshops and guest-speaking. Email: drconlan@diversejourneys.net

New Books

The Future of Wisdom: Toward a Rebirth of Sapiential Christianity by Bruno Barnhart, Continuum, 2007.

Swami Abhishiktananda: Essential Writings by Shirley du Boulay, Orbis Books, 2007.

Bede Griffiths: Friend and Gift of the Spirit.. A Spiritual Journey by Meath Conlan, Ph.D. Templegate, 2006.