Abhishiktananda

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Dear Malarena,

thanks much for uploading the file.

For those who can't read - it is a word document.

 

Abhishiktananda (Henri Le Saux)combined both in his life, diving in

the essence of both: christianity and advaita. He was a Benedictine

Monk and at the same time a Sanyasin, which brought him also some

problems with the Christian church of course. Later, at the time of

the Vaticanum II he was seen in church as a bridge-builder between

christianity and advaita. He was a great man. His diary and his other

scriptures are full of deep wisdom.

 

When he came to India he met Ramana in 1949. This meeting made great

impression on him, but only afterwards, because when he was seeing

the Maharshi he was really wondering what should be great on him.

He also liked to withdraw and meditate in a cave of Arunachala for

some weeks. Later he became a disciple of Swami Gnananda who had is

Ashram nearby. He and onother Benedictine were the founder of

Shantivanam, an Hindu-Christian Ashram, which guidance he later

shifted to Bede Griffiths. Then he withdraw and lived in the

Himalayas.

 

The struggle to unite Christianity and Advaita in his live only left

in full when he had a heart attack, which became the great awaking

experience. Soon afterwards he died in 1973.

To read his diary is really heart touching.

This only to give some background to this deep inspiring text from

him.

 

In Sri Ramana

Gabriele

 

RamanaMaharshi, "Maralena" <teawhiskers@a...> wrote:

> I have just downloaded to the Ramana Maharshi group "FILES" a word

> document named: Abhisshiktananda: Nonduality and Christianity.

>

> I am wondering if any of you are familiar with Swami

Abhishiktananda

> (Henri Le Saux) (he was a Benedictine Monk who at one point came in

> contact with Ramana and the teachings of Advaita) ? Any who would

or

> could take the time to read it… I would be very appreciative, and

> would welcome your thoughts and/or comment of the possibility of

> such. The following caption was a small bit taken from the file.

>

> Abhishiktananda and the Challenge of Hindu-Christian Experience

>

> "What gnaws away at my body as well as my mind is this: after

having

> found in advaita a peace and a bliss never experienced before, to

> live with the dread that perhaps, that most probably, all that my

> latent Christianity suggests to me is nonetheless true, and that

> therefore advaita must be sacrificed to it... In committing myself

> totally to advaita, if Christianity is true, I risk committing

myself

> to a false path for eternity. All my customary explanations of hell

> and the rest are powerless against a reality that exists in a way

> unknown to me.... Supposing in advaita I was only finding myself

and

> not God? And yet, it is only since I made the personal discovery of

> advaita at Arunachala that I have recovered peace and a zest for

> life." ~ Swami Abhishiktananda