The One Light - (Introduction, Part 8)

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The One Light - (Introduction, Part 8)

 

(p.28) This collection is intended both as an introduction to Bede's work and as

a permanent resource for reference. One need not read the texts in the order in

which they are arranged here. Sooner or later, however, it is advisable to

follow the line of development of Bede's life and thought and to become

acquainted with each aspect of his intellectual world. It is our hope that the

present volume will both draw the reader to his books themselves and suggest a

perspective from which they can be read more fruitfully.

 

THE STRUCTURE OF THIS BOOK

 

The seven sections of this collection are arranged both topically and

chronologically. The order parallels in a general way the phases of Bede

Griffiths' life and work, but often an early piece has been placed in the midst

of later material, or vice versa, to maintain consistency of subject. Because of

the nature of these writings, it has been impossible to avoid some overlapping

and repetition. Bede's thought often circles around the same center in different

essays, and he moves over the same ground again and again, with new accents. The

orderly structure of this book is deceptive, therefore. The writings

characteristically refuse to conform to a linear arrangement, so there is some

arbitrariness in the division of the material and there are loops in the

continuity.

 

Section One begins with Bede Griffiths' narrative of his personal awakening, and

continues with the various dimensions of the sapiental world [world of wisdom]

which unfolded from that moment: the scope of his epistemology and of his

universe is exposed to view. In sections Two and Three, " West, Part One " and

" West, Part Two " , after a look at the western civilization which Bede has

rejected, we follow his process of conversion to Christianity and share his

insightful synthetic views of the Christian mysteries and the church. In

sections Four and Five, " East, Part One " and " East, Part Two " , we accompany Bede

in his discovery of India and his personal appropriation of the eastern wisdom,

first on the level of theoretical and then of practical teaching. Included by

association in section Five is Bede's account of his (Christian) method of

personal prayer. Section Six brings together these two great currents of East

and West as we share Bede's thought on the relationship between Christianity and

the Asian religions - and on the 'universal wisdom' which he finds at the core

of all religion. In section Seven we encounter the dynamic processes - both in

Bede's evolving view of history and in his personal experience - which

characterized the final years of his life. This seventh section concludes with

Bede's final theological synthesis in 'A New Vision of Reality'.

 

Most of the material which follows is from Bede Griffiths' books, where he has

set out his vision with continuity and fullness. (p.30) Journal articles are

included especially when they exhibit an exceptional passion, clarity and force,

when they relate to a concrete situation or event of special significance, or

when they present a fresh synthetic view. Articles and letters are included, for

example, which express Bede's views on aspects of the church and its renewal

around the pivotal moment of the Second Vatican Council. Bede's articles and his

letters to journals - e.g. 'The Tablet' - are often masterful: concise, pungent

and powerful.

 

Bede's words have been printed in their original form, without alteration for

the sake of inclusive language. A concern for fidelity to Bede's precise

thought, especially because of his frequent theological use of 'man,' has

governed this decision. Bede was very sensitive to such issues, and this would

certainly be reflected in his language, were he writing and speaking today. One

of his favorite themes was the systemic 'masculine' imbalance of the modern West

and its culture, in which feminine values and feminine voices are ignored.

 

If one seeks a single consistent theme running through the whole collection and

holding it together, this will most likely be Bede's developing vision of a

'unitive wisdom', which initiates us to a deeper consciousness and a world both

larger and more simple than the world we had known. His charism as a 'wisdom'

thinker appears early in his life, continues through his conversion to

Christianity, unfolds its dimension of unitive depth in his appropriation of the

Vedanta and finally broadens into a synthesis of cosmic proportions.

 

The One Light - Bede Griffiths' Principal Writings

Introduction, p. 28-30

Edited and with Commentary by Bruno Barnhart

Templegate Publishers, Springfield, Illinois

ISBN 0-87243-254-8