The Marriage of East & West: a vision of universal harmony

Sat 18 April, 10am – 1pm, online workshop from Delhi

Event description

‘We can say that the one Reality, God, Truth, Spirit, by whatever name we choose to call it, has been manifesting itself from the beginning in all creation and in all human history and in every human consciousness.’  Bede Griffiths OSB Cam

Bede Griffiths (1906-1993) was an English Benedictine monk who travelled from Prinknash Abbey in the Cotswolds to India in 1955 ‘to find the other half of his soul’ – and became one of the great mystical teachers of our time.

In the scriptures of India, Bede discovered a source of wisdom and inspiration that deepened his own Christian faith.  Wearing the saffron robes and following the spiritual discipline of a Hindu monk (Sanyasi), Bede found the contemplative depth-dimension of life and faith that Western Christianity has all but lost.

A peacemaker who worked for harmony and understanding between religions, Bede encouraged the formation of lay contemplative communities where people can support each other in their search for God, for Truth, and learn to live in peace and friendship.

Join us for this special online workshop – live from India – where we’ll explore the teachings of this great contemplative and the importance today of his vision for global spiritual friendship.

‘The original message,’ writes Bede, ‘the essential truth, of every religion is the sacred Mystery, the presence…which cannot be expressed in words, which cannot be known by sense or reason, but is hidden in the heart…and reveals itself to those who seek it in the silence beyond word and thought.’

What understanding flows from this vision?

• That there is one infinite, indivisible reality. And this reality, whose nature is pure Awareness, pure Love, pure Peace, is the ground of all creation and all spiritual paths.
• That this reality is the one source and destiny of all people, even as it given different names and spoken about in different ways.
• That all people (consciously or unconsciously) desire and seek to be one with this oneness. And the purpose of all the great religions, of all spiritual paths, is to help people know this oneness, and live as one, in spirit and truth, with wisdom and compassion.
• That the spiritual journey is a journey from division to harmony, from separateness to oneness, a return to the nature of our source – to grow, in Christian terms, into the fullness of the love of God through loving our neighbour and all creation, dissolving the artificial boundaries between us, realising our essential unity.

To glimpse an insight into the heart of this remarkable man, you may like to watch this short video (click here).

Who is this for?

The event has been carefully crafted to be inclusive and accessible, welcoming anyone seeking truth, peace, and spiritual renewal, regardless of their faith, beliefs or previous experience of meditation.

What to expect

The workshop will include two talks, time for conversation after each talk, and a period of silent meditation practice.

Following the workshop, all participants will be invited to an optional online discussion evening, where people can join small break-out groups of 5-6 people to continue exploring the ideas raised. Three dates will be offered and we’ll proceed with the most popular one.

Practical information

• The event will be hosted on Zoom.
• The talks will be recorded and shared with anyone who has bought a ticket. The recordings will be available for 30 days.
• Tickets cost £20 or £30 with a £10 donation.
• If you are on a low income and finding it hard to make ends meet, please get in touch to request a bursary.

Event leader

Chris Whittington is the Founder of The School of Contemplative Life. He was introduced to contemplative practice during several years of formation when he lived at the Benedictine monastery of Prinknash Abbey in England. Chris’ monastic teachers taught meditation as a universal wisdom found within all the great spiritual traditions, a pathway to peace and solidarity with people of all faiths and none. Following an introduction by the Abbot of the Prinknash community, Chris subsequently studied at the Dalai Lama’s monastery in Dharamshala, India.

Chris regularly delivers talks, workshops and retreats and has introduced the practice of meditation in the Christian tradition to thousands of people in the UK and abroad. He is known for his ability to communicate the subtleties of the practice and complex spiritual texts in simple, practical ways, resonant with the challenges of daily life.

Chris is the author of The Missing Peace – Meditation as a Spiritual Path to Peace, Community and Oneness published by Canterbury Press.

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