Swami Abhishiktananda: Essential Writings

by Shirley Du Boulay (Selected by)

Overview

Swami Abhishiktananda (Henri le Saux, 1910-1973) is one of the most intriguing spiritual figures of the twentieth century. A Breton-born monk who moved to India in 1948, he initially hoped to Christianize India along Benedictine lines. Instead, his deep encounter with Hindu spirituality led him on an even more challenging and adventurous path, adopting the life of an Indian holy man. Abhishiktananda's writings reflect an extraordinary search for God who finds reconciliation in the truth beyond opposites.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781570756955
Publisher:	Orbis Books
Publication date:	04/28/2007
Series:	Modern Spiritual Masters Series
Pages:	205
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.60(d)

Table of Contents

Sources     9
Abbreviations     11
Glossary     13
Introduction     19
Benedictine Monk     43
Brittany     43
Vocation     44
Letter to Louisette     45
Father Jules Monchanin     48
Fulfilment Theology     52
Advaita     56
Ramana Maharshi: "The Unique Sage of the Eternal India     56
Ramana Maharshi's Way     59
Ramana Maharshi - The Quest of the Self     61
Advaita - A Definition     61
The Challenge Christianity and Advaita Present to Each Other     63
Christian and Vedantic Ascesis     65
Simply Becoming Aware     66
Man Is Truly Himself     69
There Is Only Being     70
Eternity     71
Eternity in the Present Moment     72
Goal of the Universe     72
Being     73
East-West     75
Advaita and the Religions     75
The Advaitic Dilemma     77
Why Name the Mystery?     78
The West's Interest in the East     78
The Challenge Presented to Christianity     81
ACall to the Church     82
The Tension between Christianity and Hindu Advaita     83
Responses to Saccidananda     85
Tensions     86
Immersion in Hinduism     88
Pray to Be Simply Transparent     88
The Grace of India     92
Morning Worship     97
Evening Worship     98
Night Prayers     101
Christ the Sad-Guru (True Master)     101
Meeting the Guru     104
Greeting the Guru     108
The Effect of Meeting Sri Gnanananda     109
Christ as Guru     110
The Mystery of the Guru     111
The Guru in the Depth of the Heart     113
The Secret of the Guru     114
Pilgrimage - A Definition     115
Setting Off     116
Ascent to Gangotri     117
Sadhus     118
The Cosmic Covenant     119
Review of Hindu-Christian Meeting Point     121
Hindu-Christian Dialogue Postponed     125
The Life of the Hermit     129
The Ideal of the Sannyasi     129
Sannyasa     130
Surrender     131
"Naked as a Stone Is Naked"      133
Silence     136
Solitude     139
The Role of Contemplatives     141
Solitude and Emptying     142
The Great Solitude within the Soul     143
From "Esseulement"     144
The Call of the Within     148
Christianity     150
What Is a Christian?     150
Is It Possible to Live according to the Gospel?     155
"My Father and I Are One"     157
Jesus     158
Jesus, the True Guru     159
Jesus in Advaita     159
For Ascension Day     160
Christ and the Church     161
Saccidananda - A Definition     161
The Trinity     164
The Two Experiences of the Trinity and of Saccidananda     164
Mass     166
God     169
The Existence of God     169
The Essential Void     170
The Secret of the Within     171
The Meeting of Man with God     172
Contemplation of the Transcendent-Immanent God     172
Everywhere He Is, and Only He     174
Seek God     178
Prayer     180
God's Presence      180
Prayer - an Act of Faith     182
Prayer - God Is beyond Form     183
God in Creation     184
The Prayer of the Name     184
The Primacy of Contemplation     187
Advaitic Prayer     188
OM     189
The Prayer of Silence     190
Awakening     193
Satori     193
Dazzled     194
Only for the Strong     194
The Present Moment     195
Beyond All Signs     196
Extracts from Abhishiktananda's Spiritual Diary     199
The Only Real Self     203
I Am     204
Beyond Words     205