The Bede Griffiths Sangha Newsletter The Bede Griffiths Sangha is committed to the search for the truth at the heart of all religions. Summer 2008 Volume 10 Issue 6 The Meeting of West with East. CONTENTS: The inspiration for the work of the Sangha, although primarily dedicated to the universal vision of Fr Bede Griffiths, has also Sangha Contacts 2 stemmed from the lives of two other spiritual giants who bridged the gulf between Christianity and the spirituality of India - Fr Henri Le Saux, later known as Swami Abhishiktananda, and The Hermits of 2/3 Saccidananda. Fr Jules Monchanin, who together founded the Shantivanam Ashram in Tamil Nadu, where later Bede lived for 25 years. Swami Abhishktananda In 2010 the Sangha will be celebrating the centenary of the birth Centenary Gathering 3 of Abhishktananda and in this Issue we again bring you recently recorded memories from the man who was their cook and friend Islam in Istambul 4/5 at the time of the establishment of Shantivanam. We also include a letter from the present Abbot, Father George, about the rebuilding of the Temple and a fascinating account by a Father Bede and 5 Sangha member of her introduction to the inner truth of Islam Inter-faith in Istambul. There is our regular glimpse into the wisdom of Sanskrit, news on the charitable projects in India from the Bede The Sangha Study 6 Griffiths Charitable Trust, reports of Sangha events and Weekend. announcements of activities to come. Timothy Glazier Sanskrit Corner 7 Hermits of Saccitananda. 7 Memories of Swami Abhishiktananda Correspondence from the early days of Shantivanam. Page 2/3 The Temple at 8 Shantivanam Rebuilding the Shantivanam Temple. Hermits in Company 9 Update on the work to enlarge and strengthen the Ashram Temple. Page 8 “The Lord is 9 Everywhere” Islam in Istambul Witnessing tolerance, peace and understanding within the Istambul Muslim News from the Bede 10 Griffiths Charitable community. Trust Page 4/5 Sangha News, Retreats 11 “It’s easy and Resources ...the Lord is Everywhere.” Regional Contacts 12 A visit to one of India’s holy mountains. Page 9. www.bedegriffithssangha.org.uk 2 THE BEDE GRIFFITHS SANGHA NEWSLETTER Welcome to the Hermits of Saccitananda. Atmajyoti (Carrie Lock) Summer 2008 Edition This article is a continuation of of the Bede Griffiths “You sometimes tell me that Sangha Newsletter the extraordinary conversation that Atmajyoti (Carrie Lock) had my life is so difficult to This Newsletter is published last year with Mr Vishvasam who understand. In fact, it was three times a year to provide a was cook to the founding Fathers hardly my own choice, it has forum for articles and comment of Shantivanam, which gives an landed me from above, day within the remit of the Sangha to insight into the character, wit and after day, year after year. search for the truth at the heart challenges of these two And truly it is marvellous. of all religions, to record Sangha indomitable individuals. If at least I could pass on to activities and give details of the Christian world the honey future events and resources I first met Mr. Vishvasam at his home which I gather in the Hindu available. Correspondence and in the village of Tannirpalli, close to world, and vice versa, contributions for inclusion in Shantivanam, in late 2007. When we however dislocating it may future editions are welcome and met, he was seated under an old black sometimes be” will be considered by the and white photograph which featured Swami Abhishiktananda editorial team. five people, one of whom was unmis- 18th April 1969 Life 237-38. takably Swami Abhishiktananda. To receive a printed copy of the Newsletter, please send your I had initially visited Mr. Vishvasam Mr Vishvasam’s Memories details to the Editor for to record his memories of of Swami Abhishiktananda inclusion on our data base. The Fr. Monchanin. It was immediately “Fr. Le Saux was like an Indian. He publication is free but a donation clear though, that the stories of Fr. lived a very simple life. He had no towards costs will be invited. Monchanin, Swami Abhishiktananda money; he suffered like a very Copies, for friends or interested poor man. But he was very organisations, can be provided. happy and always laughed. Fr. Le Saux was a true Current and back numbers of sannyasi. the Newsletter are available on www.bedegriffithssangha.org.uk The affection the Hermits felt for Mr. Vishvasam was clear SANGHA CONTACTS: as he told the following touch- Newsletter Editor ing incident: Timothy Glazier, 2 Tynings Road, “Once, I had a quarrel with Nailsworth, Glos GL6 0EJ someone at Kulittalai and so I 01453 839488 left and went to Bangalore [email protected] (laughing). After about ten days I came back. During Sangha Contact and Welcome that time, Fr. Le Saux and Fr. Joan Walters, Church House, Steynton, Milford Haven, Pembs Monchanin managed without SA73 1AW 01646 692496 a cook. I returned one morn- [email protected] ing at about 4am. As soon as Fr. Le Saux saw me, he Sangha Working Group hugged me and cried with joy Jane Lichnowski, 82 Gloucester and said, ‘one day or another Road, Cirencester, GL7 2LJ you would come back, I knew 01285 651381 [email protected] Swami Abhishiktananda, Mr. Vishvasam and family, August 1968 you would!’ Fr. Le Saux was crying tears of joy. Fr. Le UK Contact with Shantivanam and Shantivanam were all intrinsical- Saux and I then both went to Michael Giddings 07810 366860 ly inter-linked in the heart and mind Kulittalai and bought some dhal, rice [email protected] of Mr. Vishvasam. Further to the and chillie and we prepared the article in the last edition of this Bede Griffiths Charitable Trust lunch. We three, including Fr. newsletter, here are some more of Mr. Monchanin, then had lunch together.” Jill Hemmings, Beech Tree Cottage, Vishvasam’s memories of those years Gushmere, Selling, Kent, ME 13 so long ago (1949-1968), when he 9RH. 01227 752871 “In 1957, when I stopped working [email protected] was not only the cook for Fr. full-time at the Ashram, I started Monchanin and Swami working at the nearby sugar factory. For Regional Contacts and Abhishiktananda, but more Fr. Le Saux helped me get that job. details of Meditation Groups, preciously, their friend. see back page. THE BEDE GRIFFITHS SANGHA NEWSLETTER 3 After finishing my duties each day at after finishing his lunch, at around take my son on one shoulder and my the factory, I would come back here to 1pm. We went to the Trichy railway daughter on the other and he’d walk look after the ashram. I helped look station with him and stayed there. We to the nearby village of Pattavarthi after Shantivanam until 1968, when saw him off on the 10pm with a turban around his Fr. Le Saux left Shantivanam (to live train for Chennai.” head. He’d buy some in his hermitage at Uttarkashi). Fr. pots there for cooking at Le Saux would send me money for my Mr. Vishvasam’s wife, Shantivanam.” family during that time but there was Antonia sat on the floor no work for me to do at the ashram as nearby, listening atten- “We gave the name of such.” tively to her husband’s ‘Le Saux’ to my grand- stories. I asked if she had son (born 2000), in “In 1968, Fr. Le Saux packed up all any memories she wished remembrance of Fr. Le his things, took his luggage and to share. Saux and all the help he happily went to Uttarkashi, via gave us.” Chennai, where he spent some time, “Fr. Le Saux accompa- and there he stayed in his kutiya her- nied Vishvasam to see my Mr Vishvasam ended mitage until 1973, the year he passed parents. Fr. Le Saux with the words, “Fr. away. asked my parents Monchanin and Fr. Le permission and we got Saux were my friends. No-one, no candidate, was willing to married in January 1961. They never thought of me stay in Shantivanam. For the twenty After, Fr. Le Saux as the cook, or treated years that Swamiji was at managed to buy us a four me as a servant, but they Shantivanam no-one wished to be cent block of land and to Mr. Vishvasam and saw me as a friend, like here with him. When he left he was construct us a house, so his grandson Le Saux. a brother, till the end. very sad about that.” that we could be here and remember There were no differences between us. his name. That’s how it is that we are I was happy”. “This photograph (featured) was here in this house, due to his great taken the last time I saw Fr. Le Saux; blessing.” Atmajyoti (Carrie Lock) is a member of it was in August 1968. When Fr. Le Ajatananda Ashram, an interreligious Saux was about to leave Shantivanam “When Father would return from the monastic ashram on the bank of the to go to North India, he had this pho- North, we would go to the ashram to Ganges in Rishikesh. The Ashram is tograph taken of our family as a see him and we would help him. He inspired by the life and message of memento. The photo was taken in was very kind to us. He would spend Swami Abhishiktananda and his disciple, Swami Ajatananda. Atmajyoti can be Kulittalai between 8-9am. He left time with our two children. He would contacted at [email protected] Swami Abhishiktananda Centenary Gathering Gaunts House July 2010 2010 is the Centenary of the birth of In Swami Abhishiktananda - Essential Father Henri Le Saux known as Writings Shirley du Boulay writes: Swami Abhishiktananda.