Welcome to a treasury of wisdom from Bede Griffiths, a remarkable figure whose life and teachings continue to inspire seekers of truth and spiritual seekers alike. Bede Griffiths, born Alan Richard Griffiths in 1906, was a Benedictine monk who embarked on a profound spiritual journey that led him to embrace the Hindu-Christian dialogue and explore the depths of mystical experience. His life’s work centered on fostering interfaith understanding and promoting the idea of a universal spirituality that transcends religious boundaries.
Throughout his life, Bede Griffiths sought to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western spiritual traditions, blending the richness of Christian mysticism with the ancient wisdom of Hindu philosophy. His insights into the nature of reality, the interconnectedness of all things, and the transformative power of love continue to resonate with seekers from diverse backgrounds. In an increasingly fragmented world, his message of unity and harmony offers a beacon of hope and guidance. Below, you’ll find a collection of Bede Griffiths quotes that encapsulate his profound insights and timeless wisdom. Feel free to explore, reflect upon, and share these quotes as you embark on your own spiritual journey.
Obedience is detachment from the self. This is the most radical detachment of all. But what is the self? The self is the principle of reason and responsibility in us. It is the root of freedom, it is what makes us men. Bede Griffiths
It is no longer a question of a Christian going about to convert others to the faith, but of each one being ready to listen to the other and so to grow together in mutual understanding. Bede Griffiths
I was being called to surrender the very citadel of my self. I was completely in the dark. I did not really know what repentance was or what I was required to repent of. It was indeed the turning point of my life. Bede Griffiths
You must be ready to give up everything, not only material attachments but also human attachments – father, mother, wife, children – everything that you have. But the one thing which you have to abandon unconditionally is your self. Bede Griffiths
God had brought me to my knees and made me acknowledge my own nothingness, and out of that knowledge I had been reborn. I was no longer the centre of my life and therefore I could see God in everything. Bede Griffiths
The inspiration came suddenly again to surrender to the Mother. It was quite unexpected: And so somehow I made a surrender to the Mother. Then I had an experience of overwhelming love. Waves of love sort of flowed into me. Bede Griffiths
I suddenly saw that all the time it was not I who had been seeking God, but God who had been seeking me. I had made myself the centre of my own existence and had my back turned to God. Bede Griffiths
I think the Mother is gradually revealing itself to me and taking over. But it is not the Mother alone. It is the Mother and the Father, the male and the female, sort of gradually having their marriage. Bede Griffiths
I am rediscovering the whole sexual dimension of life at the age of 86, really. And that also means discovering the feminine. So the whole of this dimension, which I had been seeking for a very long time, is now sort of opening itself up to me. Bede Griffiths