What do you think?
Rate this book
Return to the Center
154 paged-paperback "Return to the Center" by Bede Griffiths.
154 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1976
10 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Bede Griffiths
60Ìýbooks30ÌýfollowersBede Griffiths (1906-1993), born Alan Richard Griffiths and also known as Swami Dayananda (Bliss of Compassion), was a British-born Benedictine monk who lived in ashrams in South India. He was born at Walton-on-Thames, England and studied literature at Magdalen College, Oxford under professor and Christian apologist C. S. Lewis, who became a lifelong friend. Griffiths recounts the story of his conversion in 1931 to Roman Catholicism while a student at Oxford in his autobiography The Golden String.
Although he remained a Catholic monk he adopted the trappings of Hindu monastic life and entered into dialogue with Hinduism.
Griffiths was a proponent of integral thought, which attempts to harmonize scientific and spiritual world views. In a 1983 interview he stated,
"We're now being challenged to create a theology which would use the findings of modern science and eastern mysticism which, as you know, coincide so much, and to evolve from that a new theology which would be much more adequate."
Although he remained a Catholic monk he adopted the trappings of Hindu monastic life and entered into dialogue with Hinduism.
Griffiths was a proponent of integral thought, which attempts to harmonize scientific and spiritual world views. In a 1983 interview he stated,
"We're now being challenged to create a theology which would use the findings of modern science and eastern mysticism which, as you know, coincide so much, and to evolve from that a new theology which would be much more adequate."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 17, 2016
"I sit here on the veranda of my cell, watching the sun set behind the trees, and recall the day, nearly fifty years ago, when I watched the same sun setting over the playing-fields at school. My cell is a thatched hut surrounded by trees. I can listen to the birds singing, as I did then, and watch the trees making dark patterns against the sky as the light fades, but I have travelled a long way both in space and in time since then."
Father Bede Griffiths opens his book "Return to the Centre" with a beautifully articulated invitation into his world. We are sitting at his very feet, which is the appropriate place for us to be. Father Griffiths is a Guru, a Catholic Guru, and a Catholic I wish every soul on the planet, Christian or otherwise, would open their hearts and ears to.
One of the remarkable aspects of this book is that no matter if the reader knew a thing about mysticism, Catholicism, Eastern Religions, or yoga, they could experience profound enlightenment on those topics as they read this book. If the reader was well versed in the topics, they still could find plenty to captivate them. Father Griffiths begins his explanations with a foundational thoroughness, then goes on to articulate his philosophical insights, and follows with additional spiritual references which support what he puts forward. It is amazing how well read he is. He is well versed on all the major religions, their histories, and their mystics. He has no problem voicing opinions contrary, if that is how he feels. His is not a light touch, new age simplicity. His thoughts are infinitely complex and tought through. He tests his ideas against and with poets, philosophers, and even gives science it's due place. His Truth is not afraid of anything. He does not limit God's inspiration to the Bible only, either. He is no literalist. And he is much more complex than feel-good philosophies.
The book begins by defining monastic vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in terms of Vedantic, Indian values. Father Griffiths has said he went to India "to discover the other half of my soul." The depth to which his Indian experience illuminates traditional Catholicism provides a richness which is precisely what I sought for years within the Catholic experience but just could not quite place. I knew it was there. But Father Griffiths articulates it perfectly. We have had other Gurus also illuminate East/West mystical connectivity - Easwaran, Yoganandaji, and of course Vivekananda- however the wisdom in their writings flowed from East to West. With Father Griffiths, it flows both ways. His Western Catholicism flows East, in dual illuminations. This is just amazing to read.
For instance, Father Griffiths, in chapter two's "The Sacred Mystery" discusses the very nature of God. He begins with a marriage of Hinduism and Tillich's Ground of Being. He draws from Mircea Eliade's notions of the Center, Transcendence, and why everything has become profane and out of touch with a spiritual connectivity known since prehistory. He outlines the limitations of science and technology and the limitations of philosophy while at the same time giving them a place of respect. The chapter winds its way through the Tao, Christianity, Hindu and Buddhist concepts all in relation to the Mystery behind all religion. He touches on the American Indians, the Tlingit and Dakota, to illustrate how integral nature is the spiritual paradigm. He explains the concept of Nothingness in Buddhism and how it is part of the Fullness. That moment he brings in Christ's words on the cross and illuminates the crucifixion as the moment Jesus surrendered himself to death in order to bring the Kingdom of God. At this moment, the world was transformed. By bringing in concepts of Buddhist philosophy, the meaning of the crucifixtion was finally revealed to me. While I knew "Jesus died for our sins," and made sense of the implications of that, to place it alongside the concepts of absolute Nothingness vs absolute Fullness brought all the pieces together. It was beautifully spoken. Father Griffiths then brings philosophical points from Thomas Aquinas and Sankara together, illuminating God's very nature.
It would be impossible to outline the richness of the book's text without simply reproducing each chapter in its entirety. Father Griffiths goes on the discuss the revelation of the mystery of God, the nature of the soul in relation to God, discussions on pantheism vs monism, and the nature of sin and redemption. We are then at page 45! This book is concentrated. Father proceeds to illuminate the nature of the mystery of love, Truth, and the One Spirit in all religion. Myth and reality come forward as Krishna and Christ, Buddha and Christ, and Death and Resurrection are reflected upon. He draws richness from all traditions, and is always respectful, as the Christian Mystery is talked about, alongside the Mystery of Brahman, Nirvana, and Spirit. The book closes with a discussion of "what is yoga" which is so profound it becomes a spiritual experience simply reading Father's words.
I feel I could reread this book a zillion times and keep learning from it, each time. God bless Father Griffiths, and thank God for him as well.
Father Bede Griffiths opens his book "Return to the Centre" with a beautifully articulated invitation into his world. We are sitting at his very feet, which is the appropriate place for us to be. Father Griffiths is a Guru, a Catholic Guru, and a Catholic I wish every soul on the planet, Christian or otherwise, would open their hearts and ears to.
One of the remarkable aspects of this book is that no matter if the reader knew a thing about mysticism, Catholicism, Eastern Religions, or yoga, they could experience profound enlightenment on those topics as they read this book. If the reader was well versed in the topics, they still could find plenty to captivate them. Father Griffiths begins his explanations with a foundational thoroughness, then goes on to articulate his philosophical insights, and follows with additional spiritual references which support what he puts forward. It is amazing how well read he is. He is well versed on all the major religions, their histories, and their mystics. He has no problem voicing opinions contrary, if that is how he feels. His is not a light touch, new age simplicity. His thoughts are infinitely complex and tought through. He tests his ideas against and with poets, philosophers, and even gives science it's due place. His Truth is not afraid of anything. He does not limit God's inspiration to the Bible only, either. He is no literalist. And he is much more complex than feel-good philosophies.
The book begins by defining monastic vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in terms of Vedantic, Indian values. Father Griffiths has said he went to India "to discover the other half of my soul." The depth to which his Indian experience illuminates traditional Catholicism provides a richness which is precisely what I sought for years within the Catholic experience but just could not quite place. I knew it was there. But Father Griffiths articulates it perfectly. We have had other Gurus also illuminate East/West mystical connectivity - Easwaran, Yoganandaji, and of course Vivekananda- however the wisdom in their writings flowed from East to West. With Father Griffiths, it flows both ways. His Western Catholicism flows East, in dual illuminations. This is just amazing to read.
For instance, Father Griffiths, in chapter two's "The Sacred Mystery" discusses the very nature of God. He begins with a marriage of Hinduism and Tillich's Ground of Being. He draws from Mircea Eliade's notions of the Center, Transcendence, and why everything has become profane and out of touch with a spiritual connectivity known since prehistory. He outlines the limitations of science and technology and the limitations of philosophy while at the same time giving them a place of respect. The chapter winds its way through the Tao, Christianity, Hindu and Buddhist concepts all in relation to the Mystery behind all religion. He touches on the American Indians, the Tlingit and Dakota, to illustrate how integral nature is the spiritual paradigm. He explains the concept of Nothingness in Buddhism and how it is part of the Fullness. That moment he brings in Christ's words on the cross and illuminates the crucifixion as the moment Jesus surrendered himself to death in order to bring the Kingdom of God. At this moment, the world was transformed. By bringing in concepts of Buddhist philosophy, the meaning of the crucifixtion was finally revealed to me. While I knew "Jesus died for our sins," and made sense of the implications of that, to place it alongside the concepts of absolute Nothingness vs absolute Fullness brought all the pieces together. It was beautifully spoken. Father Griffiths then brings philosophical points from Thomas Aquinas and Sankara together, illuminating God's very nature.
It would be impossible to outline the richness of the book's text without simply reproducing each chapter in its entirety. Father Griffiths goes on the discuss the revelation of the mystery of God, the nature of the soul in relation to God, discussions on pantheism vs monism, and the nature of sin and redemption. We are then at page 45! This book is concentrated. Father proceeds to illuminate the nature of the mystery of love, Truth, and the One Spirit in all religion. Myth and reality come forward as Krishna and Christ, Buddha and Christ, and Death and Resurrection are reflected upon. He draws richness from all traditions, and is always respectful, as the Christian Mystery is talked about, alongside the Mystery of Brahman, Nirvana, and Spirit. The book closes with a discussion of "what is yoga" which is so profound it becomes a spiritual experience simply reading Father's words.
I feel I could reread this book a zillion times and keep learning from it, each time. God bless Father Griffiths, and thank God for him as well.
August 17, 2024
Deeply profound, but so simple and elegant so that even if you had no prior knowledge of these topics it could be understood. One of the best compact wisdom books I’ve read, and is a masterfully efficient synthesis of Eastern and Western mystical philosophy.
January 26, 2025
1976. An amazingly wise book. The author, a Roman Catholic monk, brings together Hindu & Christian philosophy and theology, ritual practice and ethics, and shows how they benefit from each other. He really doesn't seem to think any one religion is correct or even better than the others. He went to India and started an ashram where people of both faiths lived and worshiped together. A truly even-handed co-mingling of the best of each tradition. I highly recommend it.
June 19, 2017
This monk who lived in ashrams in India is a fascinating person. He has some groundbreaking insights as the mystic he was. One: each person is a thought in the mind of God. Another: Spirit is a feminine principle guiding the development of the world!
Thank you Dom Bede Griffiths for your life and writings.
Thank you Dom Bede Griffiths for your life and writings.
December 31, 2017
This book is full of wisdom, the essays are short and highly informative.
April 16, 2022
One of the classics.
January 15, 2014
This is a book I added during my 'Christian mystic phase' of many years back. I've been a little less interested in that side of things lately, though I do own and skim Merton, de la Cruz and Avila now and then. But I don't think I'll ever add Griffiths to my physical collection.
Return to the Center is a book for those would-be Christian mystics who prefer "Cosmic Energy" to "God," "suffering of ego attachment" to "sin." Showing the similarity between Xian and Hindu/Buddhist religion is something I myself could talk at lengths, but this often went to Eastern religion with a Christian face. Posing Satan as the spiritual counterpoint to God is incorrect, for one instance. J-C religion is uniquely not a good-evil dichotomy as religion goes. There's a lot of these square peg comparisons.
Return to the Center is a book for those would-be Christian mystics who prefer "Cosmic Energy" to "God," "suffering of ego attachment" to "sin." Showing the similarity between Xian and Hindu/Buddhist religion is something I myself could talk at lengths, but this often went to Eastern religion with a Christian face. Posing Satan as the spiritual counterpoint to God is incorrect, for one instance. J-C religion is uniquely not a good-evil dichotomy as religion goes. There's a lot of these square peg comparisons.
September 16, 2012
Maravilloso testimonio de un mÃstico contemporáneo. Una invitación para los que buscan la Verdad.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.