Bede Griffiths

Date of Birth: December 17, 1906

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: May 13, 1993

Biography

Bede Griffiths, born Alan Richard Griffiths, was a British-born Benedictine monk who became a pioneering figure in the interfaith dialogue between Christianity and Hinduism. Born on December 17, 1906, in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, Griffiths was educated at the prestigious Christ’s Hospital school and later at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied English literature. Initially drawn to the works of William Blake and other mystics, his spiritual journey led him to convert to Catholicism and join the Benedictine monastic order in 1931. Griffiths spent several years in various monastic communities in the United Kingdom before moving to India in 1955, where he immersed himself in Hindu philosophy and spirituality. He became a leading figure at the Saccidananda Ashram (also known as Shantivanam) in Tamil Nadu, a Christian monastic community that embraced Hindu traditions. Throughout his life, he wrote numerous books and essays that explored the synthesis of Christian and Hindu spiritualities, including “The Marriage of East and West” and “A New Vision of Reality.” Griffiths passed away on May 13, 1993, but his legacy endures through his contributions to interfaith dialogue and his writings, which continue to inspire spiritual seekers around the world.

5 Interesting Facts about Bede Griffiths

1. Bede Griffiths was born Alan Richard Griffiths but took the name “Bede” upon joining the Benedictine order.

2. He moved to India in 1955 and became deeply involved in Hindu-Christian dialogue.

3. Griffiths was a prolific writer, penning more than a dozen books on spirituality and interfaith dialogue.

4. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in recognition of his contributions to literature and education.

5. Despite his Christian monastic background, Griffiths adopted many aspects of Hindu lifestyle, including wearing traditional Indian clothing and practicing yoga.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Bede Griffiths

1. “We have to come to see that each religion is a way to God, but they all have to integrate and work together for the betterment of humanity.”

2. “The marriage of East and West is the most important event of our time.”

3. “The deeper we go into any one tradition, the closer we come to the heart of all traditions.”

4. “God has no religion. He is beyond all our categories and distinctions.”

5. “To understand another culture is to enrich our own understanding and experience of the world.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Bede Griffiths lived a monastic life focused on spirituality and did not accumulate personal wealth. Therefore, he did not have a net worth in the conventional sense.