This is an excerpt of a crucial dialogue engaged in by a Hindu and an Orthodox Roman Catholic. The excerpt touches on evil and the supernatural

Subhasis Chattopadhyay, Chatterjee

English

PhilPapers

Translate:0SHARESInterview with Rev. Fr. Abbot Philip Anderson: We Must All BuildBridgesJanuary 23, 2018  Team ICM  SpiritualityBy Subhasis Chattopadhyay –In a first-ever dialogue between a Solesmes Abbot and an Indian Hindu, the very Reverend Philip Anderson, Abbot of OurLady of Clear Creek Abbey in Hulbert, Oklahoma points out that only peace (शाितः śāntiḥ) can come to the aid of a worldwhere ill-informed men and women will have us fight against each other in the name of God.Hinduism is essentially turned inwards. Hindus over the eons have experimented and perfected various ways in which to bein touch and even be one with the One who is beyond the Darkness:HOLY FATHER ON TWITTERTweets by @PontifexCOURTESY NDTV: CBCI PUTS THINGS INPERSPECTIVESHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CBCIIn a country that guarantees the right to practice anyreligion, NDTV’s We The People programme discussedwhether the space for that liberty shrinking? CBCISecretary General Bishop Theodore Mascarenhasstrongly articulated its position on issues concerningIndian Catholic church. Support CBCI in its mission.Tweet ​@indianbishopsDAILY AUDIO REFLECTION BY FATHERCHRISTOPHER WHITESummary: What importance do I give to listen to theWord of God? Reflections by Fr Christopher White on 2Samuel 7:4-17 & Mark 4:1-20.  Indian Catholic Matters ishappy to provide Fr. Christopher White’s daily audioreflection to Catholic Bishops Conference of Indiawebsite. Click below to listen audio.THE POPE VIDEO – RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN ASIA – JAN2018Search …HOME LATEST » COLUMNS » GLOBAL PARTNER – ALETEIA ICM SERVICES » OUR ESTEEMED AUTHORS REACH US » GALLERY YOUTH CATECHESIS Share  Tweet00:00 00:0000:00PDF created with the PDFmyURL web to PDF API!The interviewer with his daughterin Calcuttaवेद॒ाहम॒ते ंप॑ुषं म॒हातम ् । आ॒िद॒यव॑ण॒ तम॑सत ु॒ प॒ारे ।सवा॑ िण ॒पािण॑ िव॒िचय॒ धीर॑ः । नामा॑िन कृ॒वाऽिभ॒वद॒न ्यदाते  ।from The Purusha SuktaIt is this quest for Him who is beyond our knowledge gained through the senses (gunas)that led this Hindu interviewer contact one of the most orthodox and spartan RomanCatholic monasteries in the world: Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey situated in ruralOklahoma in 2013. From then till date he has had the monks of this Catholic monasterywhere each professed monk (unlike the Camaldoli at Big Sur) still prays the Liturgy of theHours in Latin, journey with him in his humdrum life. This interviewer knows that thesemen in rural USA have found that (त&वमिस, Thou art That) which Hindu seers had spoken ofin their sacred Scriptures before the discovery of monasticism in the West. The authorthanks Indian Catholic Matters for facilitating this dialogue.Excerpts:Subhasis. Reverend Abbot Anderson, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed. You areaware that India is a Hindu majority nation and Hinduism often prefers the interior life (vitacontemplativa) over the active life (vita activa). Hindus are familiar with total renunciationof the world akin to the spirituality of Saint Nimatullah Kassab Al-Hardini (1808 – 1858 AD). Within this context of being aland of great renunciation how do you think Benedictine spirituality can help our plural society?Abbot Anderson. There are, I believe, in India a great number of philosophical and religious doctrines, many of whichdiverge significantly from one another.  In most of them, however, as I understand this, there appears a quest for interiorpeace and for a unity that transcends the multiplicity and confusion of ideas and doctrines, not to mention the conflictingopinions of warring political factions in the world.  The motto of the Benedictine monasteries is precisely “peace,” and thispeace comes from a profound unity of doctrine and a deep spirituality that is nourished by ascetic effort and prayer, underthe inIuence of what we call “grace” [ कृपा]. Perhaps contact with this spirituality could inspire new hope for somethingbeyond the visible world and a renewal of the quest for both unity and for truth in India, in a great and ancient land, whichhas no doubt suffered in modern times from influences coming from a decadent Western Civilization.Subhasis. You Reverend Father Abbot belong to the Solesmes Congregation which yet has no presence in India. How do youthink your Congregation’s charism could help Indian Catholics and Hindus?Abbot Anderson.  The special emphasis of the Solesmes Congregation is the importance placed on liturgical prayer, whoserites express most eloquently the reality of the supernatural.  Liturgical prayer is a language that must be learned, but it hasa certain universal appeal.  It suffices to see it take place in order to understand most of our spirituality that is invisible.Subhasis. The Catholic understanding of this world is that it is very real. Samkhya and some Hindu understandings of thisworld is also that it is fecund and important for one’s mukti (there is no cognate in English since Hinduism does not admit ofabsolute dualism). What concrete steps can Catholics and Hindus take in India to help themselves grow spiritually?‘SPRINGS FOR THE SOUL’ REFLECTION BY FR.ADOLF WASHINGTONNever be discouraged GOD is on the mountain topwith YOU, says Adolf Washington. Click below tolisten.CBCI ON TWITTERTweets by @IndianbishopsFOLLOW ICM ON TWITTERTweets by @editor_icmRECENT COMMENTSA.Maria on Fr Joe Pereira: The Yogic PriestSubhasis Chattopadhyay on If God Dials You, WillYou Take That Call?Subhasis Chattopadhyay on Fr Joe Pereira: TheYogic PriestSubhasis Chattopadhyay on Saint Joseph Vaz: AnIndian Sanyasi In a Foreign LandA.Maria on Dreams Come True: From a Doctor to aPriestPDF created with the PDFmyURL web to PDF API!It is Professor John Seniorwho had inspired young mento search for meaning asCatholic monasticsABBOT PHILIP ANDERSON BENEDICTINE SPIRITUALITY INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE MONASTICISM OUR LADY OF CLEAR CREEK ABBEYSOLESMES« Making The Sign of The CrossAbbot Anderson.  At some point the spiritual man must face the reality of evil.  This is a veryhard point. All seek liberation from death and evil.  Benedictine spirituality is nothing otherthan undiluted Christianity.  We cannot grow without finding a path toward liberation fromevil, from “sin” as we say. I do not know of another way of doing this completely than throughthe mystery of the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ.  Surely God provides a providentialpath for Hindus.  What is it?  That is a very good question that only Hindus can answer.Subhasis. Lastly, Reverend Father Abbot, you know that Angels are there, you also know thatsuffering can be transferred and shared. I stand witness that through your direct intervention,you reduced the real physical pain of someone. Hindu holy men and women can do the same.Can you explain to us how both Catholic and Hindu intellectuals have dumbed down ourknowledge of the supernatural and what can we do to restore this knowledge of thesupernatural in this day and age? Because it is impossible to be religious withoutacknowledging the supernatural.Abbot Anderson.  The modern world has grownaccustomed to ignoring the supernatural, but this has been to its owndetriment. The fact is that the human being is, according to the theologicalsaying, “capax Dei,” which is to say, “capable of God.”  In other words, there is adimension of openness to the infinite in us that cannot be filled except by theinfinite being of God.  On the other hand, this acquisition of the infinite Godwhich we desire is beyond our power to attain on the natural level.  We are inthe strange and mysterious position of needing a certain completion of ourbeing which we cannot acquire naturally, but only through a supernatural grace. But that grace can be given.  We can seekit and pray for it.  There is no reason to live a life that cannot find its true end.  Saint Benedict and all the Saints urge us toseek it. LEAVE A REPLYYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment  PDF created with the PDFmyURL web to PDF API!Powered by WordPress and Gambit.Name *  Email *  Website  POST COMMENTPDF created with the PDFmyURL web to PDF API!

Interview with Rev. Fr. Abbot Philip Anderson: We Must All Build Bridges

This is part of an interreligious dialogue between the conservative Solesmes Congregation and this author who is a Hindu. The excerpt here is popular but touches on serious issues like transcendence etc

Subhasis Chattopadhyay

Humanities Commons

Translate:0SHARESInterview with Rev. Fr. Abbot Philip Anderson: We Must All BuildBridgesJanuary 23, 2018  Team ICM  SpiritualityBy Subhasis Chattopadhyay –In a first-ever dialogue between a Solesmes Abbot and an Indian Hindu, the very Reverend Philip Anderson, Abbot of OurLady of Clear Creek Abbey in Hulbert, Oklahoma points out that only peace (शाि तः śāntiḥ) can come to the aid of a worldwhere ill-informed men and women will have us fight against each other in the name of God.Hinduism is essentially turned inwards. Hindus over the eons have experimented and perfected various ways in which to bein touch and even be one with the One who is beyond the Darkness:HOLY FATHER ON TWITTERTweets by @PontifexCOURTESY NDTV: CBCI PUTS THINGS INPERSPECTIVESHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CBCIIn a country that guarantees the right to practice anyreligion, NDTV’s We The People programme discussedwhether the space for that liberty shrinking? CBCISecretary General Bishop Theodore Mascarenhasstrongly articulated its position on issues concerningIndian Catholic church. Support CBCI in its mission.Tweet ​@indianbishopsDAILY AUDIO REFLECTION BY FATHERCHRISTOPHER WHITESummary: What importance do I give to listen to theWord of God? Reflections by Fr Christopher White on 2Samuel 7:4-17 & Mark 4:1-20.  Indian Catholic Matters ishappy to provide Fr. Christopher White’s daily audioreflection to Catholic Bishops Conference of Indiawebsite. Click below to listen audio.THE POPE VIDEO – RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN ASIA – JAN2018Search …HOME LATEST » COLUMNS » GLOBAL PARTNER – ALETEIA ICM SERVICES » OUR ESTEEMED AUTHORS REACH US » GALLERY YOUTH CATECHESIS Share  Tweet00:00 00:0000:00PDF created with the PDFmyURL web to PDF API!The interviewer with his daughterin Calcuttaवेद॒ाहम॒ते ंप ु ॑ षं म॒हा तम ् । आ॒िद॒ यव॑ण॒ तम॑स तु॒ प॒ारे ।सवा॑िण ॒पािण॑ िव॒िच य॒ धीर॑ः । नामा॑िन कृ॒ वाऽिभ॒वद॒न ्यदा ते  ।from The Purusha SuktaIt is this quest for Him who is beyond our knowledge gained through the senses (gunas)that led this Hindu interviewer contact one of the most orthodox and spartan RomanCatholic monasteries in the world: Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey situated in ruralOklahoma in 2013. From then till date he has had the monks of this Catholic monasterywhere each professed monk (unlike the Camaldoli at Big Sur) still prays the Liturgy of theHours in Latin, journey with him in his humdrum life. This interviewer knows that thesemen in rural USA have found that (त वमिस, Thou art That) which Hindu seers had spoken ofin their sacred Scriptures before the discovery of monasticism in the West. The authorthanks Indian Catholic Matters for facilitating this dialogue.Excerpts:Subhasis. Reverend Abbot Anderson, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed. You areaware that India is a Hindu majority nation and Hinduism often prefers the interior life (vitacontemplativa) over the active life (vita activa). Hindus are familiar with total renunciationof the world akin to the spirituality of Saint Nimatullah Kassab Al-Hardini (1808 – 1858 AD). Within this context of being aland of great renunciation how do you think Benedictine spirituality can help our plural society?Abbot Anderson. There are, I believe, in India a great number of philosophical and religious doctrines, many of whichdiverge significantly from one another.  In most of them, however, as I understand this, there appears a quest for interiorpeace and for a unity that transcends the multiplicity and confusion of ideas and doctrines, not to mention the conflictingopinions of warring political factions in the world.  The motto of the Benedictine monasteries is precisely “peace,” and thispeace comes from a profound unity of doctrine and a deep spirituality that is nourished by ascetic effort and prayer, underthe in uence of what we call “grace” [ कृपा]. Perhaps contact with this spirituality could inspire new hope for somethingbeyond the visible world and a renewal of the quest for both unity and for truth in India, in a great and ancient land, whichhas no doubt suffered in modern times from influences coming from a decadent Western Civilization.Subhasis. You Reverend Father Abbot belong to the Solesmes Congregation which yet has no presence in India. How do youthink your Congregation’s charism could help Indian Catholics and Hindus?Abbot Anderson.  The special emphasis of the Solesmes Congregation is the importance placed on liturgical prayer, whoserites express most eloquently the reality of the supernatural.  Liturgical prayer is a language that must be learned, but it hasa certain universal appeal.  It suffices to see it take place in order to understand most of our spirituality that is invisible.Subhasis. The Catholic understanding of this world is that it is very real. Samkhya and some Hindu understandings of thisworld is also that it is fecund and important for one’s mukti (there is no cognate in English since Hinduism does not admit ofabsolute dualism). What concrete steps can Catholics and Hindus take in India to help themselves grow spiritually?‘SPRINGS FOR THE SOUL’ REFLECTION BY FR.ADOLF WASHINGTONNever be discouraged GOD is on the mountain topwith YOU, says Adolf Washington. Click below tolisten.CBCI ON TWITTERTweets by @IndianbishopsFOLLOW ICM ON TWITTERTweets by @editor_icmRECENT COMMENTSA.Maria on Fr Joe Pereira: The Yogic PriestSubhasis Chattopadhyay on If God Dials You, WillYou Take That Call?Subhasis Chattopadhyay on Fr Joe Pereira: TheYogic PriestSubhasis Chattopadhyay on Saint Joseph Vaz: AnIndian Sanyasi In a Foreign LandA.Maria on Dreams Come True: From a Doctor to aPriestPDF created with the PDFmyURL web to PDF API!It is Professor John Seniorwho had inspired young mento search for meaning asCatholic monasticsABBOT PHILIP ANDERSON BENEDICTINE SPIRITUALITY INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE MONASTICISM OUR LADY OF CLEAR CREEK ABBEYSOLESMES« Making The Sign of The CrossAbbot Anderson.  At some point the spiritual man must face the reality of evil.  This is a veryhard point. All seek liberation from death and evil.  Benedictine spirituality is nothing otherthan undiluted Christianity.  We cannot grow without finding a path toward liberation fromevil, from “sin” as we say. I do not know of another way of doing this completely than throughthe mystery of the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ.  Surely God provides a providentialpath for Hindus.  What is it?  That is a very good question that only Hindus can answer.Subhasis. Lastly, Reverend Father Abbot, you know that Angels are there, you also know thatsuffering can be transferred and shared. I stand witness that through your direct intervention,you reduced the real physical pain of someone. Hindu holy men and women can do the same.Can you explain to us how both Catholic and Hindu intellectuals have dumbed down ourknowledge of the supernatural and what can we do to restore this knowledge of thesupernatural in this day and age? Because it is impossible to be religious withoutacknowledging the supernatural.Abbot Anderson.  The modern world has grownaccustomed to ignoring the supernatural, but this has been to its owndetriment. The fact is that the human being is, according to the theologicalsaying, “capax Dei,” which is to say, “capable of God.”  In other words, there is adimension of openness to the infinite in us that cannot be filled except by theinfinite being of God.  On the other hand, this acquisition of the infinite Godwhich we desire is beyond our power to attain on the natural level.  We are inthe strange and mysterious position of needing a certain completion of ourbeing which we cannot acquire naturally, but only through a supernatural grace. But that grace can be given.  We can seekit and pray for it.  There is no reason to live a life that cannot find its true end.  Saint Benedict and all the Saints urge us toseek it. LEAVE A REPLYYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment  PDF created with the PDFmyURL web to PDF API!Powered by WordPress and Gambit.Name *  Email *  Website  POST COMMENTPDF created with the PDFmyURL web to PDF API!

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Interview with Rev. Fr. Abbot Philip Anderson: We Must All Build Bridges

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