Abhishiktananda: An Interior Journey

Synopsis

Abhishiktananda was an extraordinary truth seeker. Arriving in India in the late 1940s, Dom Henri Le Saux, OSB (his Christian monastic name), attempted to grasp the significance of Advaita Vedanta (nonduality) in the context of his own Christian beliefs. In India, Abhishiktananda lived the ascetic life of a simple mendicant and cave dweller, observing periods of silence, much the same way the Desert Fathers did. Rather than theorise about the truth of his spiritual path, he chose to experience it. And experience it he did, in abundance. Abhishiktananda initially met the great sage Ramana Maharshi, then later spent many months in caves upon the sacred Arunachala Mountain, in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. This remarkable video on the life of Abhishiktananda follows his path throughout India: from the beginnings of Shantivanam, the hermitage he founded in South India, to his wanderings in the Himalayan foothills. The rich details of Abhishiktananda's inner life and experiences are beautifully narrated through his own words. This is a journey that is deep and meditative -- a journey well worth taking. Approximate running time: 83 minutes.