What price do we pay for this lack of balance and loss of intuition and the feminine? Father Bede says: The limitations of Western science and democracy have become more and more evident. The disastrous effects of western industrialism, physical, social and psychological, polluting the world and threatening to destroy it, are only too evident.
Even climate change has its origins in this unbalance. But this is not an “accident” due to the misuse of science and technology; it is due to a fundamental defect in Western man. What is this “fundamental defect” in Western culture?
The balance can only be restored when a meeting takes place between East and West. This meeting must take place at the deepest level of the human consciousness. It is an encounter ultimately between the two fundamental dimensions of human nature: the male and the female — the masculine, rational, active, dominating power of the mind, and the feminine, intuitive, passive and receptive power.
Bede Griffiths lays the cause of the world’s current ecological collapse very much at the feet of the one-sided consciousness of Western man and our failure to incorporate feminine consciousness into our awareness. This “fundamental defect” is the first thing to fix to restore a much-needed balance.
Adapted from Matthew Fox, Christian Mystics, pp. 242, 244.
To read a transcript of Matthew Fox’s video teaching, click HERE.
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Queries for Contemplation
Do you sense a correctness in what Fr. Bede is proposing? Do you agree that consciousness is more important than technology? Does it change your way of seeing the world and of finding new ways of working for ecological sustainability?
5 thoughts on “Bede Griffith on Balancing the Masculine & the Feminine”
Working with sound, whether it be combining music played on any instrument with chanting, has been a spiritual practice that allows oneself to tap into the feminine and masculine aspects of the Divine, the mystic within.
Throughout my spiritual journey, sound has played a significant role… from working with tuning forks, crystal bowls, native drumming and singing ancients chants in a different language, or singing new and contemporary Christian songs of worship.
Recently, I purchased what is called a Rav Pygmy “G” Steel hand drum, which is based on the platonic scale and is known as The Mystics Drum. Because it is a steel drum, the sounds emitted are very resonating. With this instrument it’s as if all my other training with these other modalities mentioned, are combining into one.
The sounds within this particular instrument, are very meditative. Playing this instrument also has a balancing effect on both the feminine and masculine aspects of one’s being… and that’s because your using both sides of the brain and the body to play it. I play a free form style, simply surrendering to the spirits movements, tapping into that intuitive, receptive energy as to the ryhthm and tempo and patterns that emerge, while at the same time tapping into the masculine energy of being aware of the different hand techniques and tones available to choose from.
Working with this instrument as a spiritual practice also helps transform my emotional, mental and physical energy as well… as the sounds in particular seem to resonate with an energy of what I can only describe as love and compassion, a kind of peace inducing resonance.
Participating in this form of spiritual practice, using the sounds of the platonic scale within this particular type of drum, is for me personally a creative act of mercy not only towards myself, but that I can also send out to the collective, as sound waves travel through space and matter… much like a little wave on the ocean, eventually gently touching the shore of the heart of another.
If your interested in exploring some of what I have shared in today’s DM, you can find some great videos on You-tube. You can also download a computerized version of the Rav drum, and play it on your computer or tablet as well. Enjoy!
Jeanette, Thank you for sharing all who have shared about your experience with the Rav Pygmy “G” Steel hand drum–I like that it also is know as the “Mystic Drum!” Something that might enrich your practice is reading Russell Paul’s THE YOGA OF SOUND. Russell taught in Matthew’s doctoral program and lived in Fr. Bede’s ashram…
I have read the book you referenced, although it was several years ago. I think I’ll dig it out of my extensive library and reread it again, as it seems that I am circling back around, into things I haven’t had time for in the past. Now that I’ve made some major changes in my life, regarding my work, I seem to be rediscovering myself once again. Thanks for reminding of this book, The Yoga of Sound.
I am grateful for Bede’s reminder of the historical reality of Yeshua and Jewish scriptures as well. It is important to realize the absolute significance of historicity, given that many have scholars have taken the position that Jesus Christ was fully mythic. This could mean that the human/divine interface is an illusion and that history doesn’t have to account for Yeshua’s ongoing impact on human history, both religious and political. Thankfully Tacitus tethered the son of Miriam to history.
Gwen, And thank you for your reminder of the historical reality of Yeshua via Tacitus…