06 Aug Arnaud Desjardins, initiator of a secular spirituality close to Hinduism
Author and filmmaker Arnaud Desjardins (1925 – 2011) developed and taught a secular spirituality, synthesizing all spiritualities and religions, while remaining close to Hinduism. It also incorporates modern psychology. Arnaud Desjardins has practiced Hatha yoga for many years, before becoming a disciple of Swami Prajnanpad and his adhyatma yoga, an adaptation of Advaita Vedanta. From the early 1970s onwards, he relayed his spiritual teachings in France, publishing “Les Chemins de la Sagesse”. With its focus on non-duality, its spirituality enables us to free ourselves from the ego. In this way, man could attain liberation, a state of peace that eliminates all suffering. For him, “a spiritual being is above all a being who lives in the general climate of yes” and “the path begins with self-love”. Which is not to say that we should fall into vanity or excessive pride. Above all, it means that we must love and forgive ourselves if we are to progress. He even says: “In order to go beyond duality and conflict, we must first accept, assume, integrate and reunify. Arnaud Desjardins has also made a number of documentaries on different spiritual traditions, including “Le Message des Tibétains” (1966), in which he explores traditional Tibetan practices and rites, and “Himalaya, Terre de Sérénité” (1968). He also explored Zen Buddhism in “Zen: Ici et Maintenant” (1971) and Sufism in “Soufis D’Afghanistan” (1974). In 1995, Arnaud Desjardin opened a3rd ashram in Saint Laurent du Pape in the Ardèche region of France, in response to growing demand and the cramped conditions of previous ashrams. Together with his staff and the volunteers of the association “Les Amis d’Hauteville”, he welcomes men and women of all faiths and social backgrounds who come here to deepen their own quest. Numerous personalities are welcomed here, including Chandra Swami, Matthieu Ricard, Lama Denys and Stephen Jourdain. Even after his death in 2011, the association continues its work of transmitting Swami Prajnanpad’s wisdom and opening up to other traditions.