Michael Giddings

Michael Giddings

Michael Giddings is Meath Conlan’s trusted friend and colleague. From time to time he assists with the spiritual journeys in India, especially those that focus on ashrams. Michael brings many gifts and talents to his work with Diverse Journeys, and he is an “old India Hand” as you will read in his introductory self-description below.

Michael Giddings & Meath Conlan

India has been in my blood since I first went overland to India  when I was 17, before going to Oxford. After university, I returned to South India for 3 years to do a Sociology post-graduate course at Chennai (formerly Madras) University. I also worked with the Madras School of Social Work, and the Catholic Young Student Movement. These 3 years gave me a unique opportunity to travel widely in India and experience and learn about Tamil culture.

My first contact with Bede Griffiths and Shantivanam was in 1989. I had heard about the ashram from a regular visitor while at the Findhorn Foundation earlier in the year, and had read Bede’s book, ‘The Marriage of East and West.’ I had always struggled with the concept of the exclusivity of Christianity. While teaching in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, UK, I had had many Hindu and Muslim students, and had been much impressed with their devotion to the Divine.

During the winter months of 1989 I had the opportunity of close contact with Dom Bede.  He had had his first stroke, and I was one of the ‘doorkeepers’ while he was  bedridden – helping him in a variety of ways. I became an Oblate of the Ashram during that time.

I returned for a further 6 months every year, until Bede’s death in 1993, and then spasmodically for the next 10 years, seeing the growing confidence of the community, and listening to the teachings of Brother Martin.

Now I return regularly every year, and have been given the wonderful role of ‘Assistant Guest-master’, with particular emphasis on helping and advising guests from overseas.  Any email enquiry from overseas gets forwarded onto me from the ashram. Each year, for the last 3 years, I have led a group of 10/12 travellers around South India. It is always a delight for me to see how others experience the vitality and colour of South India. As Meath’s colleague, I look forward to leading Diverse Journeys’ travellers in their journey to some of the ashrams of South India. I know those who come will have a special and spiritual time together.