Anthony de Mello was an indigenous Jesuit priest, spiritual guide and psychotherapist who gained a remarkable fame for his books, lectures and unique personality, was a strange figure for many and inspiring to others, approached all religions to exalt the most beautiful and interesting of all. each, giving us valuable advice on personal growth.
His point of view has always been vital, unique and effective, in books like Rediscovering His Life, which would be his last work, he says that everyone comes into the world happy, yet we gradually become personal prisons of suffering, in which we are no longer aware of our potential. Our own thoughts, he says, are always our worst enemies.
- On the other hand.
- What De Mello invoked was the need to accept our spiritual nature.
- He accepted absolutely all religious beliefs.
- He felt comfortable in everything and considered them his home.
- His views.
- Often pantheists.
- Were something that the Catholic Church did not like.
- In fact.
- His teachings were forbidden during Pope Ratzinger’s period.
- However.
- The ban would be lifted at a later date.
Fr. Anthony de Mello is undoubtedly one of the writers who has sold the most books about spirituality. His texts and messages are an invitation to personal growth, but also a very inspiring revolutionary exercise. In phrases like “Take a prayer and shake it until all the words fall and on what set your heart on fire,” he shows us the essence of his personality.
His main influences were the Buddhist master Theravada Chah Subhatto and the philosopher J. Krishnamurti, so although more than thirty years have passed since his death, his books are still sold and inspired by the new generations, few figures have taught us in such an illustrative way. way to resolve conflicts, to work for our freedom and our happiness.
“Perfect love scares away fear. Where there is love, there are no demands, no expectations, no dependence. I don’t demand that you make me happy. My happiness is not in you. If you leave me, I won’t feel sorry for myself, I love your business very much, but am I not attached?. – Anthony de Mello-
Anthony de Mello was born on September 4, 1931, in Mumbai, India, to a middle-class Catholic family. His father, Frank, and mother, Louisa, both from a Portuguese territory called Goa, expected their eldest son to thrive in the rail sector or, better yet, graduate from college.
However, Anthony de Mello showed a clear vocation from the beginning: he wanted to be a Jesuit, it was in July 1947 that he finally decided to join the Society of Jesus at the Seminary of Vinalaya on the outskirts of Mumbai. Later, from 1952, he began his academic training. First, he spent three years in Barcelona, Spain, studying philosophy.
Later, he entered Loyola University in Chicago to graduate as a psychologist, then was influenced and inspired by Carl Rogers, a famous American psychologist, starting with Abraham Maslow the humanist approach to psychology, so throughout this student career, De Mello was able to learn from different cultures and studied Spanish, French, Portuguese and Marathi.
It was in the 1970s that Anthony de Mello opened his mind and heart to the practice of vipassana meditation, at which point he began to show an approach to Buddhist spirituality, finding benefits that would further enrich everything the Jesuits had taught him.
According to him, all religions can offer opportunities for healing to the human being, so he accepted them and was inspired by all of them, for, in his opinion, the spiritual response of Jesus Christ was also valid for that presented by Confucius, Lao Tse. Thus, in books such as The Bird’s Song, published in 1982, Anthony de Mello defines spirituality as follows:
Spirituality is what manages to lead a person to an inner transformation, so everyone has to find it in their own way, some will do it in the traditional way. Others will do so in other perspectives. After all, it’s not spirituality if it doesn’t work for you. A blanket is no longer a blanket if it doesn’t keep you warm.
At the same time, another well-known aspect of this Jesuit and native psychotherapist was his great ability to lead spiritual retreats, in which he guided and inspired others, had much charisma and personality that many described as devastating. for some, he was just a heretic.
He dared to formulate ideas and defend positions that the more traditional Catholics did not understand, he was an interreligious teacher who also valued and defended Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Catholicism, since all religious formulas were, for him, valid and inspiring . He always made it compelling and has attracted thousands of followers with him.
In the 1970s, he founded Sadhana Pastoral Advisory in India; later, he devoted his entire life to introducing Eastern spirituality, through stories and exercises, into the United States. He was a spiritual healer and psychologist who traveled from east to west, teaching people a type of prayer based on vipassana meditation.
His lectures were a real success. As well as his speeches, in which he helped people focus on the present, to be more aware of their emotions, thoughts and needs, the University of St. Louis, for example, received it every summer waiting for his courses, as well as presenting his books. He has written 18 works in total, an absolute bestseller to inspire millions of people around the world.
Unfortunately Anthony de Mello died suddenly at age 55, a heart attack took his life in 1987 in New York, since then his spiritual and theoretical heritage has expanded in some way fulfilling some of his objectives. more aware of our value and above all he invited us to “wake up” to contact us and those around us. Only then will we find greater opportunities to be happy.