Oblates of Shantivanam

If you wish to become an oblate of Shantivanam please read this page.

Becoming an oblate is an offering (oblation) of one's life to God - a seeker - a sadhaka.

The procedure is as follows:-

"An oblate  is a person, man or woman, married or single, lay or cleric, who offers himself or herself to God in a life of prayer based on, the threefold life of the rule of St. Benedict, uniting prayer or mediation, study and work. But the centre of this life is the self-offering to God of one's whole being, which in India we call Sannyasa. This is also the essential nature of our life at Shantivanam." Fr. Bede Griffiths

Message for Oblates from Fr Dorathick 

Message for Oblates and Friends of Shantivanam

from Brother Martin

ON BECOMING AN OBLATE OF SHANTIVANAM 

BY FR. GEORGE

Oblates of Shantivanam

First and foremost is to explain to the candidates of oblate ship of Shantivanam about the purpose of being  an oblate of Shantivanam, the responsibilities,  and duties.

Saccidananda ashram Shantivanam’s founders, Fr Monchanin and Swami Abhishiktananda  called it  A Benedictine ashram.

Benedictine means, the life of the ashram is based on the Rule of St. Benedict and the ashram means to follow the spiritual tradition of India,  that is sannyasa life.

Beginning of lay monasticism or oblate ship

In the course of time, lay people asked to be associated with the work of the monks and nuns of the Benedictine monasteries without however leaving their homes, families, and occupations. So they were received as the Oblates of a monastery or convent, and promised to regulate their lives according to the spirit of the monasteries. They applied the teachings of the Rule of St. Benedict to their lives in the world, in their family circles, in their places of work, and in their civic and social activities.

Shantivanam community is happy to help those who are in search of God following the spiritual life of Shantivanam  and the simple life by actively participating in the life of Shantivanam. The life of Shantivanam is  based on meditation, simple life, interreligious dialogue, inculturation . etc.

The Oblates are mainly Christian individuals or families who have associated themselves with Shantivanam ashram in order to enrich their spiritual life and  shape their lives by living the wisdom of Christ. They seek God by striving to become holy in their chosen way of life by integrating their prayer and work, they manifest Christ's presence in society. So the purpose of being an oblate of Shantivanam is to be in spiritual union with the Shantivanam community in their spiritual journey.

What is an Oblate of Shantivanam?

The Oblates of Shantivanam are praying and working in spiritual union with our Shantivanam community and receiving spiritual strength and inspiration from their association as Oblates.

Their  role is to live in the world, to become holy in the world, to do what they can to bring the world to God by being witnesses of Christ by word and example to those around them.

The oblates prayer life will flow from this awareness that they are the temple of God. They do not take on a new set of religious practices and they do not live in a religious community or take vows. Oblates practice moderation. This moderation manifests itself in the use of the goods of this world, an increasing concern for their neighbor, and in the way they temper and direct their desires.

1.Oblates are requested to do regular meditation in the morning and evening according to the time available for each person.

2.They should deepen their knowledge by reading and meditating on the Holy Scriptures and should be open to the spiritual values of the other religious and cultural traditions.

3. They should work for peace and harmony in the world.

4. Live a life of detachment.

REGARDING BECOMING AN OBLATE OF SHANTIVANAM

QUESTION:  Are there vows to take?  What would be my obligations?  

FR. GEORGE: The oblates make only a promise to follow the spiritual and contemplative life of Shantivanam. It does not bind anyone with a vow.

QUESTION: Would I be entitled to use the OSB with my name?

FR. GEORGE:  There is no obligation to use OSB with your name. OSB means Order of St. Benedict. It is usually used by the monks and nuns of the Benedictine Congregation. 

QUESTION: Do I need to visit the Ashram to do so?

FR. GEORGE:To become an oblate it is better that you visit our ashram so that we can share about the oblateship. Though I suggest people who wish to be oblates of Shantivanam to visit us,  I can understand that all cannot come to visit us physically.  Of-course the spiritual presence and relationship are more important than the physical presence. So we can make possible to give oblate ship even without visiting Shantivanam and they can be united with us in the spirit of our founders and Shantivanam community.

 Oblate ship ceremony suggestion for places other than Shantivanam - Fr. George

1. It is advised to do the ceremony in the morning before the sunrise.

2. Rite of purification: Take a bath as a sign of purification of body and soul.

3. Light a candle or oil lamp in the room or place where you do the initiation ceremony.

4. Do a reading from the Bible and a passage from the Upanishad.

5. A brief meditation

6. As a sign of oblate ship the candidate can receive a Saccidananda Cross.

Our Father in Heaven

hallowed be your name

may your kingdom come,

may your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Give us this day the bread we need,

and forgive us our sins and offences,

as we have forgiven those who have offended us .

Do not lead us into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Readings

1. According to the convenience a part of this reading can be used

2. Gospel John 15,1-10

The Chandogya Upanishad

You Are That

This is the teaching of Uddalaka to Shvetaketu, his son:

As by knowing one lump of clay, dear one,

We come to know all things made out of clay –

That they differ only in name and form,

While the stuff of which all are made is clay;

As by knowing one gold nugget, dear one,

We come to know all things made out of gold –

That they differ only in name and form,

While the stuff of which all are made is gold;

As by knowing one tool of iron, dear one,

We come to know all things made out of iron –

That they differ only in name and form,

While the stuff of which all are made is iron –

So through spiritual wisdom, dear one,

We come to know that all of life is one.

In the beginning was only Being,

One without a second.

Out of himself he brought forth the cosmos

And entered into everything in it.

There is nothing that does not come from him.

Of everything he is the inmost Self.

He is the truth; he is the Self supreme.

You are that, Shvetaketu; you are that.

When a person is absorbed in dreamless sleep

He is one with the Self, though he knows it not.

We say he sleeps, but he sleeps in the Self.

As a tethered bird grows tired of flying

About in vain to find a place of rest

And settles down at last on its own perch,

So the mind, tired of wandering about

Hither and thither, settles down at last

In the Self, dear one, to whom it is bound.

All creatures, dear one, have their source in him.

He is their home; he is their strength.

There is nothing that does not come from him.

Of everything he is the inmost Self.

He is the truth; he is the Self supreme.

You are that, Shvetaketu; you are that.

As bees suck nectar from many a flower

And make their honey one, so that no drop

Can say, “I am from this flower or that,”

All creatures, though one, know not they are that One.

There is nothing that does not come from him.

Of everything he is the inmost Self.

He is the truth; he is the Self supreme.

You are that, Shvetaketu; you are that.

As the rivers flowing east and west

Merge in the sea and become one with it,

Forgetting they were ever separate streams,

So do all creatures lose their separateness

When they merge at last into pure Being.

There is nothing that does not come from him.

Of everything he is the inmost Self.

He is the truth; he is the Self supreme.

You are that, Shvetaketu; you are that!

From the Chandogya Upanishad, chapter 6. The refrain “You are That” (in Sanskrit, Tat tvam asi) is one of

the “great utterances” that encapsulate the teachings of the Upanishads. Translated by Eknath Easwaran