Anthony de Mello

Until his sudden death on June 2, 1987, Fr. Tony de Mello was the director of the Sadhana Institute of Pastoral Counseling near Poona, India. Author of five best selling books, renowned worldwide for his workshops, retreats, and prayer courses, he aimed simply to teach people HOW TO PRAY, how to WAKE UP AND LIVE. Most people, he maintained, are asleep. They need to wake up, open up their eyes, see what is real, both inside and outside of themselves.The greatest human gift is to be aware, to be in touch with oneself, one’s body, mind, feelings, thoughts, sensations. Here are some of his typical challenges: “Come home yourself! Come back to your senses! Do you hear that bird sing? How can you hear the song and not hear the singer? How can you see the wave and not see the ocean? How can you see the dance and not see the dancer?”