Andrew Harvey

Andrew Harvey, born in India in 1952, is a British author, scholar, and teacher specializing in mystic traditions. His prolific writing career, spanning over 30 books, began with "A Journey in Ladakh" in 1983. Harvey's work often explores spiritual and mystical themes, drawing from various religious traditions.

Educated in England and at Oxford University, where he also taught, Harvey experienced a profound spiritual awakening after returning to India in 1977. This led him to immerse himself in diverse mystical practices and traditions, including Tibetan Buddhism and Sufism, and to study figures like Rumi. He later synthesized his experiences, reconciling Eastern and Western mysticism, particularly after meeting Father Bede Griffiths. Harvey is also the founder of the Sacred Activism movement, which advocates for integrating spiritual knowledge with compassionate action in the world.

After an academic career at Oxford, Andrew Harvey's life took a significant spiritual turn upon his return to India in 1977, initiating a period of deep exploration into various mystical traditions. He studied with Indian saints and sages, engaged with Tibetan Buddhism under Thuksey Rinpoche, and delved into Sufi mysticism with guidance from Eva de Vitray-Meyerovitch. A pivotal meeting with Father Bede Griffiths in South India helped him integrate his Eastern and Western mystical studies. Harvey's personal spiritual journey, including a period of disillusionment with gurus as detailed in his memoir "The Sun at Midnight," has informed his extensive writings on spirituality.

Harvey is the architect of the Sacred Activism movement, which he defines as the fusion of profound spiritual understanding and compassion with purposeful, wise action in the world. His teachings emphasize the divinization of earthly life through spiritual practices drawn from diverse religious backgrounds. He highlights figures such as the Buddha, Jesus (particularly from the Gospel of Thomas), Rumi, Kabir, Ramakrishna, and Aurobindo as having universal spiritual appeal. Harvey also places significant importance on the Divine Feminine, referencing figures like the Virgin Mary, Kali, and the Black Madonna.

Born in India in 1952, Andrew Harvey received his education in England, culminating in studies at the University of Oxford. He subsequently taught Shakespeare and French literature at Oxford until 1977, focusing his academic research on madness in the works of Shakespeare and Erasmus. Harvey is a highly prolific author, having written or co-authored over 30 books. His literary contributions span themes of mysticism, comparative religion, and spiritual activism, earning him recognition and a dedicated following.