WHO ARE WE ?
Fabrice BLÉE, PhD
Fabrice BLÉE is an Associate Professor of Theology at Saint Paul University (Ottawa, Canada). He created SOLARS EXPERIENCE to reach people on a spiritual quest who, in their desire for Plenitude, want to deepen an understanding of themselves in relation to the Sacred without the constraints specific to obtaining a university degree.
It proposes to popularize elements of theology conducive to embarking on the path with discernment, in the light of a very rich although little known contemplative heritage.
Outside of academia, there are few spaces where the experience of the divine within is welcomed as much as the effort of rigorous and methodical reflection.
If purely theoretical talk about spiritual things has little impact on our ability to awaken, experience alone can also lead to a dead end; it needs a healthy and enlightened conceptual framework to grow and open up to more freedom.
The Center for Contemplation and Dialogue responds to this by creating a research community, including theologians, scholars from other disciplines, self-taught people, artists and meditators, to share and articulate our questions and concerns about spiritual paths and exploration of divine realities.
It proposes to popularize elements of theology conducive to embarking on the path with discernment, in the light of a very rich although little known contemplative heritage.
Outside of academia, there are few spaces where the experience of the divine within is welcomed as much as the effort of rigorous and methodical reflection.
If purely theoretical talk about spiritual things has little impact on our ability to awaken, experience alone can also lead to a dead end; it needs a healthy and enlightened conceptual framework to grow and open up to more freedom.
The Center for Contemplation and Dialogue responds to this by creating a research community, including theologians, scholars from other disciplines, self-taught people, artists and meditators, to share and articulate our questions and concerns about spiritual paths and exploration of divine realities.
Originally from France (Épernay, Champagne), Fabrice BLÉE has been living in Canada since 1989. He has been practicing theology for 35 years – first at the Faculty of Protestant Theology in Strasbourg, then at the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Montreal, before teaching at the Faculty of Theology at Saint Paul University in Ottawa – with the primary intention of highlighting the contemplative and mystical richness of Christianity and its ability to set people free, individually and collectively. This is the path he took to explore the questions that his Catholic upbringing failed to answer, convinced nevertheless that the tradition of his parents and ancestors offers everything needed to live a fulfilling spiritual life.
He undertook this research while studying ethnology at the University of Strasbourg and learning about Tibetan Buddhism with Sherab Gyaltsen Amipa (Sakyapa) at the European Institute of Tibetan Buddhism (Sakya Tsechen Ling) in Kuttolsheim from 1987 to 1989, then Geshe Kenrab Gajam (Gelugpa) at the Temple of Tibetan Buddhism in Montreal from 1989 to 1993. Later, in the early 2000s, he discovered Zen Buddhism at the Rinza Ryutaku-ji Temple in Japan where he stayed for 4 months under the direction of Kyudo Nagawa Roshi, as well as vipassana meditation, as taught by S. N. Goenka, during several retreats in India and Canada.
It was during his stay at the Zen monastery that the word SOLARS popped up in his mind as evidence for a possible space for healing. He noted afterwards that it is the combination of two Latin words, Sol (sun) and Ars (art).
His career was marked from the outset by dialogue and led him to write a master's thesis on death in the tibetan teaching of Bokar Rinpoche and the theology of Karl Rahner (centenary prize, 1992), then a doctoral thesis (1993-1999) on the experience of monastic interreligious dialogue which gave rise to several publications, including Le Désert de l'altérité (Médiaspaul, 2004), translated into Italian (Il deserto dell'alterità, Cittadella, 2006) and into English (The Third Desert, Liturgical Press, 2011). This book is the first in the Spiritualities in Dialogue collection that he designed and directed at Mediaspaul. He continued his work on a spirituality in dialogue during two post-doctorates: at the Vidyajyoti Theological College in Delhi (2001) and at the Woodstock Theological Center of Georgetown University in Washington, DC (2003).
His teaching – he gave his first course at the age of 26 at the University of Montreal – focuses mainly on interreligious dialogue and contemplative paths. He considers theology not only as a rigorous science but also as a heart work. The intellectual exercise it involves requires the experience of silence. With this in mind, he has been leading meditation retreats for twenty years and suggested that the Graduate Diploma in Contemplative Theology and Spiritual Mentoring that he set up in 2010 begins with a 7-day silent retreat.
His theology is influenced by the spirit of monastic interreligious dialogue, on which he has written numerous articles, some of which have been translated into English, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Polish and German, and which rests on two pillars: contemplation and hospitality. He draws inspiration from it in particular to think about a new ecological awareness (Shaping a New Ecological Consciousness. Insights from the Spirituality of Interreligious Dialogue. Dans Mitchell, D., et W. Skudlarek (dir.), Green Monasticism. A Buddhist–Catholic Response to an Environmental Calamity, New York, Lantern Books, 2010, p. 167-179)
If he defends the idea that theological speech needs the silence of the spirit, he also believes that it can be more incarnated and invigorated through the arts. He opened up to a promising dialogue with the creative process with the making of his film on the Benedictine Henri Le Saux. Making a documentary with the aim of awakening to the spiritual dimension calls for a more intuitive way of knowing, complementary to a purely intellectual approach. The process of artistic creation contributes to the effort to incorporate all dimensions of being into theological reflection and, thus, allows the latter to better reflect our experience of the divine. He develops this idea in 'Filmmaking and Theology: Towards a Didactic and Mystagogical perspective,' Asproulis, Nikolas, and Stuart Devenish (eds.), Christian Responses to Spiritual Incursions into the 21st Century Church and Society, Newcastle, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2020, pp 127-144).
Jean DUPUCHE, PhD
John R. DUPUCHE, of French descent and born in Australia, priest of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, is an assistant professor at the University of Divinity.
His many lectures and publications focus on the spirituality of pleasure, the autonomy of the self, interreligious dialogue, the relationship between Tantrism and Christianity.
He organized, for example, the symposium 'Tantric Aspects of the World's Spiritualities,' at Monash University, and played an important role in choosing the themes and speakers for a symposium entitled 'Enlightenment and Tantra,' at the Pontificia Università Gregoriana, Rome.
He has given lectures in Montreal, Oxford, Toulouse, Rennes, Riga, Lahore, etc. and has led multiple interfaith symposia in Melbourne on themes such as reconciliation, faith and reason, compassion.
He published in particular :
. Abhinavagupta: The Kula Ritual as elaborated in chapter 29 of the Tantrāloka (Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass, 2003),
. Chakras, foyers de conscience-énergie ; Regards sur une autre expérience du corps dans l’hindouisme et le christianisme (Paris: Les Deux Océans, 2020)
. Vers un tantra chrétien ; la rencontre du christianisme et du shivaïsme du Cachemire (Paris: Les Deux Océans, 2021).
He is part of the Australian Catholic Council for Inter-religious Dialogue of the Australian Bishops' Conference. He is a member of an interreligious community whose 6 members enjoy multiple affiliations, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity.
John wishes to take part in Solars Experience as a new initiative to think about theology today. He wants to address the questions posed by the modern mind, including: how to free oneself from the torpor and ignorance that hinder; how to elaborate Christian mysticism; wake up to what, wake up to whom; what is the path to follow and what are the closed doors; where to find the love which alone is capable of satisfying us?
His many lectures and publications focus on the spirituality of pleasure, the autonomy of the self, interreligious dialogue, the relationship between Tantrism and Christianity.
He organized, for example, the symposium 'Tantric Aspects of the World's Spiritualities,' at Monash University, and played an important role in choosing the themes and speakers for a symposium entitled 'Enlightenment and Tantra,' at the Pontificia Università Gregoriana, Rome.
He has given lectures in Montreal, Oxford, Toulouse, Rennes, Riga, Lahore, etc. and has led multiple interfaith symposia in Melbourne on themes such as reconciliation, faith and reason, compassion.
He published in particular :
. Abhinavagupta: The Kula Ritual as elaborated in chapter 29 of the Tantrāloka (Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass, 2003),
. Chakras, foyers de conscience-énergie ; Regards sur une autre expérience du corps dans l’hindouisme et le christianisme (Paris: Les Deux Océans, 2020)
. Vers un tantra chrétien ; la rencontre du christianisme et du shivaïsme du Cachemire (Paris: Les Deux Océans, 2021).
He is part of the Australian Catholic Council for Inter-religious Dialogue of the Australian Bishops' Conference. He is a member of an interreligious community whose 6 members enjoy multiple affiliations, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity.
John wishes to take part in Solars Experience as a new initiative to think about theology today. He wants to address the questions posed by the modern mind, including: how to free oneself from the torpor and ignorance that hinder; how to elaborate Christian mysticism; wake up to what, wake up to whom; what is the path to follow and what are the closed doors; where to find the love which alone is capable of satisfying us?
Edith BÉLANGER, MA
Edith Bélanger is a Canadian, spiritual care worker (ISS) at Maison Aube-Lumière, which welcomes patients with advanced cancer and their families. By her profession, she is in continual contact with death and the spiritual questions that arise at the time of this passage.
She holds a Master's degree in theology with a specialization in spirituality and a graduate microprogram in spiritual care. She also has a Bachelor's degree (BA) in education which has led her in different spheres of training since 1992.
She wrote a master's thesis entitled: "Passivity as abandonment to the will of God in the doctrine of Madame Guyon. Issues and challenges of the quietist controversy." She gave several conferences on major themes of spiritual life, inspired by her research on Madame Guyon (abandonment, importance of the present moment, paths to divine union, flexibility, simplicity, etc.)
In collaboration with one of her ISS colleagues, she publishes articles on the relationship between spirituality and end of life in the Maison Aube-Lumière newsletter. She addressed, among other things, the issues of vulnerability, letting go and detachment.
Since 2012, she has been interested in the question of mourning and has accompanied several bereaved to tame the void following the disappearance of a loved one.
She holds a Master's degree in theology with a specialization in spirituality and a graduate microprogram in spiritual care. She also has a Bachelor's degree (BA) in education which has led her in different spheres of training since 1992.
She wrote a master's thesis entitled: "Passivity as abandonment to the will of God in the doctrine of Madame Guyon. Issues and challenges of the quietist controversy." She gave several conferences on major themes of spiritual life, inspired by her research on Madame Guyon (abandonment, importance of the present moment, paths to divine union, flexibility, simplicity, etc.)
In collaboration with one of her ISS colleagues, she publishes articles on the relationship between spirituality and end of life in the Maison Aube-Lumière newsletter. She addressed, among other things, the issues of vulnerability, letting go and detachment.
Since 2012, she has been interested in the question of mourning and has accompanied several bereaved to tame the void following the disappearance of a loved one.
Catherine COLLOBERT, PhD
Catherine Collobert is a professor at the University of Ottawa (Canada). She specializes in ancient Greek philosophy and Buddhist philosophy and teaches meditation. She recently created with colleagues a program in contemplative studies at the University of Ottawa. She is a member of the Academy of Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies (University of Ottawa).
She has published works on Plato (2020), Homer (2011), the Presocratics (1994, 2004) and Aristotle (1996). She has also directed and co-directed collectives on Plato (2012) and Greek philosophy (2006, 2002). She has written numerous articles and book chapters on Aristotle, Plato, Plotinus and more recently on Buddhist philosophy (2023).
His research is now devoted to ontology and moral psychology in Buddhist philosophy. It is about the nature of the mind, how it works, and its potential for transformation. Based on the centrality and richness of contemplative practices in Buddhism, her research aims to develop a philosophy based on contemplation and on a dialogue between Buddhist philosophy and contemplative neuroscience. Contemplative philosophy presents itself both as an art of living and a path to liberation.
She has published works on Plato (2020), Homer (2011), the Presocratics (1994, 2004) and Aristotle (1996). She has also directed and co-directed collectives on Plato (2012) and Greek philosophy (2006, 2002). She has written numerous articles and book chapters on Aristotle, Plato, Plotinus and more recently on Buddhist philosophy (2023).
His research is now devoted to ontology and moral psychology in Buddhist philosophy. It is about the nature of the mind, how it works, and its potential for transformation. Based on the centrality and richness of contemplative practices in Buddhism, her research aims to develop a philosophy based on contemplation and on a dialogue between Buddhist philosophy and contemplative neuroscience. Contemplative philosophy presents itself both as an art of living and a path to liberation.