Episode 26: “Faith Seeking Understanding” – Scholar-Practitioner approaches to Theology, Religious Studies, and Symbols in Integral Transformation with Patrick Beldio

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Hosted by Stephen Julich (EWP adjunct faculty, program manager) and Jonathan Kay (PhD student, EWP assistant)

In this episode we speak to Patrick Beldio, academic professor, sculptor, devotee of Mehar Baba and Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, about the intersection of theology and religious studies in his work. We discuss the nuances of the scholar-practitioner model of scholarship and how one can approach an integral pedagogy from this perspective. Stephen and I read a chapter from Patrick’s upcoming book Mirra Alfassa: Divine Mother and Child of Tomorrow, titled Spiritual Dualite: Mirra’s Intellectual and Spiritual Influence on Sri Aurobindo, and we discuss with Patrick how he approached building a methodology for this work. The conversation explores the deep rooted Western influences in the formation of Integral Yoga and cross-cultural approaches to symbology in the Mother’s life. We end by briefly discussing Sri Aurobindo and the Mother’s vision of the supramental manifestation and the transformation of the human into a radially new androgynous sexless being.

Patrick Beldio is a scholar of comparative religion and theology with a focus on Hindu-Christian studies, the Integral Yoga of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Meher Baba and the Chishti Sufi lineage in the West, and Franciscan Spirituality, with sub-interests in art, gender, and sustainability studies. His current book project is Mirra Alfassa: Mother & Child of the Divine of Tomorrow (working title), which critically analyzes the role and influence of Mirra (aka the Mother, 1878-1973) on the Integral Yoga that she and Aurobindo Ghose (aka Sri Aurobindo, 1872-1950) co-created. The book evaluates Mirra’s influence on Aurobindo’s spiritual practice and teaching and critically describes the nature of their relationship, intellectually and spiritually. It also focuses on how Aurobindo influenced Mirra’s teaching in Pondicherry, India and how she developed their yoga tradition after his passing and then explores her relevance today. Beldio is also a professional sacred artist with a studio at the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, DC. His sculptures are in private and public collections across the USA.

Patrick has a Ph.D in Religion and Culture from Catholic University, an MFA in sculpture from the George Washington University, and a BA in philosophy and BFA in sculpture from the University of Notre Dame. He has lived in Rome, Italy and Pondicherry, India for cultural research and education. He has won many awards like the Artists Fellowship Program Grant by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Sculptor of the Year by the Consortium of the Arts in Washington, DC/Walnut Creek, CA, and artist-in-residence fellowships. His capabilities run the full gambit of sculpture methods and options including, relief works or small sculptures, life size portrait busts and torsos, medium size works, life-size figurative works, and monumental projects. Patrick is a master sculptor utilizing a broad range of materials including: clay, bronze, wood, plaster, steel, glass, precious metals, clear acrylic, and light. He assists clients in capturing an initial vision and he is especially skilled in working with customers to design an affordable budget.