Bernd Helge Fritsch

Bernd Helge Fritsch (born June 3, 1944 in Vienna ) is an Austrian author . He was formerly a lawyer in Graz . At the beginning of his fourth decade of life, he ended his work as head of a law firm. Since then he has worked as an author of life counseling and spiritual guide books as well as a lecturer.

Life

Bernd Helge Fritsch grew up in Graz and studied at the local university law and economics . In 1967 he received his doctorate in law . He then set up a law firm in Graz. At the beginning of his fourth decade of life, he stopped practicing as a lawyer. He spent many years traveling mainly in Asia and Southern Europe. He lived in Hindu and Buddhist monasteries and practiced Zen . He has published numerous books on the subject of happiness and Far Eastern philosophy . In addition to his work as a book author, Fritsch does lecture tours as a spiritual teacher in Austria, Germany , Switzerland and Italy .

Book subjects

His books primarily serve as life guides with a spiritual background. In his works ("The Gem of Shankara " and "The Essence of Bhagavad-Gita ") he deals with two of the most important historical writings of Hinduism . According to the author's explanations, both books are intended to provide translations that are easy to understand for the modern Western reader, with explanatory comments. Corresponding quotations show parallels to the original Christianity and to various mystics ( Meister Eckhart , Angelus Silesius , Jalal ad-Din ar-Rumi and others).

Teaching

Advaita

According to his statements, Fritsch feels in harmony with the great wisdom teachings when he shows that the human being is not different from the universal consciousness (God) in his soul basis . Therefore for him self-knowledge means at the same time knowledge of being (God). He refers to the Advaita Vedanta as interpreted by Shankara and to various Christian and non-Christian mystics. Although one with all being (God), the human being forms at the same time his own, individual center of consciousness. Ramanuja takes similar views in his teaching called Vishishtadvaita .

Inner vision

As Fritsch explains, he does not identify himself - precisely because of his love for wisdom ( philosophy ) - with any faith or with any other philosophical or spiritual worldview. All great wisdom teachings (e.g. of a Buddha , Krishna , Laotse , Shankara or Jesus ) should only give suggestions to find the truth in oneself, because every person can, if he is appropriately prepared, experience the truth in himself. That is why he tries to encourage his readers and listeners not to stop at “believing”, but to move on from “believing” to “looking inwardly”.

Slavery through thought

According to Fritsch, humans are usually a slave to their thoughts and feelings. These are shaped by his karma , his genes , the influences of parents, educators and society. His thoughts are mostly obsessively focused on his wants, goals, dislikes, and worries.

Illusion of time

Caught in the illusion of time, man expects happiness from the fulfillment of his wishes and plans in the future. His primary pursuit is therefore directed towards the fulfillment of these desires and the fight against what he does not like. This is associated with being driven, nervous, stress, fears and worries.

liberation

With reference to the classic ways of yoga ( jnana , bhakti , karma and raja yoga) Fritsch explains the ways to self-knowledge. Through constant observation of his inner life, his thoughts, feelings and impulses of will and through inner silence ( meditation ), people can free themselves from their restrictive thought and behavior patterns. This creates the prerequisites to immerse yourself deeply in the peace and perfection of the timeless now and to realize your "self", your true being.

Works

• Encounter with the Self , ISBN 3-7041-0205-9 (1993)
• Glücksbalance - The magical triangle - Life, work, Zen , ISBN 3-85436-3516 (2003)
• Artemis Power - The License to Happiness , ISBN 978-3-8370-1447-1 (2008)
• The Great Prince and Happiness , ISBN 978-3837096972 (2009)
• Wonderful togetherness , ISBN 978-3839169438 (2009)
• The Gem of Shankara , text edition and commentary, ISBN 978-3842363786 (2011)
• Marriage and Divorce in Austrian , ISBN 3-85131-096-9 (10th edition 2013, co-author)
• Wu Wei - Do nothing and achieve everything , ISBN 978-3-8482-6417-9 (2013)
• Dealing with Time - 99 Spiritual Suggestions , ISBN 978-3-8482-6417-9 (2015)
• The crown jewel of Shankara , English edition, ISBN 978-3738626285 (2015)
• The Essence of the Bhagavad-Gita , Text Edition and Commentary, ISBN 978-3-7347-6709-8 (2015)
• The Essence of the Bhagavad-Gita , English edition, ISBN 978-3738626278 (2015)

Web links

• Literature by Bernd Helge Fritsch in the catalog of the German National Library
• Website Bernd Helge Fritsch

Individual evidence

• Lecturer Urania Graz
• Article in the Ticino newspaper