Showing 605 articles
A New Model of Civilization
Author: Gilad SommerMarch 10, 2019
One of the most astounding things about ancient civilizations is the unity of their way of life. In the Art Institute of Chicago, for example, there is a beautiful stele from the Mayan ruins of Calakmul in Mexico. This stele presents a ruler in his task as a high priest, dressed in ceremonial garbs, holding [...]
The Ice Rink
Author: Gilad SommerJanuary 25, 2019
During an attempt at ice skating at the Sculpture Garden in DC, I had one of these wonderful moments where life seems to speak to you through the so-called “ordinary” moments. Watching the happy faces – of every age, race and color – go round and round, I couldn’t help but admire the beauty of [...]
The Masses in Modern Philosophy
Author: Istvan OrbanJanuary 25, 2019
In the last century, the role of the masses grew immensely in importance and affected both culture and politics. Philosophy has been using the term masses and mass societies since the 19th century, but we can find statements about masses of people earlier, even in the works of the classical Greek thinkers like Plato. He [...]
Chinese Alchemy and Immortality
Author: Agostino DominiciJanuary 25, 2019
Chinese alchemy has two main branches: ‘external alchemy’ (Waidan) and ‘internal alchemy’ (Naidan). Both words are related to the word dan (elixir), which evolves from a root-meaning of ‘essence’ (the true nature and quality of an entity). In this brief introduction, I am going to concentrate on the tradition of external alchemy or Waidan. The [...]
Philosophy of History – a Key to the Past, the Present and the Future
Author: Julian ScottJanuary 25, 2019
There is an old Eastern saying which states: “The Past Time is the Present Time, as also the Future, which, though it has not come into existence, still is.” In the Eastern view of time, reality exists beyond the temporal realm and what we experience as separate stages are actually part of a simultaneous reality. [...]
How many more G’s do we need?
Author: Peter FoxJanuary 14, 2019
5G or ‘5th Generation mobile networks’ has become a buzzword that gets thrown around as a sign of the future; the next generation of communications that will let us connect faster to each other and transfer more data from one person to another. By putting this into a historical context, it is possible to see [...]
Science and the Media
Author: Florimond KrinsJanuary 14, 2019
For the scientifically and non-scientifically minded alike, the news media provide a commonly used way of getting in touch with new scientific discoveries. Many news media now include a specific science section to keep readers informed of the latest research findings. However, although it is great that many media outlets present such topics, they shouldn’t [...]
“Old into Gold”
Author: Barley MasseyJanuary 14, 2019
At this time in humanity’s evolution, wealthy nations are living through a highly materialistic time. Vast amounts of resources, time and costs are invested into producing, marketing and acquiring “stuff” which then quickly losses its perceived value or becomes obsolete and is discarded. The excavation of ancient rubbish dumps by archaeologists reveals miniscule amounts of ash, [...]
Vipassana: Experience of Impermanence
Author: Manjula NanavatiJanuary 13, 2019
Twenty–five centuries ago in Northern India, a man desolated by the quantum and pervasiveness of human suffering in the world, resolved to find a solution. His investigation led him to many masters, abundant knowledge and a plethora of techniques to investigate Truth and Reality, until finally on achieving enlightenment, he devoted the rest of his [...]
‘Heal’-th
Author: Shraddha ShettyJanuary 13, 2019
We have made great advances in mainstream medicine, and have at our disposal more technology and research than ever before. This has enabled us to make great strides in diagnosis and treatment. This progress, however, has its pitfalls as well. Specialty and super-specialty are causing doctors to lose a holistic view of patients. Rather than [...]
Understanding Gandhi: An Exchange with Dr. Tridip Suhrud
Author: Harianto H Mehta and Manjula NanavatiJanuary 13, 2019
As the architect of a non-violent civil disobedience movement that led to the independence of a nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi has been hailed as a spirited activist, a courageous freedom fighter, and an astute politician. For his own deeply ascetic lifestyle, uncompromising ethical code, and strict adherence to human values, he won the veneration of [...]
Grace
Author: Tarini VaidyaJanuary 13, 2019
Grace has become an old fashioned word, graciousness and courtesy have become old world values, almost valueless in today’s environment. The world has gone über brash. Billboards extoll the ‘virtue’ of Attitude, with a capital A: “Wear your Attitude,” screams one, as though attitude were an aspirational achievement! A young generation has grown up with [...]