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Talks |
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United Kingdom, April 2009 ˛ Bliss and Beauty: An Indian Vision was the topic of Shakti’s keynote speech at the Mystics and Scientists Conference organized by the Scientific and Medical Network (www.scimednet.org) around the theme, ‘The Science of Happiness and the Experience of Bliss’, at University College, Winchester, April 5-9, 2009. Shakti spoke about the purpose of philosophy in India, which is not knowledge but transformation. It was thought that the ultimate aim of consciousness is to experience ‘Ananda' – bliss and transformative joy, and experiencing this was considered the heart of the aesthetic experience. The movement of the human spirit towards ananda furnished the central purpose of all classical arts in India . Shakti outlined the classical Indian aesthetic philosophy and its practice in the arts in terms of their relevance in the contemporary world, with a special emphasis on the connections between beauty and bliss – in the arts, and in other social and life systems. |
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Shakti shares the stage with other speakers: Dr Peter Malinowski (third from left), Dr Carol Craig, Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox and David Lorimer |
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With Matthew Fox: deep in discussion |
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˛ On April 21, 2009, Shakti spoke in London on Beauty: A Master Key for Sustainable Relationships, at a special event organized under the aegis of the Scientific and Medical Network and Resurgence magazine (www.resurgence.org). Satish Kumar, eminent Gandhian philosopher and editor of Resurgence, inaugurated the evening and introduced Shakti and his idea of beauty as a key sustaining principle of life to the audience. Shakti’s article on beauty, ‘A Master Key’, appeared in the March/April 2009 issue of Resurgence. Read it here. |
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˛ On April 27, 2009, Shakti gave a public talk in Glasgow, organized by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH), on the topic, Nested Relationships: Beauty, Aesthetics, Art and Happiness (BAAH!). A summary of this well-received talk is available on this page of the GCPH website. |
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Shakti speaks at the GCPH lecture, organized at the Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow |
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2009 ˛ February 21, 2009: Spoke on Insight Forms: Creating a Contemporary Spiritual Art Language at the International Festival of Sacred Arts, Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi 2008 ˛ July 21: Spoke on Buddhist Aesthetics and Contemporary Dharma Art at a spiritual centre at Sharpham Estate, UK. ˛ April 7: Gave a talk accompanied by a visual presentation on Buddhist Aesthetics and the Spiritual in Contemporary Art Practice at The Attic, New Delhi. 2007 ˛ February 21-22: Spoke on The Spiritual in Art: A Personal Exploration at a seminar on ‘Visualizing the Sacred: Fine Arts and the World Religious Traditions’ organized by the Centre for the Study of Comparative Religions and Civilizations, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. |