Description
Fifteenth century Bengali mystic Chaitanya embraced an ontology of acintya bhedabheda, i.e., the idea of the nature of reality as inconceivably one and different. Thus, the popular adage ‘All-is-One’ holds true, but so does (the experience of) pluralism and separateness. Acintya, in this regard, can be translated as ‘unthinkable,’ as it is near impossible for the human mind to grasp how this duality of oneness versus difference is to be harmonized. Usually it comes down to denying or prioritizing one over the other. ‘Grasping’ and ‘thinking,’ however, are not synonymous with ‘experiencing.’ Experiencing is done with mind and body. Denial, objectification or taken-for-grantedness of our human embodiment are common traps in our quests for (spiritual) growth. Not paying proper attention to our human embodiment and the many meanings inherent to experiencing reality through our bodies, I contend, can arrest growth and development. By learning to feel our embodied feelings, as they are, the inconceivable can be experienced. As a first-century mystic once said: ‘The Kingdom of God lives in our hearts.’| Period | 2 Jan 2023 → 3 Jan 2023 |
|---|---|
| Event title | International Conference on Morality, Spirituality, Culture and Society: East and West |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Kolkata, IndiaShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |