PhilosophyEAST

Emily Herring in conversation with Maitreyabandhu about the remarkable life and work of the French philosopher Henri Bergson (1859 -1941). Emily discusses her new book, Herald of a Restless World: How Henri Bergson Brought Philosophy to the People, exploring Bergson’s life and work.

Andrew Pickering is an international leader in the field of science and technology studies. His book, The Cybernetic Brain: Sketches of Another Future (2010) analyses cybernetics as a distinctive form of life spanning brain science, psychiatry, robotics, the theory of complex systems, management, politics, the arts, education, and spirituality. He argues that cybernetics offers a promising alternative to currently hegemonic cultural formations. His latest book, Acting with the World: Agency in the Anthropocene (2025), extends the cybernetic analysis to our relations with nature and the environment. Here Professor Pickering discusses with Maitreyabandhu about what he calls 'the dance of agency', a new paradigm in which we learn to act with the world rather than on it. As he writes, 'The world can always surprise us. No one knows in advance how it will respond to our actions... Dances of agency take shape in real time.' Introducing PhilosophyEAST ‍ The exploration of ‘views’ ( drishti in Sanskrit) has always been an essential part of the Buddhist tradition. PhilosophyEAST is a series of events exploring ideas and views that have a bearing on the dharma-life. Whilst not all the views of our guests necessarily express Buddhist values, our intention is to explore where contemporary thought and ideas have some degree of coincidence with the Buddhist vision. ‍

Matthew David Segall is a contemporary American philosopher working in the tradition of process-relational philosophy. He describes himself as a “process philosopher” and transdisciplinary researcher, reflecting his commitment to bridging multiple fields​. Segall’s work builds on the metaphysical framework of Alfred North Whitehead, extending Whitehead’s philosophy of organism into new domains of science, religion, and ecology.

The exploration of ‘views’ (drishti in Sanskrit) has always been an essential part of the Buddhist tradition. PhilosophyEAST is a series of events exploring ideas and views that have a bearing on the dharma-life. Whilst not all the views of our guests necessarily express Buddhist values, our intention is to explore where contemporary thought and ideas have some degree of coincidence with the Buddhist vision.

Gary Lachman in conversation with Maitreyabandhu about his work on the evolution of consciousness and the history of the occult, focusing on experiences of precognition explored in his recent book Dreaming Ahead of Time . Lachman has written biographies of Aleister Crowley, Rudolf Steiner, C. G. Jung, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, and Colin Wilson, as well as histories of Hermeticism and the Western Inner Tradition. As Gary Valentine he was a founding member of the pop group Blondie, and in 2006 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . Lachman was born in New Jersey, but since 1996 has lived in London, UK.

Rupert Sheldrake, biologist and author best known for his hypothesis of morphic resonance, joins PhilosophyEAST to discuss the dogmas of modern science, the true nature of consciousness and the limits of materialism.

Maitreyabandhu interviews Patrick Ophuls, the acclaimed political scientist, ecologist and author, to discuss the pressing themes about the future of civilisation. Together, they explore Ophuls' insights into humanity's ecological and social challenges, examining the spiritual and practical dimensions of navigating an age of global uncertainty.

In this talk, Maitreyabandhu discusses the central question of the nature of mind project: What is the Nature of Mind? https://natureofmind.net/ Join us in exploring these questions on Buddhism & The Big Questions Retreat https://adhisthana.org/retreat-calend.. .

In this talk, Maitreyabandhu discusses one of the big questions that has emerged from our explorations on the Nature of Mind project - what happens when we die? https://natureofmind.net/ Join us in exploring these questions on Buddhism & The Big Questions Retreat https://adhisthana.org/retreat-calend.. .

In this talk, Maitreyabandhu discusses one of the big questions that has emerged from our explorations on the Nature of Mind project - what is rebirth, and what are the implications of this view on how we practically live out our lives? https://natureofmind.net/ Join us in exploring these questions on Buddhism & The Big Questions Retreat https://adhisthana.org/retreat-calend.. . SHOW LESS

In this talk, Maitreyabandhu discusses one of the big questions that has emerged from our explorations on the Nature of Mind project - what is often called the 'hard problem of consciousness'. Does consciousness produce the brain, or is it the other way around? And what are the implications of each of these views for the way that we live our lives? https://natureofmind.net/ Join us in exploring these questions on Buddhism & The Big Questions Retreat https://adhisthana.org/retreat-calend... SHOW LESS

Exploring how to develop a focused mind, Amalavajra interviews Amishi Jha -- a professor of psychology at the University of Miami. Drawing on cognitive neuroscience, Jha's research on attention, working memory, and mindfulness has explored the neural bases of executive functioning and mental training.

In the second interview with Iain McGilchrist, we continue to explore the idea that the mind can only be understood in the broadest possible context -- from our physical and spiritual existence, the wider human culture, and how these shape each other. Listen to Iain in conversation with Maitreyabandhu. Iain McGilchrist is a psychiatrist, writer, and literary scholar. McGilchrist came to prominence after the publication of his book The Master and His Emissary, subtitled The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World.

In the first interview with Iain McGilchrist, we explore the idea that the mind can only be understood in the broadest possible context -- from our embodied existence, the wider human culture, and how these shape and mould each other. Listen to Iain in conversation with Jnanavaca. Iain McGilchrist is a psychiatrist, writer, and literary scholar. McGilchrist came to prominence after the publication of his book The Master and His Emissary, subtitled The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World.

After her son at age 5 shared memories of being a soldier in a previous life, Carol Bowman became fascinated with the topic of children's memories of past lives. This sparked a career researching the mystery of death and past life memories. In this conversation with Vajratara, Carol shares new perspectives on how our personality may be shaped by past lives, how consciousness may continuee after death, and the healing potential of processing memories and trauma from past lives. Carol Bowman, M.S. is an internationally known author, lecturer, counselor, past life regression therapist, and pioneer in reincarnation studies.

As the founder of compassion-focused therapy (CFT), Paul Gilbert brings a fresh perspective on compassion as a source of courage and wisdom to address suffering. In this conversation with Maitreyabandhu, they explore how humans are designed to thrive on kindness, and what this means in today's world. Paul Gilbert is a British clinical psychologist and author of several books on the topic. He is currently a Professor at the University of Derby. In 2011 Gilbert was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his continued contribution to mental healthcare.

"Reality is essential mental" begins Bernardo Kastrup in this rich interview about analytical idealism. Talking to Viryadeva, they discuss perception, metaphysical materialism, and different modes of subjectivity -- explaining these concepts along the way. Bernardo Kastrup has a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, specialising in artificial intelligence and reconfigurable computing. He has worked as a scientist in some of the world’s foremost research laboratories, including the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the Philips Research Laboratories. Bernardo latest books are: More Than Allegory, Brief Peeks Beyond, and Why Materialism Is Baloney.

As a nurse for over 20 years, Penny Sartori kept seeing her patients have similar experiences as they were approaching death. Fascinated by these encounters, she became interested in what happens when we die. In this conversation with Maitreyabandhu, Penny shares insights from her research into near-death experiences, with profound implications for the way we view life, death, and consciousness.