Dr. John Vervaeke

Thank you for joining us LIVE for our monthly Silk Road Seminar! Today's guest is Khalil Andani, an Assistant Professor of Religion at Augustana College whose research focuses on Islamic philosophy, Ismaili thought, Sufism, and Qur'anic studies. Khalil is especially known for his work on esoteric hermeneutics and mystical cognition in the Islamic intellectual tradition. Silk Road Seminars are a li...

Welcome to a special installment of the Lectern Q&A! This month's theme is Love as a Virtue and Existential Stance . This session dives into the nature of love—not just as a feeling, but as a participatory, person-making virtue that binds us to reality and each other. Joining John and Ethan is Ellie, who brings both a deeply reflective presence and insightful contributions to this exploration. Lec...

If you find yourself torn between rationality and spirituality, science and mysticism, facts and belief; The Lectern's inaugural 8-week course will offer you a new lens through which to reflect on these dilemmas. Click here to enroll: https://lectern.teachable.com/p/einstein-and-spinoza-s-god1 "What does it really mean to be authentic, and can this virtue be meaningfully understood and measured ac...

Thanks for joining The Lectern Live Become a member at Gamma Tier and above to join the Live Q&A portion of this seminar. Join the Lectern here: https://lectern.teachable.com/p/lecte...

As AI continues to advance and integrate into our daily lives, can it truly be designed to align with our deepest human values and moral principles? If so, how can we ensure that AI not only understands but also respects and promotes our ethical frameworks, without compromising our privacy or hindering our personal growth and autonomy?  John Vervaeke, Christopher Mastropietro, and Jordan Hall emba...

What if the deepest truth of reality lies not in substances or isolated things, but in the pure relationality that connects everything? John Vervaeke is joined by renowned scholar Douglas Hedley to explore James Filler's groundbreaking work "Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being." John and Douglas examine the profound implications of viewing ultimate reality as fundamentally relational...

Thanks for joining The Lectern Live Become a member at Gamma Tier and above to join the Live Q&A portion of this seminar. Join the Lectern here: https://lectern.teachable.com/p/lecte...

Join John Vervaeke, Guy Sengstock, and Kyle Koch as they invite you to a transformative retreat designed to help you reconnect to the real—deepening your connection to yourself, others, and the world around you. They explore the philosophical, spiritual, and psychological concepts behind the retreat and how these ideas will be integrated into the activities. Guy introduces his 'circling approach,'...

  What is the true nature of contemplation, and how does it intertwine with our understanding of reality? John Vervaeke is joined by Mateusz Stróżyński to discuss his masterful work, Plotinus and the Contemplation of the Intelligible World. They explore the deep and often overlooked wisdom of Plotinus, one of history's greatest thinkers. Together, they dive into the connection between thought and...

"How does the concept of a 'limited God' differ from traditional theistic views, and what implications does this have for understanding the purpose of the universe and human existence?" John Vervaeke is joined by Phillip Goff to discuss his influential book, Why? The Purpose of the Universe, and his unique perspective on panpsychism. The duo discuss the intricate philosophical questions concerning...

Thanks for joining The Lectern Live Become a member at Gamma Tier and above to join the Live Q&A portion of this seminar. Join the Lectern here: https://lectern.teachable.com/p/lecte...

Question - "How does Jhana meditation simplify experience to facilitate insight and cognitive flexibility?" John Vervaeke is joined by Mark Miller, Rick Repetti, to explore the intersection of predictive processing, relevance realization, and embodied cognition in contemplative practices. They introduce PhD candidate Jonas Mago, who discusses his research on Jhana meditation and its impact on cogn...

John Vervaeke engages in a profound discussion with James Filler, author of 'Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being'. They examine the core arguments of Jame's book, which emphasizes relationality as more fundamental than individual existence in understanding reality. The conversation explores Neoplatonism, Heidegger's philosophy, and the convergence of these ideas with contemporary phy...

John Vervaeke and Evan Thompson continue the exploration of life, cognition, and consciousness, drawing from interdisciplinary collaboration and philosophical discourse. The discussion challenges reductionist perspectives in biology, examines organisms as autonomous agents, and questions the adequacy of current models to explain life's complexities. Consciousness is explored through presence and e...

In this episode, John Vervaeke and Harvard professor Charles Stang explore the concept of the 'daimon'', stemming from Stang's book Our Divine Double. John and Charles discuss semi-autonomous entities in psychological and philosophical contexts, linking ancient wisdom and modern cognitive science. Key topics include Socratic 'daimonion', Platonic thought, phenomenology of visionary encounters, and...

In this presentation delivered at the "Metaphysics and the Matter with Things: Thinking with Iain McGilchrist" conference—a collaborative event by the Center for Process Studies (CPS) and the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in March 2024—John Vervaeke explores the concept of "mattering" and its critical role in understanding the meaning of life. He contrasts "meaning in life" with...

Kasra Mirzaie is a clinical researcher, psychotherapist, and university teacher. His work focuses on adolescents, examining the intersection of psychotherapy, dynamical systems theory, and the meaning crisis. Kasra is dedicated to exploring how self-organizing criticality and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can drive transformation and personal growth in young people. Dr Robin Barre has over...

  Can we find meaning in a world without religion?   In this episode first released on Dissident Dialogues, Freddie Sayers hosts John Vervaeke and Alex O'Connor, formerly known as Cosmic Skeptic, to explore the deep question of meaning in an increasingly secular world. They discuss the historical role of religion in providing purpose and narrative, the modern challenges of finding meaning, and the...

Nicholas Janni is a pioneer in executive development, having co-founded Olivier Mythodrama Associates, where he created leadership programs based on Shakespearean stories. He continues to work globally with leaders and organizations through his consultancy, Core Presence, and his innovative 'Leader as Healer' program, which promotes integrated, conscious leadership. How can the ancient practices o...

Brendan Graham Dempsey is the director of Sky Meadow Institute and the author of the Metamodern Spirituality Series. He explores the evolution of spirituality and the integration of science and religion in contemporary culture. To learn more about his latest book release, "A Universal Learning Process," which is the first volume in his series "The Evolution of Meaning," please visit this link .  ...

Have we confined the true essence of sainthood within too narrow a boundary? In this episode of 'Voices with Vervaeke,' John Vervaeke welcomes Christopher Mastropeitro and Andrew Sweeny for a discussion that delves into the philosophical and spiritual dimensions of their innovative project, the Philosophical Silk Road. Together, they challenge contemporary notions of sainthood and wisdom, drawing...

Kasra Mirzaie is a clinical researcher, psychotherapist, and university teacher. His work focuses on adolescents, exploring the interplay between psychotherapy, spirituality, and self-deception. Can understanding all parts of ourselves sometimes lead us away from the truth? In this episode of "Voices with Vervaeke," John Vervaeke continues to explore Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy with gues...

Paul Vander Klay is a minister at Living Stones CRC in Sacramento, CA, known for his engaging online discussions on faith and thoughtful community engagement. How can the convergence of ancient spiritual practices and modern cognitive science redefine our understanding of identity and collective wisdom? In this episode of "Voices with Vervaeke," John Vervaeke and Paul Vander Klay explore the inter...

Thomas Jockin is a Fellow at the Halkyon Guild and the Founder of TypeThursday. He has taught at Pratt Institute, FIT (SUNY), Queens College (CUNY), and City College of New York (CUNY). Sign Up for Thomas Jockin's Course: Plato on Beauty and Virtue | Halkyon Academy   Can re-engaging with classical ideals of beauty help us address the meaning crisis? In this episode of "Voices with Vervaeke," John...

Marc Lewis is a neuroscientist and former professor of developmental psychology, who taught at the University of Toronto and Radboud University. He is the author of numerous journal publications and books, including Memoirs of an Addicted Brain and The Biology of Desire. How can understanding our internal parts lead to emotional healing and personal growth? In this episode of "Voices with Vervaeke...