Tag: talks

What Came Before the Big Bang? | Theory of Embedded Intelligence, Bill Mensch & Bernardo Kastrup

Could it be a coincidence that two founding fathers of modern day computing, independently from each other, are both coming with theories of consciousness that are idealist in nature? Or does a deep understanding of what computation is—and what it is not—inevitably lead away from physicalist ideas on consciousness? Previously Essentia Foundation presented the work of Federico Faggin, and now a legendary contemporary of his, computer engineer Bill Mensch, presents his Theory of Embedded Intelligence (TEI) to us. Mensch was a major contributor to the Motorola 6800 and became famous for his work on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU, a chip that, because of it’s efficiency, completely revolutionized computing in the 80’s. From Arcade halls to the Apple II and Nintendo 8 bit consoles, 6502s could be found everywhere. Even to this day the chip is still used in children’s toys and even in pacemakers and satellites. Looking back at his career, Mensch realizes that building computer chips is in essence a form of ‘embedding’ intelligence in technology, just as nature has embedded intelligence in biological systems, like humans. In his TEI model intelligence is fundamental. This raises the philosophical question of how consciousness relates to intelligence, and for this reason Bernardo Kastrup joined in on the conversation Mensch and Hans Busstra had. The value of a theory like Mensch’s is perhaps exactly that it is not philosophically fine-tuned to the terminology commonly used in philosophy of mind. By not taking the human mind and phenomenal consciousness as its departure point, but intelligence instead, Mensch arrives at a position in which the distinction between living beings and abiotic systems is less distinct. Mensch’s slides can be downloaded here: https://www.essentiafoundation.o…

Will AI produce a state of deep utopia? (w/ Nick Bostrom, Future of Humanity Institute)

In his new book “Deep Utopia: Life and Meaning in a Solved World,” philosopher Nick Bostrom ponders what life could be like in a “solved world” – a world where everything works and works better than if human hands got in the way. “What then?” asks Bostrom, is the reason to work? “Is it to earn extra income or because working is an intrinsically valued activity?” Bostrom is the head of the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford and a philosopher with a background in theoretical physics, computational neuroscience, logic, and artificial intelligence. He has been called the “Superintelligent Swede” because of the deep philosophical work he undertakes as he examines the trajectory of human life at the intersection of destruction and possibility. Bostrom says, “If artificial intelligence can be achieved, it would be an event of unparalleled consequence – perhaps even a rupture to the fabric of history” – a rupture, Bostrom says, “will change the course of human history but is it the end of human history?” We invited Nick Bostrom to join us for a Conversation That Matters about our flirtatious and tempestuous relationship with the evolution of intelligence.

Nipun Mehta – Who Must We Be?

”We need to move from transaction to relationship.” Nipun Mehta brings us on a transcendental journey to find our compassionate selves. Through the transforming story of his walking pilgrimage across India, Nipun kicks off by sharing his three key values: success, service and stillness. Further life snippets trigger us to ask ourselves fundamental questions such as “Where did you learn to be good?” or “Who must we be to walk towards futures we cannot imagine?” For one thing is certain, Nipun loves life and the humans that constitute it. He generously shares with the audience the guiding statements shaping his daily life, work and service, as they are all intertwined. By taking inspiration from figures of compassion and wisdom such as Mother Teresa, Gandhi or Desmond Tutu, he insists that creating a “we-to-we” community centred around our relationship to the other rather than the value involved in the transaction process will make us all more complete humans. As he concludes, “we are not merely what we do but we become who we are by what we do”. A true lesson of community, service and humility to help us navigate the unknown of tomorrow.

A Conversation Between Iain McGilchrist and David Bentley Hart

On the mind, the structure of the brain, the structure of life, the arts, perceptions of reality, the pervasiveness of consciousness… Scientist, physician, psychiatrist, writer, literary scholar, and philosopher Iain McGilchrist is as genial as his work is fascinating. As anyone familiar with his books could attest, this conversation no more than grazes the surface of his thought; but it was, to my mind, a rich and absorbing conversation nevertheless. He is, moreover, almost aggressively sane. https://davidbentleyhart.substac…

Doctor DISCOVERS How to ACCESS Science-Backed Psychic Abilities | Dean Radin Ph.D

Dean Radin is Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Science (IONS), Associated Distinguished Professor of Integral and Transpersonal Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), Honorary Distinguished Professor at the Swami Vivekananda University in Bangalore, India, and chairman of the board for the neurogenetics biotech company, Cognigenics Inc.

His early career track as a concert violinist shifted into science after earning a BSEE degree in electrical engineering (magna cum laude, with honors in physics) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and then an MS in electrical engineering and PhD in psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. For a decade he worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories and later at GTE Laboratories.

For nearly four decades, his research has focused on the nature and capacities of consciousness. Before joining the research staff at IONS in 2001, he held appointments at Princeton University, the University of Edinburgh, and SRI International, where he worked on a classified program investigating psychic espionage for the US government (now commonly known by one of the codewords: Star Gate).

Radin is the author or co-author of over 300 scientific, technical, and popular articles, four dozen book chapters, two technical books, and four popular books, including the Scientific and Medical Network’s 1997 book award, The Conscious Universe (HarperOne, 1997), Entangled Minds (Simon & Schuster, 2006), the 2014 Silver Nautilus Book Award, Supernormal (Random House, 2013), and Real Magic (Penguin Random House, 2018).

Entangled Minds, Supernormal and Real Magic are available as paperback, e-books, and audiobooks. These books have been translated so far into 15 foreign languages. His 130+ articles can be found in peer-reviewed journals ranging from Foundations of Physics and Physics Essays to Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Psychological Bulletin, Brain and Cognition, and Psychology of Consciousness.

He serves as a referee for 25 journals, including PLOS One, Frontiers in Bioscience, Integrative Cancer Therapies, Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, Physics Essays, and Psychology of Consciousness. He was featured in a New York Times Magazine article, and he has appeared on dozens of television programs around the world.

His 650+ interviews and talks have included presentations at Harvard (medical), Stanford (statistics), Princeton (psychology), Columbia (education), Cambridge (physics), Edinburgh (psychology), The Sorbonne (parapsychology), University of Padova (physics), University of British Columbia (parapsychology), and University of Allahabad (cognitive neuroscience,).

Nikola Tesla: “The Spirit of God is Not What You Think” (full explanation)

“The Frequency of GOD.” The full explanation of Nikola Tesla’s 369, the true nature of the Matrix and The Real da Vinci Code.”

Many thanks to Dr. Leonard Horowitz. Check out his work, you’ll be amazed – http://drlenhorowitz.com/

For more information about the topic of the video, read his book “The Real Da Vinci Code”

Alan Watts: INNER VOICE Lecture (Rare) | ORIGINAL FORM

Alan Watts lecture and philosophy, uninterrupted and no music added. Alan Wilson Watts (6 January 1915 – 16 November 1973) was a British-born American philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Eastern philosophy for a Western audience. Born in Chislehurst, England, he moved to the United States in 1938 and began Zen training in New York. Pursuing a career, he attended Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, where he received a master’s degree in theology. Watts became an Episcopal priest in 1945, then left the ministry in 1950 and moved to California, where he joined the faculty of the American Academy of Asian Studies.

Robert A.F. Thurman interview with Venerable Geshe Lhakdor la

Robert A.F. Thurman was a Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University, Co-founder and president of the Tibet House U.S., and President of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies, a non-profit affiliated with the Center for Buddhist Studies at Columbia University.

Thurman is known as a talented popularizer of the Buddha’s teachings. He is a riveting speaker and an author of many books on Tibet, Buddhism, art, politics and culture, including The Central Philosophy of Tibet, Circling the Sacred Mountain, Essential Tibetan Buddhism, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet, Why The Dalai Lama Matters: His Act of Truth as the Solution for China, Tibet, and the World, and, most recently, with Sharon Salzberg, Love Your Enemies.

He was awarded with the prestigious Padma Shri Award in 2020, for his help in recovering India’s ancient Buddhist heritage.

In October 2022, during his visit to Dharamshala to participate in the Mind and Life Conference he graciously accepted our request for an interview with Venerable Geshe Lhakdor la where he talked about how he met with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, got known about Tibetan Buddhism and his journey since then.

‘Understanding Pranayama : The 4th Anga’ by Sri M

Sri M – “Looking at the word Pranayama – Prana means life energy, energy that moves in our system. It includes oxygen, which is also energy and various other energies like digestive energy. It is also prana that helps us excrete. There are many pranas in our system like prana, apana, udana and samana. When you say Prana-yama, yama means rules. Therefore pranayama means rules and regulations regarding prana which does not necessarily means swasa….” This online session took place on 27th May 2020 in Madanapalle.

To know more about Sri M and his programs, please log on to : www.satsang-foundation.org About Sri M Born in India, Sri M is a spiritual guide, social reformer, educator and writer. He first met his Master at the age of nine under the jackfruit tree, in the compound of his house in Thiruvananthapuram in the Indian coastal state of Kerala.

The full account of his astonishing and amazing experiences are published in his memoir from 2011 titled “Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master – A Yogi’s Autobiography“, which became an instant bestseller. He has written a sequel to his autobiography, titled “Sri M – The journey continues”. He has written two more books – Shunya, his first novel and his latest one being – ‘On Meditation’, a book which answers questions on meditation.

Sri M has traveled the world fulfilling his life’s mission to teach and guide people as instructed by his Master, Maheswarnath Babaji. Over the years, Sri M’s mission as a spiritual guide, social reformer and educator have given rise to many initiatives including: – high-quality, multi-lingual education, free to rural children – Satsang Rural School – an unique and innovative approach to education. – Co-educational, residential school committed to providing in-depth exploration of knowledge. – Affordable, preventive and curative holistic health care

In 2015, Sri M went on a 16-month journey, Walk of Hope, from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, spanning 5000 miles across 11 states of India, to bring attention to humanity’s need for peace, harmony and tolerance.

Sri M says: “Go to the core. Theories are of no use.” His message seeks to transcend the outer-shell of all religions, by exploring their mystical essence and thus nurture the innate goodness in every human being.

To know more about Sri M and his programs, please log on to : www.satsang-foundation.org