Aldous Huxley and mysticism for the masses

Aldous Huxley and mysticism for the masses

Talk

Jules Evans

Monday, March 18, 2019 - 19:00 to 20:30

Life

Inspiring

Alternatives says:

Explore the life and work of mystic Aldous Huxley

Description:

In this talk and group discussion, author Jules Evans will explore the life and work of Aldous Huxley, a mystic of Piccadilly (he converted to mysticism while living over the road from St James in Albany Street) and one of the most important influences on the growing demographic of ‘spiritual but not religious’.

We will discuss questions which Huxley asked, and which remain important today. What is the relationship between science and spirituality? Is a ‘mysticism for the masses’ possible, or is mysticism only for the spiritually adept? Is there a perennial philosophy that all the great mystics agree on? How does spirituality relate to politics?

Huxley insisted that humans have a ‘deep-seated urge to self-transcendence’, which can take toxic forms – alcoholism, addiction, the intoxication of nationalism and war, the mindless hedonism of Brave New World. But self-transcendence can also take healthier forms, which help humans heal, connect, and evolve into higher beings.

He championed what he called ‘integral education’ – an education that would work with all the levels of the human situation, from the ecological to the mystical. This vision was hugely influential on alternative education institutions like Esalen, the California Institute of Integral Studies, and Schumacher College.

His whole life, Huxley wondered what was the proper relationship between mysticism and politics. Should the mystic withdraw from politics altogether? Could a form of spiritual training be vital to global campaigns like pacifism? Could psychedelics transform society? We will consider these questions via the talk and audience discussions.

About the speaker, Jules Evans

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Jules Evans is an author, broadcaster and academic philosopher. He is a research fellow at the Centre for the History of the Emotions at Queen Mary, University of London, where he researches the history and philosophy of flourishing. He also organizes the London Philosophy Club, the largest philosophy club in the world. He is the author of Philosophy for Life and Other Dangerous Situations (2012) and The Art of Losing Control (2017). He blogs at www.philosophyforlife.org

Timetable:

18:30

Doors open

19:00

Talk commences

20:30

Book signing

Venue:

St James's Church

197 Piccadilly

London

W1J 9LL

United Kingdom

External links:

Jules Evans blog

Aldous Huxley and mysticism for the masses

Aldous Huxley and mysticism for the masses

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