Process Pop-Up: Hinduism, Ever-Evolving
How might process thought and Hindu traditions be in relationship?
In his video, “Evolution and Vedanta,” Swami Padmanabha talks about God or Love as the ultimate supreme reality, and how God along with all realities is dynamic, ever-evolving, and growing. Reality is not made up of fixed, changeless substances; rather, it is marked by what he calls “deep evolution” – a sacred evolution at the very depths of reality.
In this conversation, Dr. Jeffery Long, a practitioner and theologian in the Vedanta tradition of Sri Ramakrishna as well as a scholar of process philosophy and Asian studies, and Swami Padmanabha, a leader and teacher in the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism, will share their thoughts on resonances between their two Hindu traditions and process thought.
They’ll explore such areas as:
- The dynamic nature of God and reality
- Texts and tradition as “ever fresh,” especially in Vaishnava traditions and the tradition of Sri Ramakrishna
- Human purpose, consciousness, and “radical personalism”
- Astonishment and surrender; divine will, human choice, and grace
Quotes
“Far from being opposed, love and non-duality are two sides of the same coin. When you have one, you have the other.”
Jeffery Long, Ph.D.
“If divine love is a force of constant expansion, it must surely affect the Divine, who is love personified. A God affected by ever-evolving love becomes equally ever-evolving, inviting us to an ongoing, never-ending journey of progress and development.”
“We are to keep pace with an ever-evolving reality that we are part of, with an ever-evolving God we are tied to, and thereby with an ever-evolving tradition to which these very principles are revealed to us.”
Swami Padmanabha
About the Speakers
Swami Padmanabha
At an early age, Swami Padmanabha delved deeply into the theology of diverse mystical traditions. After taking up Gaudiya Vaishnavism in 1999 at the age of 19, he has dedicated himself to an extensive study of the Gaudiya scriptures under the guidance of his various mentors. Fluent in English and Spanish, Swami has written hundreds of articles in both languages, with his first two books published in English and in the process of being translated to other languages. For the past twenty years, he has traveled around the world and lectured in universities, ashrams, and yoga studios. All of his numerous talks and seminars are available online for free at swamipadmanabha.com. As a leader of spiritual retreats and communities, he inspires both practitioners and visitors with his penetrating teachings and personal example.
Jeffery D. Long, Ph.D.
Jeffery D. Long, Ph.D., Professor of Religion, Philosophy, and Asian Studies for Elizabethtown College, specializes in the religions and philosophies of India. He is the author of several books and numerous articles and editor of the series Explorations in Indic Traditions for Lexington Books. In 2022, his book Hinduism in America: A Convergence of Worlds received the Rajinder and Jyoti Gandhi Award for Excellence in Theology, Philosophy, and Critical Engagement. He has spoken in numerous venues, both national and international, including three talks at the United Nations, and he has been interviewed for a PBS documentary on the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda and for the History Channel series Holy Marvels.
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