Tag: Philosophy
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Reading al-Biruni’s ‘Kitab al Hind’ as Phenomenology of Religion
by Saad Ismail *A paper originally presented at the Department of Islamic Studies, Aligarh Muslim University in January 2024. 1. Introduction: “I have found it very hard to work my way into the subject, although I have a great liking for it, in which respect I stand quite alone in my time.” al-Biruni Abu Rayhan…
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What al-Biruni Can Teach Us About Hindu-Muslim Dialogue Today
by Saad Ismail “I have found it very hard to work my way into the subject, although I have a great liking for it, in which respect I stand quite alone in my time.” Al Biruni Abu Rayhan al-Biruni’s precocious and magisterial study al-Hind (India) was undoubtedly far ahead of its times. Exactly one millennium…
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The Gita Commentaries of Shankara and Ramanuja on God and Being
The Gita is a central text in Hindu traditions, and commentaries on it express a range of philosophical-theological positions. Two of the most significant commentaries are by Sankara, the founder of the Advaita or Non-Dualist system of Vedic thought and by Ramanuja, the founder of the Visistadvaita or Qualified Non-Dualist system. Their commentaries offer rich…
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Batman and Hindu-Muslim Dialogue
The Manbat from the DC Comics is a scientist-turned super-villain who has concocted a serum that turns him into a giant bat with super-human strength and hearing. But when the zoologist is under the effect of the serum, his IQ falls precipitously and he turns into a creature of pure instinct. However, there are occasional…
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Time and Transcendence
Drawing on the insights of both ancient and contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers, Oliver Burkeman delivers an entertaining, humorous, practical, and ultimately profound guide to time and time management. Rejecting the futile modern fixation on “getting everything done,” Four Thousand Weeks introduces readers to tools for constructing a meaningful life by embracing finitude, showing…
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The Quran and the Secular Mind
The discussion begins with remarks about the question of the sources for such a history, it then situates the life of the prophet in the context of late antiquity and the contemporaneous ‘world war’ between Rome and Persia. Quranic allusions to these geopolitics are highlighted, followed by an illuminating discussion on the original meaning of…
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The Wisdom of Failure
The discussion begins with remarks about the question of the sources for such a history, it then situates the life of the prophet in the context of late antiquity and the contemporaneous ‘world war’ between Rome and Persia. Quranic allusions to these geopolitics are highlighted, followed by an illuminating discussion on the original meaning of…
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The Mystery of Consiousness
Philosopher & Physician Raymond Tallis in conversation with Saad Ismail on the intellectual diseases of ‘Neuromania’ and ‘Darwinitis’, on the insufficiency of naturalism in explaining consiousness, on humanism & anti-humanists, on God & transcendence, on the soul & afterlife, and on straddling multiple intellectual identities.
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The Advaita Worldview and its Modern Trajectories
Professor Anantanand Rambachan joins Dr. Saad Ismail in a deep dive into the professor’s brilliant book The Advaita Worldview: God, World, and Humanity. The discussion covers the limited nature of various human quests and the consequent human need for the Infinite. The role of scripture in furnishing knowledge of one’s deepest Self/Atman, which as Brahman…
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