Huston Smith to Speak at Global Programs Seminar
On August 26, 2009, Huston Smith, the renowned world religions scholar that Newsweek Magazine dubbed as "arguably the most important figure in the study of religion over the past five decades" was the keynote speaker at ITP's seminar entitled: Epistemologies of Heart and Intellect As Ways of Knowing. The seminar explored the diverse spiritual paths that all lead to the same end.
Holder of twelve honorary degrees, Smith's 14 books include The World's Religions, which has sold over 2 ½ million copies, and Why Religion Matters, which won the Wilbur Award for the best book on religion published in 2001. In 1996 Bill Moyers devoted a 5-part PBS Special, "The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith," to his life and work. Dr. Smith's film documentaries on Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Sufism have all won International awards, and The Journal of Ethnomusicology lauded his discovery of Tibetan multiphonic chanting, Music of Tibet, as "an important landmark in the study of music."
Huston Smith is a Thomas J. Watson Professor of Religion and Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus, Syracuse University. For fifteen years he was Professor of Philosophy at M.I.T. and for a decade before that he taught at Washington University in St. Louis. Most recently Dr. Smith has served as Visiting Professor of Religious Studies, University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Smith has been a long-time supporter of the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, saying that, "psychology today outside of ITP is mundane. It is all on a beginning level."
Between 100 and 150 students, many of whom originate from diverse cultural and spiritual traditions from around the world, attended the seminar in Los Gatos, CA. In addition to Huston Smith, special guests included Judy Grahn, Ph.D., internationally known poet, writer, and social theorist.
Serving graduate students from around the world in its Global Online Programs, ITP's seminars are also open to the public, with half-day passes (including lunch) for $50.00. Further details can be found on the seminar here. For more information about ITP's global programs, please contact Admissions at global.admissions@itp.edu or 650-493-4430, ext. 240.
