Dr. John Vervaeke

Zevi Slavin, founder of Seekers of Unity and teacher of Jewish mysticism, explores Ibn Gabirol’s blend of Jewish thought and Neoplatonism. He discusses matter and form bound by divine desire. Conversation touches on poetry as seeing, prophecy as listening, the philosophical mediation between them, and the quest for a shared language bridging traditions.

Zevi Slavin, creator of Seekers of Unity who translates mysticism and Neoplatonism for modern life. They explore Ibn Gabirol’s bold idea that matter and form are drawn together by divine desire. Conversation ranges over Jewish and medieval thought, mystical practice, and whether unity requires sameness. Expect reflections on prayerable divinity, liturgy, and cross-traditional philosophical language.

Seth Allison, psychotherapist who blends IFS, Jungian thought and attachment work, shares his midlife pilgrimage. He talks about liminality, voluntary necessity, and how suffering can open space for trust. Conversations cover addiction and recovery as spiritual work, the role of community in transformation, and cultivating humility and relational depth in leadership.

John Vervaeke, a cognitive science and philosophy professor who studies meaning, wisdom, and transformative practices. He explores the “Underground Man” problem of endless abstraction and the reflectiveness gap. Short segments cover the imaginal as a bridge to lived meaning, dissociation versus volitional pivotal states, and prayer and ritual as re-centering practices that reconnect us to responsibility and compassion.

Mark Miller, philosopher and cognitive scientist at Monash, explores predictive processing and its links to happiness and wellbeing. He discusses how the brain predicts reality, belief formation, and how play, mindfulness, and virtue help update deep models. The conversation covers social narratives, depression, placebo effects, and practical training to open new evidence and cultivate joy.

Kevin Lu, Jungian psychoanalyst and scholar who studies myth and individuation. Anderson Todd, cognitive science lecturer blending Buddhism, philosophy, and transformative practice. They explore Jung’s relevance to cognitive science, numinous and religious experience, myth versus science, individuation as complexification, IFS and parts work, and risks of collective archetypes.

Mark Vernon, a writer and psychotherapist, dives into the spiritual and philosophical realms through Dante and Blake's works. He discusses the transformative power of pilgrimage, revealing how personal journeys shape perception. Mark elucidates Dante's layered narrative structure and the significance of Beatrice in guiding spiritual insights. The conversation touches on the imaginal realm and its connection to contemporary cognitive science, emphasizing the importance of imagination as a vital force in renewing our understanding of reality.

Thank you for joining us live for this month's Silk Road Seminar, featuring JP Marceau. JP Marceau is a philosopher and author specializing in the integration of Neoplatonism, Thomism, and Cognitive Science. With a Master's degree in the Philosophy of Mind, his work emerges from a personal and intellectual journey that moves from early materialism and reductionism toward a non-reductionist, participatory understanding of reality. His research focuses on bridging abstract philosophical frameworks with lived religious practice, particularly within a renewed vision of Christianity. He is the author of Post-Reductionist Christianity: A Path of the Meaning Crisis, where he uses the language of cognitive science to articulate and defend a Platonic vision of Christianity. JP is also a frequent collaborator with Jonathan Pageau and contributes to The Symbolic World through French-language content, helping extend symbolic and participatory approaches to meaning-making. In this seminar, JP explores the limitations of reductionism and materialism, offering an alternative framework grounded in relational ontology, symbolism, and participatory knowing. The conversation moves through topics such as the hard problem of consciousness, the role of myth and symbolism, the contrast between substance-based and relational metaphysics, and the integration of Eastern and Western Christian thought. At its core, the dialogue points toward a vision of reality rooted in love, transformation, and the co-participation of the human and the divine. Silk Road Seminars are live, hour-long conversations hosted by John Vervaeke, weaving together ideas from cognitive science, philosophy, psychology, and wisdom traditions. Each seminar is streamed live on YouTube and followed by an exclusive Q&A where participants can engage directly with John and the guest. To be entered onto the guest list for the live Q&A, sign up at the Gamma Tier (or above) on The Lectern: https://lectern.teachable.com/p/lectern-lounge University students (undergraduate through doctoral level) receive free access to the Q&A. Email proof of student status to: ethan@vervaekefoundation.org Students added to the guest list also receive access to previous Silk Road Seminars. If you'd like to support John's work through a goodwill donation, consider joining the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke John Vervaeke online: https://johnvervaeke.com/ https://twitter.com/drjohnvervaeke https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke

In this engaging conversation, Ethan Hsieh, an educator and creator of the TIAMAT framework, explores how virtue can be cultivated as an embodied practice in education. He discusses the three tiers of virtue—civic, purification, and illumination—and their importance in shaping selfhood and agency. The duo dives into the role of ritual and altered states in transformative learning, while emphasizing the significance of integrating experiences without idolizing faculties. Hsieh also highlights safeguards against cult dynamics, advocating for community-driven education.

Nicole Baden, a contemplative teacher and somatic practitioner, dives into the integration of Zen practice and modern psychological techniques. She discusses her Dharma Academy and how it adapts monastic practices for personal growth in the digital age. The conversation touches on the significance of embodied awareness, the limitations of objectivist science, and how relationships shape our perception. They explore the dialogical nature of Zen practice, highlighting community's transformative power and the pilgrimage of shifting perspectives.