Archives: June 2013

A Splinter in the Mind – Exploring Hindu Wisdom in The Matrix: June 16, 2013

On June 16th we have a very special presentation from Gadadhara Pandit Dasa exploring the juxtaposition of ancient Hindu wisdom with the hollywood blockbuster, The Matrix. The 1999 sci-fi film explored existential topics such as: who am I? How did I get here? What is the purpose of my life? It also implored its audience to ask the question “am I awake or is everything around me a dream concocted by the mind?”

Arjuna, in the Hindu classic, the Bhagavad Gita, wrestles with these same questions and experiences a nervous break down right before he goes into the most important day of his life. Clips of the movie will be shown as we explore the relationship between this modern sci-fi classic and ancient wisdom and attempt to resolve these age-old questions.

A big thank you to New Work City for generously hosting the event.  If you haven’t been there, it’s one of the best co-working spaces in the city.  Please join us to blow your mind, meet awesome people, and share the love!

 

ABOUT PANDIT

Gadadhara Pandit Dasa (also known as Pandit) is a monk, lecturer and the first-ever Hindu chaplain for Columbia University and New York University. He speaks at the nation’s leading universities, yoga studios, and retreat centers, inspiring audiences with India’s spiritual wisdom. His unique approach combines teachings of the ancient classic, Bhagavad-Gita, with popular Hollywood movies such as “The Matrix.”

Pandit spoke at a recent TEDx conference at Columbia Univeristy and was featured in the NPR piece “Long Days and Short Nights of a Hindu Monk.” He appeared in the PBS Documentary on the Bhagavad Gita, as well as The New York Times. He is also a regular contributor for the Huffington Post.