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The Absolute as sound and silence
In this short article I present some initial reflections on Hazrat Inayat Khan’s understanding of existence and God in connection to sound. I will first summarize Khan’s basic metaphysical premises, and then I will introduce the topic of the sawt-e-sarmad, the subtle universal sound, and the mystical techniques that use it as an object for concentration, meditation and contemplation. I will discuss these ideas critically…
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(Translation) Love according to André Comte-Sponville
A rendering of one entry in Comte-Sponville’s “Philosophical Dictionary”, yet untranslated into English
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The five-step process to kaivalya in the Yoga-Sūtra
On the process of attaining kaivalya through progressive subtilization akin to sāṃkhya
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(Writing sprout) An annotated history of yoga
In this post, I present a concise account of the history of yoga according to Georg Feuerstein, as well as some annotations that problematize or complicate it.
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Yajña: Continuities and change in the early Vedic period
The cultivation of tapas through concentrated thought and intention in the context of yajña would be no different to the fundamental human activity of casting off dogmatic beliefs and freeing oneself from the stagnation that comes with limited perspectives, allowing man to truly own his life at the root level
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(Writing sprout) Ṛg Veda: Five hymns to Indra
A general overview of Antonio de Nicolás’ approach to understanding the five Hymns to Indra (Ṛg Veda), as well as comparisons to the renderings of Griffith and Jamison/Brereton.
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(Writing sprout) Yoga: Feuerstein’s view and some points for further discussion
There is a deeply rooted human urge to find meaning in life, to transcend ordinary consciousness and connect to a larger Reality
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(Writing sprout) Abhidharma
The different senses of the word “Abhidharma”
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(Writing sprout) A short commentary on ‘Family Matters in Indian Buddhist Monasticism’
Clarke points out a “scholarly misperception” in the study of Indian Buddhism: the assumption that renunciation implied the severing of all family ties, an idea that explains the lack of interest in issues related to the families of Buddhist monks and nuns
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Silence, sound and meditation in some traditional Buddhist sources
Textual references to the possibility of perceiving sound or reverberation even in the absence of all conventionally identifiable auditory sensations, and their use as an object of meditation.
YOU ARE THE EYES OF THE WORLD
Nicolás Arias
Artist & Writer
Portafolio (español)
Bio – Español
Nicolás Arias, artista y escritor. Apasionado por la filosofía contemplativa asiática y las inquietudes éticas que despertó su inicial formación de abogado con maestría en Derecho penal. Luego de ejercer el derecho por varios años, sus intereses filosóficos lo llevaron a graduarse con honores como magíster en filosofía sánscrita y práctica contemplativa (Loyola Marymount University, Los Ángeles), seguido de una formación avanzada en Psicoterapia Contemplativa con Nalanda Institute (Nueva York). Ha enseñado hermenéutica y argumentación jurídica en la Universidad EAFIT, así como filosofía sánscrita y prácticas contemplativas asiáticas en la Universidad CES. Continúa estudiando la tradición tibetana de lógica y debate con Proyecto Despertar. Sus intereses se centran en el budismo indo-tibetano y las tradiciones tántricas asiáticas.
Paralelamente, Nicolás ha fortalecido su sensibilidad estética con una significativa formación en diversos medios artísticos: fotografía, cerámica, dibujo, pintura y grabado. Ha llevado a cabo estudios de fotografía en la academia Spéos (París y Londres), y en University of the Arts London (Londres); prácticas de fotograbado en Grafisk Eksperimentarium, (Copenhague); y de grabado tradicional en Atelier de Gravure 3113 (París). Continúa perfeccionado sus habilidades en dibujo y pintura bajo la dirección del maestro Hernán Marín, al igual que técnicas de grabado en el Taller de Grabado La Estampa, y medios audiovisuales en Corporación Nacional de Cine Casa del Sol. Su obra es un llamado a vivir con detenimiento, atención e intención.
Bio – English
Nicolás Arias, artist and writer. Passionate about Asian contemplative philosophy and the ethical concerns awakened by his initial training as a lawyer with a master’s degree in criminal law. After practicing law for several years, his philosophical interests led him to graduate with honors from a Master’s program in Sanskrit philosophy and contemplative practice (Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles), followed by advanced training in Contemplative Psychotherapy with the Nalanda Institute (New York). He has taught hermeneutics and legal argumentation at EAFIT University, as well as Sanskrit philosophy and Asian contemplative practices at CES University. He continues to study the Tibetan tradition of logic and debate with Proyecto Despertar. His main interests lie in the fields of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and Asian Tantric traditions.
In parallel, Nicolás has strengthened his aesthetic sensibility with significant training in various artistic media: photography, ceramics, drawing, painting and printmaking. He has studied photography at the Spéos Academy (Paris and London), and at the University of the Arts London; photogravure at Grafisk Eksperimentarium (Copenhagen); and traditional printmaking at Atelier de Gravure 3113 (Paris). He continues to hone his skills in drawing and painting under the guidance of visual artist Hernán Marín, as well as perfecting various artistic techniques at the printmaking studio La Estampa and Corporación Nacional de Cine Casa del Sol. His work is a call to living slowly, attentively and aligned with intention.
Curriculum Vitæ English – Español
Substack – poesía y ensayos en español
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