Evolutionary Spirituality: Evolutionary Perennialism

Episode VIII

8am PDT • 9am MDT • 11am EDT • 4pm UK • 5pm CET
8:30pm IST

Episode VIII

In the spirit of dynamic exploration and collective inquiry, Andrew Cohen is set to engage in another compelling dialogue with Marc Gafni, a fellow philosopher and teacher, who shares a deep interest in the intersections of evolutionary theory and spiritual practice. Together, they will delve into the nuances of "evolutionary perennialism," discussing its implications for personal growth and societal transformation. This conversation aims to bridge ancient wisdom with modern insights, providing a platform for both thinkers to explore how evolutionary forces can be understood and harnessed within the context of spiritual enlightenment. Their dialogue will offer participants a rare opportunity to witness a synthesis of ideas that could redefine the path to spiritual understanding in an evolving world, encouraging a more profound engagement with the mysteries of existence and our role within them.

In this exploration of "evolutionary perennialism," we delve deeply into the confluence of timeless spiritual truths and the dynamic, unfolding process of evolution. Andrew Cohen perceives this synthesis as a crucial framework for understanding the spiritual journey in the contemporary era—an era marked by rapid change and an increasing awareness of the evolutionary currents that shape our consciousness and culture.

In Cohen’s view, evolutionary perennialism represents a spiritual paradigm where the perennial wisdom—those ancient, enduring truths found at the heart of the world’s great religious traditions—is not seen as a static legacy, but rather as a living, breathing wisdom that evolves and adapts over time. This wisdom, according to Cohen, transcends historical and cultural boundaries, offering a universal path to enlightenment that is deeply relevant to the modern seeker.

Cohen often emphasises that the core of perennial wisdom involves the recognition of the inherent unity of all existence. Yet, he innovates upon this traditional understanding by integrating the concept of evolution, suggesting that this unity is not a fixed point but a continual unfolding. He argues that spiritual awakening is not merely the realisation of timeless truths, but also an active participation in the evolutionary process—a commitment to the growth and development of consciousness itself.

Through the lens of evolutionary perennialism, Gafni and Cohen invite the audience to see themselves as both heirs and pioneers—carriers of ancient wisdom who are also contributors to the emergent realities of spirituality. This perspective calls for a radical responsibility: to live with the recognition of one’s place within the vast, interdependent web of life and to act with intentionality toward the evolution of consciousness, community, and the cosmos itself.

Thus evolutionary perennialism is not only a path to personal enlightenment but a call to a collective awakening, urging us to co-create a future that honours and transcends our spiritual heritage.

In their first dialogue, Marc Gafni and Andrew Cohen will share and explore their deepest insights into the ultimate mystery that lies beyond life and death.

From the deepest metaphysical perspective, what is the distinction between life and death?
Is life the manifestation of an eternal metaphysical source, or is it merely the extraordinary emergence of a fundamentally material process?
How do our conscious and unconscious convictions about the ultimate source of the evolving universe affect our moral and philosophical relationship to living and dying?
Is consciousness part of an unbroken developmental continuity in the cosmos, or merely an emergent epiphenomena of matter?
Is death the absolute end of what was, or a transition that is part of an infinite unfolding?
Is the nature of death a question of belief, or do we have real data to support our understanding of it? If there is data, then what is it and where do we find it?
Do we have a more enlightened relationship to death in the 21st century, or can the great wisdom traditions still illuminate our understanding?
Is the fear of death an experience to be transcended, embraced or both? Is living forever a wish that we would want fulfilled?
What are the political, social and economic implications of our relationship to death?

About Evolutionary Spirituality

Arguably our most significant interpretive framework for the nature of reality is the modern scientific discovery that the world and the universe are not, as the ancients believed, static or cyclical. The universe, and everything in it, is evolving.

Cosmic and biological evolution are foundational truths of existence, and the implications are profound and multi-dimensional, extending outwards in every direction. In the 21st century, the context for any path or practice of enlightenment must surely embrace this knowledge and perspective. It is perhaps the most important shift in our understanding of enlightenment in the 2500 years since the Buddha first attained it.

Andrew Cohen and Dr. Marc Gafni are pioneers in the field of evolutionary spirituality, each with their own unique perspective on this newly emergent tradition. They share a strong foundation in an evolutionary approach to spiritual awakening, while emphasising distinctly different but intersecting dimensions of the path and practice.

Both Marc and Andrew have produced pioneering bodies of work in this field, and formulated many of its core tenets. Their teachings uphold and demystify the foundational principles of traditional, modern and postmodern wisdom streams, weaving them together into an integral whole, and ultimately pointing toward a new evolutionary mysticism – what might even be considered a “religion of tomorrow”.

The aim of these dialogues is to celebrate the creative and dynamic evolutionary tension between these two perspectives – to catalyse awakening to higher states and stages of consciousness, giving rise to liberating insights and life-affirming perspectives in a unique tapestry of coherence and meaning, and an inspiring example of emergent spirituality in action.