Lectern Live Launch Event — Reflections, Updates, and a Major Announcement

In 'Religion and Nothingness,' Keiji Nishitani explores the concept of nothingness (Śūnyatā or emptiness) and its relevance to contemporary life, particularly in the context of Western nihilism. The book challenges traditional Western ideas such as the dichotomy of faith and reason, the personal and transcendent notions of God, and the Judeo-Christian view of history. Nishitani argues that the acceptance of absolute nothingness can overcome the nihilism inherent in Western civilization. The work is a synthesis of Eastern and Western philosophical thought, drawing on Zen Buddhism and the ideas of philosophers like Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Heidegger.

In 'How Life Works', Philip Ball presents a new vision of biology, revealing life as a complex system of multiple levels—genes, proteins, cells, tissues, and body modules—each with its own rules and principles. The book explores how these levels interact and work together, leading to new possibilities in redesigning living systems and potentially regenerating limbs or creating new life forms.

Written for the lay reader, 'What Is Life? ' is based on a series of public lectures delivered by Erwin Schrödinger in 1943 at Trinity College, Dublin. The book addresses the fundamental question of how living organisms can be understood in terms of their molecular and atomic structure. Schrödinger discusses the stability of genes, the concept of 'negative entropy,' and how life maintains order despite the second law of thermodynamics. He also speculates on the role of mutations, the nature of consciousness, and the philosophical implications of his findings. The book had a significant impact on the development of modern biology, influencing scientists such as James D. Watson and Francis Crick in their discovery of the DNA structure.

"Mysticism, Christian and Buddhist" by D.T. Suzuki explores the parallels and divergences between Christian mysticism and Zen Buddhism. Suzuki examines the core tenets of both traditions, focusing on the nature of enlightenment, the role of intuition, and the experience of transcendence. He contrasts the Christian emphasis on divine grace with the Zen focus on self-realization through meditation and direct experience. The book delves into the writings of key figures in both traditions, such as Meister Eckhart and Zen masters, to illustrate the commonalities and differences in their mystical approaches. Ultimately, Suzuki seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the universal human quest for spiritual insight and union with the divine.