Thomas Legrand's "The Politics of Being" offers a profound reimagining of development paradigms, integrating wisdom traditions and scientific insights. The book challenges conventional economic models, advocating for a shift from a focus on material 'having' to a focus on spiritual 'being.' Legrand explores the interconnectedness of all beings and proposes actionable policies based on universal values. He argues that societal transformation requires a collective awakening and a conscious redesign of institutions. The book's central theme is the urgent need for a spiritual civilization to address global crises.
The Bhagavad Gita is a central text in Hinduism, embedded within the epic Mahabharata. It recounts a dialogue between the warrior-prince Arjuna and his charioteer, Krishna, who is an avatar of the god Vishnu. The text explores themes of dharma (duty), karma (action), and the path to spiritual enlightenment. Krishna advises Arjuna on the importance of performing his duties without attachment to the outcomes, emphasizing the concept of nishkama karma (nonattached action). The Gita synthesizes various strands of Indian religious thought, including Vedic concepts, samkhya yoga, and bhakti (devotion), providing a coherent vision of Hindu philosophy and spiritual practice[2][4][5].
Thomas Legrand is a wisdom’s seeker, a social scientist and sustainability practitioner.
He is the author of the internationally acclaimed book “Politics of Being. Wisdom and Science for a New Development Paradigm” (2022), an invitation to radically rethink our model of development, which received the Grand Prize of the Nautilus Book Award in 2024.
His spiritual journey began at the age of 23 with an encounter with native spirituality in Mexico, before embracing the wisdom of a wide range of traditions and practices, including meditation, energetic healing and Tai-chi-chuan. He lives with his wife and their two young daughters near Plum Village, the monastery of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in the South West of France, his country.
He is currently the Lead Technical Advisor for the UNDP-convened Conscious Food Systems Alliance.
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Summary and transcript of this interview.
Interview recorded November 9, 2024
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 Introduction to Thomas Legrand and His Work
00:03:27 Integrating Politics and Spirituality
00:07:32 Radical Restructuring for Humanity’s Survival
00:10:43 Prophecies of Transformation and Enlightenment
00:15:14 Exploring Spiritual Solutions for Society
00:19:22 The Necessity of Consciously Attending to Ethics in Spiritual Practice
00:23:51 Spirituality and Science Collaboration
00:27:12 The Influence of Sri Aurobindo’s Spiritual Work on Global Events
00:31:11 Spiritual Practices and Deep Forces
00:34:53 The Need for Spiritual Transformation
00:39:07 Theory X and Theory Y: Workplace Dynamics
00:43:34 Prisons as Factories of Stress and Recidivism
00:48:32 The Importance of Relationships in Happiness
00:52:40 The Impact of Collective Consciousness
00:56:18 Emerging Sciences for Happiness and Peace
01:00:30 Integrating Wisdom and Science for Unity
01:04:21 Healing Patterns on a Societal Level
01:09:00 Transformation Through Breakdown and Regrowth
01:12:06 Introducing the Concept of a Politics of Being
01:15:30 The Shift Back to Human Dimensions
01:20:37 Implementing Spiritual Solutions in Everyday Life
01:25:51 Economic Inequality as the Root of Social Issues
01:30:39 The Necessity of Change in Society
01:36:22 The Baha’i Vision and Progressive Revelation
01:39:03 Understanding the Soul of a Nation in a Globalized World
01:43:25 The Destiny of Unity and Diversity
01:48:08 Conversations on Conflict and Harmony in Israel
01:50:45 Healing Trauma as a Gateway
01:53:37 Presidential Apology and Indigenous Healing
01:56:00 Navigating Economic Growth and Conscious Transformation
02:00:23 Exploring Our Website Offerings
Buddha at the Gas Pump 