Located at Weller Book Works.

Krishnan Venkatesh, professor of Eastern and Western philosophy at St. John’s College, will discuss the earliest recorded teachings of the Buddha. Together we’ll explore two central topics: Mindfulness and Craving. These ancient discourses reveal a “radical empiricism,” in which all opinions and dogmas are rigorously tested against our own direct experience. Even if we have no interest in becoming Buddhists, studying these discourses will make us more attentive to our own lives, more honest to ourselves, and clearer about our own thoughts and feelings. Venkatesh will take an approach that is at once psychological, philosophical, and literary. A Q&A and refreshments will follow. The lecture is free, open to the public, and made possible by a grant from Utah Humanities.

This event is organized by Books & Bridges — a community institute of ideas and conversation. Our mission is to facilitate discussion on the best of human thought. We explore the wisdoms of the world and apply them to modern life. We have no political, religious or ideological affiliation. In a society divided by uncivil discourse, the beauty of the humanities—novels, history, philosophy, poetry, ethics and epics—lifts us to our better angels. In our busy world we need space for friends and fellow learners to do a little more heart-to-heart and mind-to-mind.