Consumption to Contemplation: A Nondualistic Perspective

Talk & Discussion

In this 21st century, tremendous progress has been made in the development of zero-carbon technologies. And yet, we are struggling to decarbonize our societies and meet our global climate goals. Perhaps this should not surprise us; like many of our modern challenges, the climate crisis is in essence a spiritual crisis. To solve it necessitates a real shift in consciousness — from consumption to contemplation. Come join educator, engineer, and environmentalist Samrat Pathania to explore how eastern philosophy- the Upanishads in particular- can help us attain the inner balance that is necessary to end the upheaval in the external world.

Samrat Pathania, a former software engineer, currently teaches physics, environmental sci. and computer sci. at Wallkill High School in Wallkill, NY. He is a New York State Master Teacher Emeritus and co-founder of the non-profit Environmental Justice Forward. Samrat is the Project Manager for Science and Sustainability at the Mid-Hudson Teacher Center at SUNY New Paltz and is also a clean energy coach with New Yorkers for Clean Power.  He considers Swami Vivekananda’s teachings as the biggest spiritual influence during his formative years and has been studying Advaita Vedanta with India’s most followed Advaita teacher and social reformer—Acharya Prashant.