Yoga (Sanskrit, Pāli: योग yóga) is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India.[1][2] The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul.[3] The word is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.[4][5][6] Within Hindu philosophy, the word yoga is used to refer to one of the six orthodox (āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy.[7][8] Yog …

We’re a discussion group with a focus on rationality, philosophy, science, technology, skepticism and ethics. We choose members who are friendly, intellectually curious, intelligent, non-religious, and rationally-minded – meaning that we’re more interested in figuring out the truth together than in proving ourselves right, or in arguing for the sake of arguing. Our members are young, almost all in the range of 20 to 35 years old. Our meetings are usually informal group discussions at someone’s a …

This meetup is dedicated to doing close readings of philosophical works from the traditions of Classical Liberalism and Socialism. More specifically works on Communism (Marxism, Maoism, Leninism, etc.), Libertarian-Socialism/Anarchism (Anarcho-Communism, Anarcho-Syndicalism, Anarcho-Collectivism), and the works of liberal thinkers of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Examples of authors considered are: Smith, Locke, Hume, Mill, Humboldt, Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Marx, Bakunin, Chomsky, Bookchi …

It is not easy for the western mind—accustomed to its Spinoza, Schopenhauer, Sartre, Hegel, Nietzsche, and so on— to determine whether yoga is, or is not a philosophy. Yoga is philosophy, because there is no doubt that, with a deep love and great reverence for the Truth, the ancient seers developed one of the most extraordinary philosophies that mankind has ever known, But, at the same time, yoga is not a philosophy, in the sense that there are no topics for debate or discussion and no engagemen …

I like to watch documentary films. I am sure there are others who are like me in this regard! Therefore, this group is for people who love to see documentary films and discuss/share ideas. I don't know about you but the reason I like documentaries because they help me to connect the dots of my understanding. They help me to see, hear and read at the same time. Reading, traveling, writing etc. can serve similar purpose but watching well-made documentaries can be highly effective plus comparativel …

FOR SINGLES OVER 40!! MOVIE FREAKS!! INDIES, FOREIGN, COMMERCIAL, ALL KIND OF MOVIES !! WE WILL HAVE DINNER OR BRUNCH, SOMETIMES WEEKENDS, SOMETIMES AFTER WORK!!! ITS FREE!! PAY YOUR OWN WAY, MEET GREAT PEOPLE, SEE GREAT MOVIES AND WE WILL GO TO GREAT AFFORDABLE RESTAURANTS!! MAKE FRIENDS, NETWORK, MAYBE ROMANCE!! YOU NEVER KNOW.. ...WE WILL DISCUSS ALL KINDS OF SUBJECTS DURING OUR MEALS, FROM POLITICS, TO MOVIES, TO THEATRE, OUR LIVES...ANY SUBJECT IS OPEN!! OPEN THE DOOR AND SEE WHAT'S IN STOR …

Welcome to NYC Socrates Cafe! Socrates Cafe groups are held all over the world - all groups are similar in many ways, but each is also unique in its own way. The purpose of this group is to bring together people who enjoy discussing philosophical ideas in a roundtable setting. The group focuses on a new topic each month and all members have a chance to share their ideas. At Socrates Cafe, everyone is a teacher and everyone is a student - we all have brilliance to offer. Together we can contribut …

The daily lives of most of us are full of things that keep us busy and preoccupied with mundane concerns. We miss the sacred, so every now and then we find ourselves drawing-back and wondering what is it all about. And then. perhaps we may internally begin exploring perennial questions that we don't normally stop to examine. This can happen with regard to any aspect of our lives. This study group is deliberately designed for those among us who are curious, enthusiastic, non-judgemental, and wond …

A group of thinkers who want to get together to explore compelling works of literature, philosophy, history, etc. The books are chosen based on their merits as thought-provokers.

The Philosophy Forum is a discussion group for members of the LGBT community and SOFFAs (significant others, family, friends & allies). Over the course of more than a decade, we have discussed works from the canon of Western philosophy, texts of Asian philosophy, post-structuralist and contemporary philosophy, and non-philosophic texts — including literary texts — from the perspective of philosophy. We meet in Manhattan every second and fourth Saturday of the month from 4-6 p.m.

Are you intelligent, knowledgeable, an intellectual who thrives on stimulating conversation? Then you will likely enjoy this lively meetup, where we will discuss issues relevant to us all, from politics, philosophy, ethics, news, history, spirituality, relationships; the floor is wide-open to topics. We’ll pick a subject at the beginning of each meetup and discuss it over dinner at a reasonably-priced restaurant or café at a location in the west village or Chelsea. All ages are welcome, especial …

This group will meet one Sunday per month. Participants will discuss a philosophical issue/problem of their own selection at each meeting. No prior experience with philosophy is required. We will be a mix of people, most with no background in philosophy, some who have had some exposure to philosophy (such as those who majored in philosophy in college), and a few philosophy scholars (philosophy grad students and professors).

It's too hard to find people interested in esthetic philosophy. Even other artists and designers seem to shy away from the topic. Are we too busy, too few and far between or is it just intimidating to talk about? This group encourages super informal, totally mellow, open-minded and no-pressure conversations about Art & Design Theory and Aesthetic Philosophy! Anyone with an interest in these topics is welcome. All ages, levels of experience and educational backgrounds are welcome! This group wa …

What do Ghandi, John Lennon, Jesus Christ, and Bob Marley have in common? They all emphasize love as being the foundation of life. Are they talking intimate love or did romance somehow hijack the true nature of love? Everybody sings about it, talks about it, and writes about it - but what does love really mean and how can it help you live a better life and create a better world? This meetup is a philosophical exploration of the practical side of love - what does it mean to cultivate true love fo …

Philosophy and Our Lives is a NYC meetup that dwells in the tension between individual life that is lived for the first time, and civilization as a shared creation over generations. Can philosophy be of any value to our being in this world? We read and discuss the uniqueness of the present moment - the philosophy of our time - through the lens of thinkers such as Nietzsche, Camus, Sartre, Adorno, De Beauvoir, Benjamin, Kant, Kierkegaard, Spinoza, Husserl, Habermas, Levinas, Kafka, Althusser, Bub …

Meet other local fans of author Ayn Rand and her philosophy Objectivism—a philosophy of Reason, Purpose, and Self-Esteem that holds human life on this Earth as the standard of all values and your life as an end in itself instead of a means to the ends of others. You are invited, if you are a rational person who: values reason, integrity, independence, and productive work; holds that no one may initiate the use of force against others and a proper government is necessary to secure it; deals with …

This group's mission is to develop relationships based around discussion on topics of being and faith outside the church walls and provide a non-judgmental space for seekers who crave a community that is open to all faiths and questions... over beer. This will consists of biweekly meet-ups with a short reading and discussion in a tavern atmosphere, starting September 18, rotating from place-to-place in Hoboken. Readings will be short and manageably quick from multiple faiths and philosophical vi …

Truth is at best partial, at worst error. We are at best explorers, at worst believers. If we desire to fully grow we must keep exploring. . .  Welcome Explorers! (And curious believers too!) This is a group for exploring and testing each other's new ideas, and for the potential of creating even more together! As a starting point we'll discuss the possibility of: A natural morality based on our passion's values; A politics that roots out resentment so we can enjoy a unified diversity; And a cult …

Imagine… Hundreds of New Yorkers coming together in small groups of neighbors and fellow citizens to discuss topics of intensive interest… Hosted at no cost and at convenient locations and times… Aided by simple guiding principles… Inspired by the city’s grand tradition of robust conversation… Our vision is to inspire, organize, publicize, facilitate and celebrate a renaissance of healthy dialogue in New York City. Our Mission: 1. Encourage and support interesting and important conversations a …

Welcome! This group is for people interested in reading and discussing philosophy, theology, their intersections, and their divergences. This group is open to people with or without a background in philosophy or theology. Our general task is to attempt to understand interesting and challenging texts in the history of philosophy with an emphasis on key texts in the "Continental" canon. Our theological inquiries will primarily be concerned with finding ways in which these philosophical texts provi …

This is a group for anyone who enjoys or is interested in reading Paulo Coelho's books/blog and wants to discuss the many layers of insights and interpretations his writings have to offer. We will meet every month to talk about one of Coelho's writings, whether it be a book, book excerpt, or a blog entry. I started this group to gain fresh perspectives and epiphanies by engaging with other people who believe in the power of dreams, love, and self-discoveries via Coelho's writings. You are welcom …

This group will meet periodically as interesting events (museum exhibits, literary events, music, film, theater, etc) come up. The idea for this group is that participants will meet before the event, at a nearby cafe or diner, to get to know each other and then attend the event together. Occasionally, we may also go out afterward for coffee or a drink to have fun and discuss our ideas. RSVPs may be limited for some events. There will be a nominal charge (nonrefundable) for each event, primarily …

(1 minute video) This group is for people who value and enjoy deeper discussions with amazing people and who are also willing to rise to the occasion by joining us to help make these discussion opportunities an ongoing reality. The events held in this group are all about having fun nights of great people and 'deeper' discussions over dinner in a charming restaurant. This Meetup group was created by Glen Brauer as part of a non-profit global initiative using practical philosophy to bring togeth …

This group is for people who value and enjoy deeper discussions with amazing people and who are also willing to rise to the occasion by joining us to help make these discussion opportunities an ongoing reality. The purpose of this Meetup group is to build community through philosophy video chat sessions using Google Hangout. This Meetup group is also designed to bring together members in the Philosophy Dinners network of Meetup groups of which there are approximately 1300 members. Click here fo …

Everything about Music. We will meet once in two-three weeks to talk about music's pleasure, harmony, philosophy, and neuroscience. A special topic will be the visualization of melodic space. Music lovers, moviemakers, and computer virtuosos are welcome to discuss their ideas about music’s images. Wednesday 7PM

This meetup is for people who are enthusiastic about capitalism as a system. Libertarians, market-oriented Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are welcome. This is not a Tea-Party meetup. We do not support "starve the beast" as a political strategy, and feel that should significant tax cuts come, they should be after we have been running a budget surplus for years, sufficient to pay down the national debt to less than 70% of GDP. Tax increases should not be off the table. This meetup is abo …

A space for psychologists, psychotherapists, philosophers, and those interested in a non-medicalized approach to psychology to dialogue about RD Laing, the eminent Scottish psychiatrist whose ideas--love them or hate them--about treating patients as humans and respecting their individual experiences revolutionized psychiatry and psychology. We will meet to discuss various aspects of his work in a collegial atmosphere of food, drink, and fun, the kind of gathering one hopes Laing would have wante …

This group is meant for anyone who enjoys discussing political philosophy, especially the contrast between right-wing and left-wing values, and concepts such as liberty, Americanism, free markets, individualism, happiness, and "clarity over agreement." The meetups will have a somewhat structured agenda but will be fun and interesting. We ask that you have an open mind and be accepting of "idea diversity."