{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/65aeff0ab5f0e200172e6f36/662d7ed13bcafa0012259bf6?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":" Classical Tantra & Abhinavagupta with Ben Williams","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/65aeff0ab5f0e200172e6f36/1714257584323-6fc11bbe05e01943694a8e9b878ab61a.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>In this episode, we speak with <a href=\"https://www.naropa.edu/profile/ben-williams/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Dr Ben Williams</a>, an intellectual historian specializing in Indian religions and Shaiva Tantra. His academic focus has primarily been on Abhinavagupta. He holds extensive training in Indian philosophy, literature, and aesthetics, and currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Hinduism at <a href=\"https://www.naropa.edu/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Naropa University</a> in Boulder, Colorado, where he also leads the newly launched MA in Yoga Studies. His doctoral thesis is on revelation and the figure of the tantric guru in Abhinavagupta's writings. Ben discusses his journey into this field, the distinction between a scholar-practitioner and&nbsp;a traditional scholar, and shares incredible insights into Kashmir Shaivism and Abhinavagupta’s teachings and texts.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Ben Williams' Patreon <a href=\"https://www.patreon.com/closereadings\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Close Readings</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>Discover a treasure trove of guided meditations, teachings, and courses at <a href=\"https://www.tantrailluminated.org/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tantrailluminated.org</a>.</p>","author_name":"Christopher Hareesh Wallis"}