Raimon Panikkar (1918-2010)

It has been more than a year since the great Raimon Panikkar passed away, and that he is dearly missed, not alone by me but by many the world all over, is clearly visible through the myriad of testimonials on the Internet (see a/o Rearranging the Geometry of Heaven, taken from the superb music blog On an Overgrown Path). Those of you who have had a chance to participate in one or more of my workshops and trainings are of course familiar with the intellectual legacy of this Indo-Catalan maestro –  but did you also tell your friends about the greatness of Panikkar as a godfather of intercultural community building?

Raimundo Paniker Alemany was born November 3 1918 from a Roman Catholic Indian father (a Nair from Kerala) and a Catalan mother. Originally a scholar in both chemistry and philosophy, he obtained a third doctorate in theology (Rome 1961) with a comparative study on the theology of Thomas de Aquino and Adishankara’s 18th century interpretation of the Brahmasutra body of texts. After a brief stint as a member of Opus Dei (which he was evicted from in 1962 on charges of blatant disobedience), he became a professor at Harvard Divinty School, and since 1987 lived in Tavertet, north of Barcelona, presiding over his own centre for intercultural studies, the Raimon Panikkar Vivarium Foundation. He passed away August 26 2010.

For an absolutely heart-warming introduction into Panikkar’s thought, watch him in conversation with Adelheid Roosen, on being a Being, on being afraid, and on being invited to the banquet of life (here). And then, of course, do not forget to watch The Window – and witness for yourself how Dunya’s vision is inspired by this sadly missed great soul.

- Francis Laleman -