Dianoia:
Thinking Things Through

Tuesdays, 7:30–9:00 PM (from September to end of May)
NOTE:  It has been a great year!  The Study Circle will take its annual summer break so there will be no meetings in June, July and August.  Meetings will resume the first Tuesday in September and we look forward to welcoming you all back.

Institute of World Culture, Concord House
1407 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA 
In-Person and via Zoom*

“Great opportunities lie before statesmen and citizens at every turn, but they can only be seen and seized when there is calmness and clarity, nourished by a reasoned conviction of the supreme potential of all men to participate in a truly universal vision.” 

–Parapolitics, Raghavan Iyer

May 5, 2026 Civilization, the Death of Art and Beauty

H.P. Blavatsky was one of the few who traveled across the entire globe in the 19th Century. It is illuminating to look back to her critique of civilization in 1891 and think about our own civilization and its impact on Nature.

May 12, 2026 Non-violence – the Law of our Species

An essay by Mahatma Gandhi will help us think about our true nature.

May 19, 2026  A Thinking Being, Thoreau

This session will give us a chance to discuss the recent broadcast of the Ken Burns’ documentary on Henry David Thoreau.

May 26, 2026  The World is on Fire, Pico Iyer

We will listen to and discuss comments made by the contemplative author, Pico Iyer, during an interview at a book festival in Kerala, India, 2026. 

For zoom link email donna@worldculture.org.