Bence Ganti is one of the most interesting and accomplished people in the international integral scene, and I was happy to have a chance to speak with him about his work, particularly a major new event he is co-producing in Europe: the Integral European Conference (IEC).
The IEC will be held in Budapest, Hungary, this coming May 8-11 and is the first major gathering designed to include integral practitioners from throughout the European continent and around the world.
…nobody has ever organized the whole of Europe together, and nobody actually knows, who are we integral Europeans? -Bence Ganti
When I think of the Integral movement of 10 years ago, a ragtag band of eggheads gathered around Ken Wilber here in Colorado, I am amazed to see the growth not only in numbers but in the quality and capacity of the people attracted to the international movement today.
I will be attending the conference and I must say I’m excited to be a part of it, as it promises to be a major, first-class affair.
The organizers are expecting over 500 participants and are holding the conference in Millenaris Park, an old factory that has been refurbished as a major international conference center right in the heart of the city.
In addition to the academic presentations and papers, the European conference will emphasize application and practice as well as good old human connection.
Featured presenters include Susanne Cook-Greuter, Thomas Hubl and Ervin Laszlow. The event is bookended with a pre-conference boat party on the beautiful Danube river and a post-conference 3-day sightseeing tour throughout Hungary — with integrally-informed guides!
Budapest is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in all of Europe.
In our conversation, Bence shares some of the thinking that has gone into the design of the conference. The Integral movement has so far been centered in the US, and it’s exciting to watch the natural progress as it takes root and integrates the karmas and personalities of other places and cultures. There have been smaller conferences and there are integral organizations throughout Europe, but this is the first time all the groups have been brought together. I’m really psyched to experience an indigenous integral scene from a European point of view.
Bence is also the founder (in 2006) of the Integral Academy in Hungary, a post-graduate school in Budapest which features a three year program designed to move students to higher stages of consciousness development. He is also the creator of Integral Flow Therapy, a unique group psychotherapeutic process that incorporates integral principles. I hope you enjoy visiting with Bence as much as I did — and I hope you can join us in Budapest!
Listen or download here. Need some help to listen on your mobile device? Click here.
Podcast: Download
Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS
