SAND16 Italy

On the Edge of the (Un)known is a SAND Europe gathering, a festival at the confluence of science and nonduality, where the shared human quest through knowledge and experience arises in unity.

“Fear is not of the unknown, but of the loss of the known.”
—Krishnamurti

Whether the unknown is the vast mystery of the physical universe, or the intimate, sensory experience of living in a human body, the adventure into the (Un)known marks the start of expansion. For both scientists and spiritual seekers, there is a perspective from which the ‘totality of the known’ can be viewed within the ‘immensity of the unknown.’ This is the Edge of the (Un)Known, where both science and spirituality listen to the living mystery beyond all that has been thought before, allowing even the source of experience itself.

Hosted in the magnificent Castle of Titignano and surrounded by the astounding panorama of the nature of Umbria, SAND Italy promises to invite, inspire and rejuvenate our shared exploration into the nature of reality.

The gathering includes science, spirituality, dance, excellent speakers from multidisciplinary perspectives, experiential workshops and an Italian cuisine fit for royalty.

* The event is family friendly. Young kids participate for free and we have a highly reduced rate (including food and accommodation) for teens and family members that are not interested in participating in the event. Titignano Castle is an awesome place to vacation with pool, lakes, walks and the close proximity to Orvieto and Todi. During the event we will also organize Italian and English language courses, music, dance and entertainment!

On the Edge of the (Un)Known

I do not negate the world; I see it appearing in consciousness, which is the totality of the known in the immensity of the unknown.
― Nisargadatta Maharaj

What I see in Nature is a magnificent structure that we can comprehend only very imperfectly, and that must fill a thinking person with a feeling of humility. This is a genuinely religious feeling that has nothing to do with mysticism.
― Albert Einstein

Both science and spirituality reflect the human urge to know – that perennial itch to make sense of who we are and the world in which we live. This search is an essential part of being human. We live life supported by knowledge. However, the larger our knowledge the larger the shore of the unknown becomes.

We probe reality the best we can with our tools of understanding: structures, models, theories, myths, beliefs, teachings, etc. These tools of understanding also define the limits our knowledge. Is it possible to go beyond the limits of our tools? And what would it take?

In this segment we will continue to explore that edge where knowledge meets the unknown and the unknowable. We will navigate that space where something else takes over – call it intuition, deeper knowing, trust, surrender – a place from which new discoveries in science and realizations in spirituality become possible. What is the horizon of our current knowledge, and where are we expanding the edge of the unknown?

What if science and spirituality, while responding to our collective aspiration to grow as a species in a world filled with mystery and wonder, would no longer need to carry the burden of having all the answers? What if our search is considered open-ended, rather then having to arrive at a grand theory of life or at a final state of enlightenment? What if, while we probe deeper into reality and who we are, we realize that the knowledge we gather is just a stepping-stone and not the arrival at a final destination?