The Greek Community of Melbourne will host a lecture unpacking the element of religion in the works of Nikos Kazantzakis, with the talk specifically highlighting the aspect of Buddhism evident in his writing.
The talk will be delivered by Dr Vassilis Adrahtas and will be held on Thursday 8 May, 7pm, at The Greek Centre.
Dr Adrahtas, the Convenor of Greek Studies at the University of NSW, will delve into the lecture titled “The Mystique of Buddhism in the Oeuvre of Nikos Kazantzakis”.
He will explore the impact of the East on Kazantzakis in developing his works, with his ouevre coinciding with a time when the West was encountering the East intellectually and was looking for means to reshape its cultural capital.
Dr Adrahtas will elaborate on the fascination or mystique of Kazantzakis with Buddhism as seen in numerous works from ‘The Saviors of God: Spiritual Exercises’ to ‘Zorba the Greek’ and Kazantzakis’ ‘Odyssey’ to a palimpsest-kind of work of his under the title ‘Buddha’.
While there is a plethora of references from Kazanztzakis to Buddhism, the talk will highlight the impressiveness in the subtle, creative and ingenious ways in which he managed to interweave Buddhist with non-Buddhist hierophanic forms.
