Thomas Muppathinchira

Thomas Muppathinchira

Thomas Muppathinchira was born on 30 May 1961 in Alapuzha District in Kerala, India, to Joseph Muppathinchira and Mary Joseph. He is an ordained priest in the Syro-Malabar Church and belongs to the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). He is a philosopher, pastor, writer and professor with specialisation in Eastern Philosophy, particularly in Chinese Philosophy. At present, he is Professor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Philosophy at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram (DVK), Bengaluru, and Finance Administrator of DVK.

He has completed Bachelor of Philosophy and Licentiate in Philosophy from Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bengaluru. He finished his Bachelor of Theology at Jñana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune, Maharashtra, and his Masters in Philosophy from the Higher Institute of Philosophy, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. In 1999, he was awarded a PhD in Philosophy by the State University of Gent, Gent, Belgium. During June 2007-December 2007 he did an advanced programme in “Theology and Religious Life” in EAPI (East Asian Pastoral Institute), Manila, Philippines.

He was Lecturer and Dean of Studies, Darsana Institute of Philosophy, Wardha, and Maharashtra, India. He has been a visiting professor at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bengaluru, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines, SVD Vidhya Bhavan, Bhopal, Kristupremalaya, Bhopal, De Paul (Vincentian) Major Seminary, Bengaluru.

He lectures on subjects such as Epistemology, Indian Philosophical Systems (Orthodox and Heterodox), Vedic Philosophy, Vision of Life in the Bhagavad Gita, Indian Religious Philosophy, Indian Religions and Spirituality, Chinese Philosophy, Gandhian Philosophy, Philosophy of Education, and Christian Humanistic Philosophy.

Thomas Muppathinchira was ordained on 6 May 1989. He was parish priest in St. Peter’s Parish, Dugoli, Chattisgarh, for two years. He was also Assistant Novice Master and Administrator, Vinayalaya CMI Novitiate, Bhanpuri, Chattisgarh. He was Rector, Chavara Minor Seminary, Dugoli, Chattisgarh, India. He was also spiritual director and lecturer, Darsana Institute of Philosophy, Wardha, Maharashtra.

He was promoted to the status of Professor of Philosophy in 2012 with the approval of the Congregation for Catholic Education, Vatican, Rome. He served Darsana Institute of Philosophy as both the Dean of Studies (years) and Rector (years).

Currently, he also serves the DVK as the Director of the Centre for Dalit Solidarity.

Presentation of Scientific Papers

International Research Fellows’ Meet at Leuven, Belgium: Presented a paper on “Religious Import of Confucianism,” 1997, Leuven.

5th International Symposium on “Confucian Currents in Japan and East Asian Countries:, 17-19th Centuries” National University of Singapore (5-6 December 1997), Singapore: Presented a paper on “Confucianism and the Problems of Modernization.”

International Seminar on “God-Talk: Contemporary Trials   and Trends,” Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore, India: Presented a Paper on “A Search for the Divine in the Chinese Thinking.”

“Blending of Art and Architect with Indian Christian Faith-Life” in East Asian Pastoral Institute, Manila, Philippines, December 2008.

“Yoga: A Sound Mind in a Sound Body,” De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines, 12 February 2008.

“Silence: A Journey into the Interior Castle Where God Dwells,” De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines, 22 August 2008.

Seminar on World Religious Spiritual Dimensions:.Presented a paper on “Perception of Spirituality in Christianity,” Institute for Gandhian Studies, Wardha, Maharashtra, India, 2006.

Seminar on World Religious Spiritual Dimensions: A paper was presented on “The Way to realize the Goal of Life according to             Christianity” at the Institute for Gandhian Studies, Wardha, Maharashtra, India, 2006.

Seminar on World Religious Spiritual Dimensions: A paper was presented on “Day to Day Life and the Practical Means to the Ultimate Goal according to Christianity” at the Institute for Gandhian Studies, Wardha, Maharashtra, India, 2006.

National Seminar on Relevance of Philosophy Today: A paper was presented on “Critique of Confucian Vision of Life: A Response to the Modern Challenges,” Ruhalaya Philosophy Seminary, Ujjain, India, 2007.

“Called to Evangelize,” De Paul (Vincentian) College of Philosophy at Kengeri, Bangalore, Karnataka, 2009.

“We Are Called to Evangelize” (Based on Pauline Letters), at Archbishop’s House, Nagpur, Maharashtra, 2009.

“Paul: Passionate Evangelizer,” Congregation of the Daughters of Mary, Avarpur, Chandrapur, Maharashtra.

“Meaning and Nature of Religion,” Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi, 2009.

“Chinese Philosophy,” ACPI Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, November 2009 .

Publications

“On Negation and the Intrinsic and Extrinsic Dilemma: A Confucian Perspective” (Co-authored with F. Vandamme) in Capita Selecta Vol. VI, Gent, Belgium: Communications and Cognition, 1997.

 “Confucian Approach: A Harmonious Synthesis of Individual and Society” in Capita Selecta Vol. VI, Gent, Belgium: Communications and Cognition, 1997.

Confucius beyond Times (PhD Thesis), Communications and Cognition (University Publications), Gent, Belgium, 1999.

“A Search for the Divine in the Chinese Thinking” in Kurian Kachappilly, ed., God-Talk: Contemporary Trials and Trends, Dharmaram Philosophy Series 4,  Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 2006.