Award-winning physicist, professor and writer, Marcelo Gleiser was the first Latin American to receive the Templeton Prize, often referred to as the “Nobel of spirituality”. In August 2025, he spent five days immersed in Ibiti Projeto, living the routine of the community, exploring nature and sharing profound reflections on science, spirituality and the future of humanity.
The following interview took place during his last breakfast at the Yucca restaurant, before he left for one of his daily rituals: running along the trails in the middle of nature.
In between walks and filming for a documentary about his career - with scenes shot in Ibiti by João Jardim's team - Gleiser also gave a talk open to the community, lasting about two hours, in the Comuniversidade tent, inside Ibiti Village, in Vila Mogol.
“We really have to celebrate the privilege of being alive on a planet like this. From what I've studied of the entire universe, there will never be another planet like Earth. It's time for a new awakening for humanity: the awakening of coexistence with the planet.”
Ibiti News - What did you experience in Ibiti and what touched you most about this project?
Marcelo Gleiser - The word that came to mind is resplendent. There is an impressive dance of light, forest and water here. I was able to visit some of the main sites and was deeply enchanted. Isgoné, for example, is a place where I can imagine spending a week writing in total seclusion, something I love and need. Ibiti has an almost magical quality of enticing people to reconnect with nature, which is exactly what we need most today. I was also very touched to see the joy with which people work here. I spoke to guides, collaborators and the resident musician, Lucas Soares, and saw genuine happiness in being part of the project. It's a real co-creation of community, and that's what Ibiti invites us to do.
What about the statues?
I'd seen photos before, but nothing could compare to the face-to-face experience. When I arrived at the back, I physically felt my heart squeeze with emotion. The idea of including the various faiths is breathtakingly beautiful and fluid. Ibiti is a place that opens a portal between the mind and the heart. Here you experience a spirituality that is not linked to a specific religion, but to something visceral, that comes from within and transcends labels. It's the feeling of belonging to something much bigger than ourselves, but of which we are a part. Walking through the forests, on the trails and by the statues allows you to open up to the world in a spiritual way.
What rituals do you practice on a daily basis?
I practice yoga every morning and do breathing exercises a few times a week. I love running and hiking on trails, especially in the mountains. For me, this is an act of devotion to nature. If you believe that nature is your mother and that you are part of it, being physically and spiritually present in this movement is a form of dynamic meditation. When I enter a trail, I say: “welcome to the temple”. That's why I've practiced running 50, 80 kilometers. It's a pilgrimage of the soul. The body is exhausted after a certain point, and what remains is the essence.
Do you believe in souls?
I've tried a lot, but today I prefer to believe in our capacity for wonder. We human beings have something precious: the ability to dream of tomorrow and to marvel at the mystery of existence. If you want to call that soul, fine. For me, this emotion of being alive - not just to eat or sleep, but to feel, reflect and exist in depth - is the most precious thing there is.
What do you have faith in?
I have faith in humanity. I believe that we will find a way. We're going through one of the most difficult periods in history because of global leadership, but that's exactly why I believe in a turnaround. The pendulum will swing the other way. We need to be reborn as humanity, because if we continue on this path, the future will be very difficult for the next generations. Ibiti's work, like that of so many other initiatives around the world, is helping to transform this reality.
“We have the incredible ability to dream of tomorrow and marvel at the mystery of existence.”
- Marcelo Gleiser
