Founded in 1985, the Nour Foundation is a public charitable and nongovernmental organization in special consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Through a multidisciplinary and integrative approach that blends the sciences and the humanities, the Foundation explores expressions of meaning and commonality to promote greater understanding, tolerance, and unity among human beings.The conception of the Foundation was inspired by the inclusive philosophy of the late Ostad Elahi (1895-1974), a contemporary thinker, jurist, and master musician who devoted his life to investigating the age-old existential questions of humanity: Who are we? Where have we come from? Why are we here? And where are we headed? His work points to the possibility of adopting a rational approach to self-knowledge and spirituality that allows one to reconcile the innate longing for transcendence with an active and natural life in society. To learn more about the life and work of Ostad Elahi, please visit www.ostadelahi.com.The Foundation’s diverse activities highlight the importance of contemplating questions of meaning and purpose independently in today’s increasingly secular world. For the pursuit of these questions and the answers we choose to ascribe to them not only inform our perspective and shape our convictions, but to a considerable extent also frame our intentions, decisions, and actions in daily life.