Philosophy and Presence

Photocredit: Alexei Maridashvili on Unsplash

Presence of mind enables us to live fuller, richer lives  - and to help others live such lives too. Through this course, we can come to appreciate what the present really is and what it contains. We'll consider the nature of the mind and its amazing powers and capabilities. 

 

Our next course in practical philosophy is devoted to Presence of Mind. Enjoy the good company of philosophic friends on a journey of discovery, to the source of true satisfaction. 

Tuesday evenings at 7.15pm — please contact the branch for the next start date.

This course will be delivered in a hybrid format of six in-person and five online sessions. Plus - not to be missed! - an in-person Practice & Study Day at Waterperry House (date confirmed when you enrol). 

See for yourself the amazing value this course offers:

1. SIX IN-PERSON GROUP DISCUSSIONS

In-person sessions run from 7.15pm until 9.30pm

Venue: Sixth Form Centre, St Albans Girls' School, Sandridgebury Lane, St Albans, AL3 6DB.

The venue has ample free parking. Tea, coffee, and biscuits included.
Accessible, ground floor meeting room 

2. FIVE ONLINE GROUP DISCUSSIONS VIA ZOOM

Online sessions are held Tuesdays 7.15pm - 8.45pm — dates confirmed when you enrol with the branch.

 

3. PRACTICE & STUDY DAY, WATERPERRY HOUSE & GARDENS

Practice & Study Day at Waterperry House & Gardens (date confirmed when you enrol with the branch)

• A practical and quiet day of mindful work/practice in kitchen, house, or garden, plus an elective study session
• Coffee/tea and vegetarian lunch all included
• Organised in conjunction with three other branches of the Philosophy School in the south of England
• Ample, free parking

 

All eleven sessions plus Study & Practice Day: £90.

Please contact the branch to enrol — philosophystalbans@fses.org.

Pay monthly by direct debit (£22.50 per month for four payments, £90). Download, print, complete and send the direct debit form.

 

Course dates

The hybrid session calendar (in person and online) is confirmed when you enrol with the branch. Online sessions are held Tuesdays 7.15pm–8.45pm.

 

What equipment do I need?

The course is delivered through a combination of in-person and online meetings plus an audio-visual study module, issued a week before each meeting. This means you need a device such as a PC or laptop with speaker, microphone and camera so that you can (a) watch and listen to the modules and (b) join the online meetings via Zoom. Printed materials are not provided, but a weekly Practices sheet can be downloaded and printed at home.

 

Topics covered

• Introduction to the subject of presence of mind. What in truth is present and receiving knowledge from what is present.
• The unchanging true existence which is always present. Explanation in Advaita philosophy. Discrimination between transient and eternal.
• Further on the need to discriminate between the transient and the eternal. The Absolute which is infinite and liberating in nature.
• Plato’s analogy of the cave.
• Being in touch with the present and the natural rhythm of events.
• The power of thought as influenced by sattwa, rajas and tamas. The importance of nourishing the mind and how that may be done.
• The power of decision. Some key decisions that need to be addressed in life. Decision making and how that may be done effectively.
• The power of love to transcend limits and overcome division. The five levels of love from the individual to the universal. The nature of criticism.
• The power of will or the power of ‘I’ associated with any desire, thought or activity. A practical approach to action.
• The powers of thought, decision, love and will as universal powers. Oneself as unlimited and the effect on this of identification. The power of attention.
• The need to trust the present moment. Practical approaches to achieve this. The principle of giving what you lack.
• Mindful Working practical session