Please note that the next three practical wisdom workshops will be delivered on line via the Zoom platform. There is a special price of $15 for these offerings in the light of the covid 19 pandemic.
More discourse than lecture, these presentations offer you the opportunity to engage with the subject matter, question and discuss with like minded people. Join the discovery of practical wisdom and how it could be applied in daily life. (Limited to 20 attendees).
OUR CURRENT WORKSHOPS
The wisdom of Eckhart Tolle
Saturday 22nd August 2020 10.00 -11.30am.
Eckhart Tolle, made famous by his bestselling book “The Power of Now”, reported experiencing a radical spiritual awakening in 1977 when he was 29. He has since "become a spiritual teacher in the eyes of the world". In this workshop we will listen to selected recordings from the man himself and by using a reflective practice aim to hear his words not just as information but as an experience of the underlying truth.
Presented by Brett Williamson.
Brett has worked in the IT industry for more than 19 years and now leads a technical team building automation solutions in the agriculture industry. He has been a member of the School of Philosophy for 14 years and has had a keen interest in Eckhart Tolle since reading his defining book “The Power of Now”, also around 14 years ago. Since then he has explored and immersed himself in Eckhart’s work including many of his workshops and his written works. He is passionate about the practical nature of philosophy and the ease with which Eckhart is able to guide the attentive listener towards new discoveries about themselves and the world.
Islam - A concept of Unity
Saturday 3rd October 2020 10.00 - 11.30am.
If Judaism is the Fear of God, Christianity the Love of God, Islam is the Unity of God.
Does the Islamic concept of Unity help to explain the success of Islam as one of the great faiths of mankind?
A doctrinal approach to Islamic art and architecture expresses Unity in Diversity. The underlying essence of Unity in Diversity is also expressed by Plato, Pythagoras and the eastern philosophy of Advaita [non-duality].
We will workshop together ideas and concepts of Unity as they are expressed in some of the great works of Islamic art and architecture.
Through our contemplation together , we may discover insights into Unity, Beauty and Truth.
Presented by Garry Martin
Garry Martin has practiced as an architect in Australia, Europe and the Middle East. He writes and talks on the traditional architectures of India, Iran and the Middle East. Garry has combined his interests in archaeology, art history and philosophy in his approach to the design of modern buildings in traditional settings. He has been a student and tutor of philosophy in The Melbourne School of Philosophy for twenty seven years.
Practical Gratitude - a Pathway to Realisation
Saturday 24th October 2020 10.00 - 11.30 am.
Let's face it, we all NEED gratitude, and the world is suffering a critical shortage of this most important ingredient to living a happy life.
What would happen to our society if EVERY grateful action were suddenly to stop???
Why is gratitude so hard to show? What stands in the way? Is it a matter of 'give and take', or is there something deeper to discover here?
This discussion will explore these and other related questions.
Presented by Tim Rogers.
Tim works as a Technical Sales engineer in the water and power industry. He has been married for 32 years and has 2 sons and 2 teenage grandsons. Tim has been a member of the School of Philosophy for 29 years and during this time has developed an interest in the nature of relationships and what essential ingredients are required to make a satisfying one. Following this interest has lead him to facilitate weekend retreats for young professionals, focusing on this and similar subjects. He has presented at the School of Philosophy Cultural Days for the last 11 years.