Introductory course in Croydon
Practical Philosophy
Mindfulness, Stillness & Meditation
Courses in practical wisdom for everyday living.
Life can be seen as a journey. When we are feeling strong and clear-minded it is an adventure. The inner journey of understanding and feeling gives direction to the outer journey and makes it magnificent
Practical Philosophy and mindfulness helps us to find our direction in life.
This popular Croydon course is practical rather than academic and draws on sources of wisdom from East and West, past and present.
Local Course
Local face-to-face evening courses available in Croydon.
Practical Wisdom
Courses in practical wisdom for everyday living. Meet with like minded individuals.
Offer only £30
Introductory offer – 5 week course only £30. (Normally £50). Limited spaces.
Explore Life To The Full…
The Croydon course offers a practical means to discover fully who we are, understand how to relate to the world we live in and see what gets in the way of being happy, peaceful and free.
Students are invited to see life as a place to test the words of the wise through practical and mindful exercises.
Introductory Offer
Practical Philosophy Course for Life-
5 weekly sessions
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Starts Wed 1st March 2023
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Time: 7:15pm - 9:15pm
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Location: Athene House, 13 Addiscombe Grove, Croydon CR0 5LR
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Refreshments break
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Limited places
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philosinselondon@gmail.com
- philosinselondon@gmail.com
Location
- Athene House, 13 Addiscombe Grove, Croydon, CR0 5LR
5 weekly sessions for £30
The five weekly sessions explore some of the questions central to the human question –
These opening sessions consider how philosophy can help us enjoy richer, less stressful lives. What is practical philosophy? ‘What would a wise person do here?’ Philosophy means the love of wisdom. Our course is intended to show how philosophy can help us enjoy richer, less stressful and more useful lives. This opening two sessions consider these aims, and introduces simple exercises in mindfulness and the application of wisdom you can practise in daily life. You can download or listen to the Awareness Exercise, introduced in week one here. To download, right-click, choose 'Save link as...' and save the MP3 wherever you want. You can also download a PDF of the Awareness Exercise
Who or what am I? What is my potential? Who am I, really? My body? My emotions? My strongly held beliefs? My soul? Possibly all of these? Possibly none? Such questions have preoccupied philosophers down the ages. We look at practical ways to explore who we really are and how to tap our true potential.
What is our state of awareness? Why does it fluctuate during the day? Often the most notable quality of wise people is their alertness to the subtleties of a situation. They are awake, perceptive and curious. We look at deeper levels of awareness, and consider how we may become more awake to ourselves, our surroundings, and the events we meet.
Living in the now, mindfulness. What is the potential of the present moment? We review our own experience of attention through a model featuring attention centred, captured, open and scattered, and how these each relate to the past, present and future. We examine the extraordinary brightness and freedom naturally available in the present moment. A straightforward practice is introduced.
Plato’s views on justice. What does it mean to live justly? According to Plato, justice and injustice do not start ‘out there’. They begin within us. For justice to prevail, Plato suggests that we must learn to avoid being ‘tyrannised’ by our passions and fears to the extent they overrule our reason. We discuss the practicality of Plato’s ideas on justice in our daily lives.
A second term of 5 further sessions for £30
The Vedic model of three fundamental energies. Sometimes we seem not to have enough energy, or the wrong kind. A wise person can act consistently despite these varying conditions. We consider how to recognise differing energies, how to gain and conserve them and how to use them wisely.
What is reason? How can it enrich our lives? We look at guidelines for Socratic dialogue and how to use them. Developing reason in decision-making and action are also discussed, with practical applications. Obstacles to reason are considered. Everyone has the faculty of reason and we can all use it and develop it.
What is beauty?
Is there such a thing as absolute beauty?
Beauty has the capacity to open the heart and bring delight. In this session we discuss our direct experience of beauty in its different form: of the sensory world, of thought, of feelings, of the inner nature, and of conduct.
We consider Plato’s idea of there being ultimately one beauty – beauty absolute – ‘not knowing birth or death, growth or decay’.
Looking for the common thread in life. What is the effect of finding unity? When we look around, we see enormous diversity in nature. The wise person looks for the unifying factor: that which allows all this apparent diversity to be seen as part of a single whole. Seen in this way, life then has the best chance of being led freshly and openly.
What is truth? How does the desire for truth show itself? Practical philosophy is about discovering the truth of things – not theoretically, but in our own experience. In this final session we look back and ask ourselves how our search for truth has fared as the term has progressed. We discuss what has been discovered and how, in our own way, we may continue to develop it in our daily lives.
How to Enrol
- Step 1 - Click 'Enrol Today' & enter your details
- Step 2 - Pay the course fee to secure your place
- Step 3 - Receive your receipt and course details by email.
How the Introductory Course Works
A tutor presents philosophical ideas, and leads a discussion based on what arises in the group.
Being practical rather than academic, the emphasis is on personal knowledge and experience.
Students are encouraged neither to accept nor reject the ideas put forward, but to test them in practice for themselves, in the light of their own experience.
Next Introductory course in Croydon
Practical Philosophy Enrolment
- Starts: Wed 1st March 2023
- Time: 7:15 - 9:15pm
Introductory Course Fee £30.
Limited spaces
Frequently asked questions
The course is practical in the sense that it takes philosophical ideas and shows how they can be of direct use in our everyday lives. The intention is to stimulate enquiry and through this expand the way we look at the world and ourselves.
Online using the ‘Enrol Today’ button. Alternatively you can call us on 0208 688 2634 or email philosinselondon@gmail.com.
If you register online, you will receive a confirmation email with your day of attendance. If you register by any means other than online, you will receive a receipt confirming your registration.
Yes, we have a local venue at Croydon CR0 5LR. There are also many other local venues in other parts of the UK where you can attend the course face-to-face.
No, all you need is an open and enquiring mind. The course is intended for everyone, regardless of education, occupation, race, political or religious belief.
Face-to-face meetings will be held safely following all Health & Safety guidelines for your complete peace of mind.
First you need to enrol on a course. The in-person courses are available in Croydon and at many other local venues up and down the UK. A local Croydon map can be found on this page.
If you have any questions simply call us on 0208 688 2634 or by emailing philosinselondon@gmail.com.
What some of our students say...
“Absolutely loving the course!! …Really changing how I think about things and life in general.”
“...I am benefiting greatly from the content and the practical nature of it. Thank you, it is enriching my life.”