Cultural Day
Sunday 17 March, 2024
Students and members of the public are warmly invited to attend the School of Philosophy’s annual Cultural Day at Philosophy House in Aro St Wellington.
The workshops are interactive and run by students or guest speakers, with two or three choices for each of three 75-minute sessions. The topics range from learning about a philosophy or philosopher to trying a new skill. No previous knowledge of the subject is required. The Day is relaxed and friendly. A delicious buffet lunch is also included in the fee of $50 (for all or part of the Day).
The Day starts at 9am with a short session in the Hall and will run to 3pm, with half an hour for morning tea and an hour for lunch.
Please follow these three steps to enrol:
1: Read the details of the workshop sessions below
2: Scroll down and click the button
3: Register, make your selections and arrange payment via credit card.
WORKSHOP SESSIONS
| Session 1 – 9.15 to 10.30am – 3 options |
| Introduction to the Bhagavad Gītā – Picture this: two vast armies stand ready for battle – when a lead warrior turns to his charioteer and questions the point of it all. Recounted in 18 short chapters, their conversation has been a source of guidance and inspiration for centuries. Explore the ancient Bhagavad Gītā and the lessons this text can still teach us today. Presented by Khandu and Vandna Patel |
| Chakras and energy – Energy flows through the chakras of our being in the same way electricity flows through a network. We will explore the 7 main Chakras, the role they play as energy centres and what this means for our wellbeing. Presented by Shahla Motadel |
| Psychology and philosophy –Explore how philosophy and psychology can both help us navigate through life. This includes understanding what we seek in life and ways to better understand ourselves. Presented by Jeff Trevella
|
| Session 2 – 11am to 12.15pm – 3 options |
| Marcus Aurelius and Stoicism – The personal writings of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius show us he was a Stoic and lover of wisdom. In this session, hear in his own words how he tried to truly live this philosophy. “His sentences find their way to the soul”, one observer wrote. Presented by Anne-Marie Ngan |
| Awakening the clown – The clown is the eternal child in you, who lives in the moment, sees things as they are – not as convention decrees and likes to play. Participants will need to be able to move around and lie on the ground. Note – This workshop is limited to 15 people. Presented by Jeremy Nelson |
| Dialectic – What happens when two people talk in search of truth? Hear examples from classic texts, and explore dialectic and the Socratic method of inquiry. Presented by Jackie Bedford
|
| Session 3 – 1.30 to 2.45pm – 1 option |
| A trip to India – Bruce Dean will report on a trip to India as part of a group of School leaders who attended a 4-day audience with Śrī Vasudevānanda Sarasvatī. Śrī Vasudevānanda holds the revered position of Śaṅkarācārya of the North and is a teacher of the Advaita philosophical tradition, established by the 8th-century Indian Vedic scholar known as Ādi Śaṅkara. |
Registration
Please click on the following button which allows you to register, choose your preferred option for each session and pay by Visa or Mastercard.