Practical Philosophy

Just to bring you up to date with events at The Secret Of Life HQ, our protracted house move is (very slowly) continuing, so as I mentioned previously, I'm still going to be limited to occasional posts only for the time being. Sorry about that. But as the start of a new term is approaching, I do want to grab a few moments to draw your attention to the course in Practical Philosophy For Everyday Living at the School of Philosophy. I've been attending this course for three years now, and I find it to be an invaluable way of staying in touch with the kinds of ideas we've been talking about on this blog. To give you an idea of what it's about, here's a short extract from their latest publicity leaflet:

The basis of the philosophy presented is that there is a common 'consciousness' or 'being' behind everyone and everything and that this is the essence of who we are. This is described as the philosophy of Unity.

The school receives guidance from Sri Shankaracharya from the Holy tradition in India, a person who has realised this wisdom.

Day schools for children, classes for parenting skills, economics and promotion of the Arts are all offshoots of this work.

Tutors are all students too and no one receives payment.

This is not, then, a course in comparative philosophy, but is for those who would like to apply certain philosophical principles to enhance their everyday lives. Though Vedic teachings and their principle of Unity are central, the material draws upon many sources including the ancient Greek philosophers, the Renaissance philosopher Marsilio Ficino, Christian teachings, and Shakespeare. The ideas are presented in the same way as I try to do in this blog: not as inviolable truths which are to be accepted without question but as subjects for consideration and debate. It might be argued that ultimate wisdom lies beyond logic, but if you agree that an inquiring mind is a useful place to begin the journey, then this course may be for you.

The course may also appeal to those who are drawn to some of the ideas we discuss in this blog but are uncomfortable with the 'new age'  trappings which sometimes go along with them. Those who prefer a more conventional ambience will find the school to be free of such things as tarot cards and crystals, for instance!  It is much more redolent of garden fetes and cricket on the village green. Taking a step inside the school is like stepping back in time by several decades: to an older, politer world in which men still tend to wear suits and ties and address each other by surnames. Some might consider this bizarre enough in itself, but others might find it a welcome oasis of sanity.

(Don't worry - the suits and ties are not compulsory. Well, not so far anyway. After three years, our class remains as informally dressed as ever.  Though I do sometimes wonder if we'll turn up one day to find a tailor there waiting for us with a tape measure, ready to fit us all out - and a black bag in which to deposit our scruffy jeans.)

Perhaps the most useful thing about the class are the practical ideas which are suggested each week to take home and apply in our everyday lives. The idea of connecting with one of the senses to come into the present moment (which I wrote about in an earlier post) is one such idea I have taken from the school. Another is the use of the Sanskrit word "netti!", meaning "not this!", which can be applied whenever we are in the grip of negative emotions. As I've previously observed, such emotions can sometimes seem to take us over entirely. To say "netti, netti" or "not this, not this" is a way of reminding ourselves that we are not that emotion. We are something very much grander and more powerful, if only we can remember that. This technique can sometimes take instantaneous effect, springing us out of the emotion and into the calm of the present moment. You might like to give it a try.

If you would like to know more about these classes in Practical Philosophy, here's where to look:

The School of Economic Science runs practical philosophy courses in most parts of the UK and there are links on the site to courses worldwide. Courses in other parts of the UK (including my own) are run by the associated School of Philosophy, which covers Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. The School of Practical Philosophy is an associated US site. Though this may vary worldwide, new courses in the UK start three times a year on the basis of the usual academic terms, so the summer term will be starting very shortly. If you decide to give it a try, do let me know what you think...

(Several readers have left comments about various negative experiences of the School of Philosophy. Please see here for their comments (and my responses).)

Comments

[Mr Zip]

Very interesting and I might have been tempted to find out more. Unfortunately it seems that enlightenment does not extend to darkest Tyneside.

[Pam]

I just signed up for the course in York.

[Mr Zip]

Blimey! You'r already so enlightened I'll be able to see you from here, Pam.

[Simon]

Hmm, maybe I should have discussed a rate of commission before I placed that post... But seriously, well done, Pam, and commiserations Mr Zip - I'm sorry that you're outside the school's catchment area. Leeds does seem a little southerly for the northernmost tip of the north-east and I see that the whole of Wales is also excluded. I haven't enquired how the school evolved but I suspect that it may been through the enthusiasm of individuals in specific areas - and indeed countries - hence these seemingly random gaps in coverage.

[alexis]

I love your blog. I am really into spirituality. I also practice positive thinking. Whenever I start feeling negative or get into a slump, I go to Karen Salmansohn's site: www.notsalmon.com. She is a best selling author, who has her own radio show called Be Happy Dammit, which is on Sirius. Thanks for the enlightening thoughts!

[Michael]

I was a member of the School of Practical Philosophy for 8 years (in Boston and New York). Beware, this is really a cult NOT a school. The first few years are mostly filled with classes, but as time passes the School will demand more of your time, energy and commitment - to the exclusion of any other part of your life. I've seen too many empty shells of human beings after spending a few decades in the School.

A lot of this is enforced with the promise of enlightenment if you just do what your tutor tells you along with the rigid hierarchy that tempts one to please the "senior level" students in hopes of rising in status within the organization. Any life decisions such as changing jobs or getting married must be first approved by the tutor.

Any form of questioning of the School dogma is immediately suppressed. They will tell you, "Do not accept or reject anything, but simply try it out in your own experience." However, the tutor has already decided on the answer. Students either accept the existing dogma or are asked to leave.

The introductory material in the School definitely has some great components. Just beware of being sucked in too deep into the organization.

[Secret Simon]

Hi Michael - I'm sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience of the school. Obviously I can't make a judgment based on your comment alone. But what I will say, speaking generally, is that any endeavour, however noble its original intention, can readily be subverted by the human ego's desire for power and status. In other words, an organization is only as good as the people who are running it.

Your comment certainly bears no relation to my own experience of the school in Leeds, UK - and Pam (see comment above) tells me that she greatly enjoyed her first term at the nearby centre in York. Certainly, I have been encouraged to help the school with such things as painting & decorating or serving tea & coffee for other students, but there has been no coercion, and these activities are presented to us as opportunities for spiritual practice. I have to say that if people are indeed preoccupied in trying to rise in status in the organization, then they are flying in face of the teachings of the school as they have been presented to me.

Thank you, however, for making this comment, and I am eager that visitors to this blog should have a chance to see it alongside my own material, so I shall put a note about it in the post.

One more general comment as a postscript: if anyone tells you that one specific path will lead you to enlightenement, then my advice is to get the h*ll out of there. I truly believe that the path to enlightenment is to hear the teachings of others yet follow your own wisdom. (And I think my tutor at the school would agree with me!)

[AJALA GBADEBO MICHEAL]

sir.
i am interrested to be one of your philosophy student. kindly register me. waiting to hear from you soon

[Simon]

I can't help you with this directly, Ajala. I was a student at the school. I don't help to run it. You need to look at one of the links I gave in the post. I hope you enjoy the course!
http://www.philosophyworks.org/landing/ for the USA
http://www.schooleconomicscience.org/index.php?page=branches for UK
http://www.schooleconomicscience.org/index.php?page=international worldwide

[Veganknitting]

Having been raised in the school in NYC and been a member for some years before leaving, I have to say that everything Michael said is true, and then some. My parents were members for decades before leaving. It was awful.

I truly enjoyed my first few years as an adult member before the school gets more and more controlling of your life. When I left, once you reach a certain level, men are required to dress in suits and ties and women are required to wear long skirts or long dresses. That's only the tip of the control.

The UK school is even more controlling than the US school. Please see this website to hear the experiences of many adults who were raised in the school or attended its schools for children in the UK: www.ses-forums.org

There are many good practices offered at the school, and many good people are members. But it has had a devastating effect on many emotionally, the longer you are there. Especially for women. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.

[Simon]

Many thanks for your input, Veganknitting. I took a look at the web site you mention and it mainly seems to relate to experiences in the seventies at a couple of UK schools run by the School of Economic Science. It should be remembered that these were very different times from today. At my state-run primary school in the sixties, the teachers would hit you first and ask questions later - and that was thought to be acceptable. But even bearing this in mind, the regime at those SES schools appears to have been appalling: a wholly unacceptable abuse of power. There is certainly nothing in any of the material I learned at the School of the Philosophy that could have justified such a thing. It is very sad.

As for the attitude to women at the adult school, I saw no sign of any chauvinist attitude other than the rather bizarre dress code which seemed to require the more senior students to wear 'long flowing dresses'. Students were encouraged to serve refreshments to other students and men and women were expected to play an equal part in this.

I attended the school for three and a half years and they never tried to impose the dress code on us, nor to split us into same-gender groups, though we were aware that this would be expected at some stage. We were all pretty much agreed that if it came to that, we would rather leave.

I suspect that most adult students spend a few years at the school, learn from the philosophy, and leave having had a positive experience. I experienced no coercion to stay longer and let them start 'controlling my life', if that is indeed what happens. When I announced I was leaving (because I wished to devote my time to other things), I was simply told that I would be welcomed back at any time if I wished to return. End of story.

It is always sad to see that apparently worthy organizations can be subverted by the shortcomings of those who exercise power in them. I think the best advice I can give about this - or any other organization or teaching - is to go into it with your eyes open and only take on what seems true to you. Remember that *you* are in control of your life. Never surrender your power to anyone else.

[Michael]

Hello,

I just read with alarm your recommendation of the School of Economic Science. I spent seven years in the School in Leeds. After a year or two, I too started helping with decorating, serving tea and coffee etc. very innocuous, no problem. Seven years later I (and many others) was a neurotic wreck trying to provide for a family and live up to the demands of the school and my teacher. It is more than twenty years since I managed to free myself from the school, and I still dream about trying to escape. Please be aware that the process is extremely subtle. Over the years you find yourself agreeing to spend more and more time with various School activities. Social life drops away. There is less and less time to devote to the family. Some of the people I knew went mad and had to go into institutions. Families broke up.

The school pays much lip-service to the idea of Adwaita, always qualifying it by saying "but we know nothing about ultimate liberation, and we must start where we are, with the illusion that we are separate from the Absolute. We must work under discipline, in complete obedience to the master, otherwise we will be unable to free ourselves from the bondage of desire."

This is not Adwaita. This underscores and strengthens the illusion that there is an individual, a way, and a goal to be attained. All that can be hoped from years of "consciously" scrubbing the floor with toothbrushes (yes they really used to get us to do that - it was supposed to increase the sattwa in the building) is that one becomes so fed up of the whole business that one gives up trying to attain the unobtainable.

If there is any truth in the philosophy of non-duality then liberation is always and constantly available, and there is nothing you can do to deserve or attain it.

Om Tat Sat everywhere and always.

Peace
Michael
(actually a different Michael from the one whose mail you quote. But I agree with him wholeheartedly.)

[Simon]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Michael. Having corresponded with you briefly by email, it seems that you attended the school in Leeds in the seventies. Certainly the quote you supply ("we know nothing about ultimate liberation, and we must start where we are, with the illusion that we are separate from the Absolute. We must work under discipline, in complete obedience to the master, otherwise we will be unable to free ourselves from the bondage of desire") is not something I recognize from my own time at the school (2004 to 2007). Indeed, if they had quoted that at me, I would have headed straight for the door.

I am grateful to you and others for sharing your experiences but one thing I don't quite understand (obviously I am talking only about the adults here) is why any of you put up with such nonsense for as long as you did. I don't mean to diminish any harm that the school might have done to people, but could it be the case that you had a lesson to learn: not to relinquish your power to some outside so-called 'authority'? And if you hadn't learned it at the School of Philosophy, would you have had to learn it somewhere else?

[Pam]

Simon, your comment to Michael seems a tad harsh to me. It can be extremely difficult to spot nonsense like this when it starts appearing ever-so-gradually inamongst the non-nonsense. Everything we deal with, anywhere, happens within its own context, and the power of context should never be under-estimated, in my opinion.

As a current member of the School in York, I'm grateful to you, Michael, and others, for talking about your experiences. My nonsense-ometer is now set on "high", and I'm sure I will do well to keep all of your experiences in mind.

So far, I consider myself to have benefitted from the School's teachings. (I'm currently in my second year - term 6.)

Coincidentally, our topic last week was discipline, but the quote above was not mentioned. I think I now have a better understanding of the "real" meaning of discipline - or at least a meaning that is more helpful for me than the one I had before.

[Michael]

"but could it be the case that you had a lesson to learn: not to relinquish your power to some outside so-called 'authority'?"

Yes, it could well be. In fact I did learn exactly that. At least I started to. And I suspect strongly that my subjective experience of SES was very personal, and not necessarily an accurate impression of what was "really" going on.

It's odd though. The more you're surrounded by people who tell the same fairytale, and the more isolated you are from those who don't, the more you come to believe that the fairytale is real. So when the master says for example "You have taken up a Work that you may not put down", at least you are inclined to give his words serious thought.

Once again, let me emphasise that the process was subtle. It was only after five or six years that we started to give up our own petty desires and ambitions to "the discipline". I (and many others) started to regard the devices and desires of the "little me" as something to be overcome by surrendering to the will of the Absolute as interpreted by various men (and no women, as far as I can tell), from Sri Sankaracharya through the various School translators and authorities, and Xeroxed onto the pages of "this week's lecture".

And maybe, maybe they were right. Maybe I just couldn't hack it, the total delegation of "my power" to an outside authority. Maybe, in leaving the School I am attempting to put down the sacred Work which I once took up, and in so doing feeding the demons of suffering which prey upon all life. Maybe this has %&§$ed up my Karma for the next thousand lifetimes.

I still feel a bit like I'm risking my immortal soul when I call it "bullshit". It' only a bit less difficult for me than it would be to spit on a crucifix.

They really got to me didn't they?

That was all at least thirty years ago, and the School may well be different these days. Despite this,I would still advise caution in dealing with S.E.S..

In my opinion, it is a bad idea to delegate your own responsibilities to other people unless you're sure you really think it's a good idea. Unfortunately they are likely to try to subtly show you that as an aspiring candidate for liberation it's your sacred duty to really believe that it's a good idea to do just that.

Peace
Michael

[Simon]

Hi Pam - Yes, it seemed to me that my comment might be taken as harsh, but I couldn't think how else to phrase it. And it came up for me, so it seemed appropriate say it. I was intending to come from the perspective of one who himself has many lessons to learn, not of someone who purports to look down from a higher plane of wisdom. Fortunately, Michael seems to have taken it in the spirit which I intended.

Many thanks for your comment, Pam, and for sharing your own experience of the school.

[Simon]

Hi again Michael - I certainly don't want to set myself up as an 'authority' but I hope you will believe me when I assert my belief that your immortal soul is doing just fine!

I actually think that quote about not putting the Work down is true. Once we embark on the path to self-realization, there's no turning back. But you haven't turned back. You are still engaged in the Work in your own way: in a way that seems right to *you*.

But I don't believe that this Work involves delegating our power to an outside authority. It *is* about surrendering our will, but to an *inside* authority: our own higher self, for we ourselves are a part of that greater power. And when we surrender, it doesn't seem like a burden. It seems like a great release.

Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Michael - and good luck in your Work!

[Tom]

Thanks to all for your posts - I'm a current NYC student. I started attending classes looking for open-minded discourse with like-minded searchers, in search for wisdom, understanding and personal peace. While the first few terms were great, things definitely took an odd turn at some point.

I don't want to go a long diatribe of all the events that have me turning away from the school, but there are definitely aspects of the school that are, if not cult-like, certainly religion-like. Including the desperate attachment that long-time members have displayed when concepts are questioned in class.

It's unfortunate, because I've had the chance to meet a tiny number of members who seem genuinely able to really embrace the spirit of their philosophy without succumbing to the clutter of the rituals and window-dressing.

FWIW, I recently heard (and my own experience seems to back this up) that the NYC school has a policy of putting their very best teachers on the lower-level classes (especially parts 1 through 5) and allowing the less experienced or less capable have the upper level courses. This would seem consistent with an objective of keeping students interested and enthusiastic long enough for them to become attached to the school and their classmates, before starting to channel them into the more rigid, less open-minded teachings.

[joanne]

Tom and Michael - my experiences of the SES are exactly the same as yours. It starts off as one thing - a discussion group with some useful, even life-changing techniques - and becomes another - a conversion. People seem to end up living a monk/nun-like existence, dedicated to the school, but also trying to maintain a normal life with a job, family etc.

The conversion seems to kick in about the 4th year. You're not expected to question/discuss any longer. You listen, then put into practice and find, surprise surprise, that all the things you're told are true. In fact, you've no option as resistance is futile. You're expected to turn up to every group session, also take up a 'second line' and go to all the residentials to which you're invited. Then later on, you appear to be at the beck and call of 'senior' people. You're told to be a tutor - you become a tutor, you're told to learn sanskrit - you learn sanskrit etc. If you're not willing to do all this, then you're not welcome.

It's actually very cruel and quite cold and calculating.

It's easy to say, well why didn't you just walk away. When I first stumbled across whyaretheydead.net (now ses-forums.org) I was deeply shocked at the treatment of children and young people. I was also slightly scornful of the adults who recounted their awful experiences. However, it's actually quite difficult to leave. Meeting the same people week after week, discussing quite deep questions, you form a bond with the group. When you leave, you miss it terribly (well I did). I would imagine the longer you stay, the harder it is. And they know that. As Michael says, it's very subtle.

It was also hinted to me that if I left, I'd be doing myself no favours at all. I was quite depressed after that conversation and seriously wondered for a few minutes whether I was doing the right thing. I definitely was. Though I almost felt in need of a support group for the leaving process!!

I took away from the experience some good techniques. However, sometimes I feel more confused rather than less about spirituality etc. I've read it's not uncommon for Westerners who dabble in Eastern philosophy to end up feeling like that. Ouspensky apparently ended up a sort of wreck, hiding from his students in his car, surrounded by his cats!

[Simon]

Thanks for your comments, Tom and Joanne.

The consensus certainly seems to be that the school is very useful for the first few years, but then be very wary! Though I should reiterate that I left about half way through my fourth year and was put under no pressure to stay.

I can empathize with the guy with the cats! By the way, Joanne, are you one of the Joannes I know from the Leeds school (the scripture class)?

[It is I]

Hi All,
I'm new to this forum and have been reading this thread with much interest, having been sent the link by a fellow group member.
We are in our first year and we have all discussed some of the "cultish" aspects of the school, usually with much laughter and "as if" attitude.
I however haven't felt any pressure from the school to date, but have been warned of the turn the course takes and I will certainly see that as my exit point.

I am very grateful to those who have shared their negative experiences here and like Pam will dial up my "coercion detector"
I have to agree with Simon - however subtle any form of coercion is, it is ultimately we who make the choices and there is a learning in that.
Thanks for the great thread.

[Simon]

Hi 'It is I' - I'm glad you found this useful. Many thanks for leaving a comment - I hope you enjoy the rest of your time at the School of Philosophy!