Programme
- Click on the day to see the sessions for each day.
- Click Register to sign up for the session.
18:00
Weekend Opening and “A New Philosophical Garden”
Opening the weekend, followed by a talk by Mr Bhavan, the leader of the Gauteng School of Practical Philosophy: “A New Philosophical Garden” - the School in a post-covid reality, inspired by Ficino's universal and appealing thoughts on an academy for philosophy.
19:15
Friday Night Live
The Practical Life of a Philosopher - 4 panelists present a view into their life as a householder philosopher.
20:15
Journeying with Music
In discussing their pieces the presenters will then play and demonstrate what philosophical aspects they have learnt in playing music.
06:45 am
Meditation & The Silent Language of Truth
Meditation, followed by a talk by Mr Bhavan, the leader of the Gauteng School of Practical Philosophy: “The Silent Language of Truth” - the Freedom to experience, without any words, the Reality within one's being!
NB: This session is for SPP Meditating Students ONLY.
All SPP Meditating students must attend this talk.
08:45 AM
The Awareness Exercise
Is it possible to find peace and stillness in the daily rush of life? Are you feeling stressed, rushed, as if life is flying by and you are not really getting to what you want?
Try this simple exercise and practise it regularly to slow down a little and enjoy life more. Vuso guides us through this simple but timeless exercise that has been in use in the School for decades. It's like a short meditation or mindful practice, focusing on awareness. It touches on each of the senses, allowing us to connect with the present moment, and rest for a short while - it's a great tool for daily life.
09:30 AM
Chanting from the Gita
The Pretoria Gita group will share some background on the annual Gita recital, elaborate on the tune and meter in the Bhagavad Gita and recite some verses from Chapter 11 in Sanskrit.
10:45 AM
Can I Run an Ethical Business?
Can you apply the Universal principles to entrepreneurship? Is Fearlessness a prerequisite? What does it mean to serve? Explore these and other concepts in this discussion.
01:00 PM
The Delight and Freedom of Painting
This will be an interactive session, where two artists will demonstrate painting a scene from nature, using a limited colour palette and interesting tools like credit cards, palette knives and steel wool to capture stillness, freedom, and devotion in the artmaking process.
The Interviewer will guide the participants on a journey of discovery through this aspect of human expression.
We invite everyone to engage and experience what a movement and a rest is, what it feels like to paint with joy, and how no mental effort is needed to allow the flow – like paint on a canvas.
02:30 PM
Yoga with Anisha
Contrary to popular belief, yoga is not about touching your toes but rather what you learn on the way down!
It's a system designed to bring alignment to the body and balance to the mind with specific focus on breathing and poses (asana).
Yoga poses prepare the body to sit in contemplative stillness/meditation for extended periods.
The class will comprise of the following:
- Breathe awareness/pranayama
- Gentle yoga poses/ asana
- Deep relaxation
03:45 PM
Explore Your Heavenly Culinary Talent
Anushka takes us through cooking delicious and flavourful Indian cuisine to tantalise your taste buds with a brinjal, potato and peas curry served with braised fragrant basmati rice.
18:30 PM
A Little Drama
"As God has not made anything useless in this world, as all beings fulfill obligations or a role in the sublime drama of Creation, I cannot exempt from this duty, and small though it be…" Jose Rizal
19:45 PM
Open Mic Night
Join us for a delightful evening of poetry where students can share their own poems, and the poems they love.
06:45 AM
Meditation, Sounding and A Movement and a Rest
Meditation - Come to rest.
Sounding - In attending fully to the practice of pure vowel sounds, the antaḥkaraṇa becomes more refined and we are drawn gently inward, to be at one with our true Self.
A Movement and A Rest - Discover stillness through movement as we explore how we greet one another and ourselves; we will also enact the analogy of the bow and arrow being likened to meditation.
NB: This session is for SPP Meditating Students ONLY.
All SPP Meditating students must attend this talk.
08:45 AM
The Awareness Exercise
Is it possible to find peace and stillness in the daily rush of life? Are you feeling stressed, rushed, as if life is flying by and you are not really getting to what you want?
Try this simple exercise and practise it regularly to slow down a little and enjoy life more. Vuso guides us through this simple but timeless exercise that has been in use in the School for decades. It's like a short meditation or mindful practice, focusing on awareness. It touches on each of the senses, allowing us to connect with the present moment, and rest for a short while - it's a great tool for daily life.
09:30 AM
Zen and Zest - Living a Healthy Life
Dr Attie and Julia both have practices in Natural health care, and have been members of the School of Practical Philosophy. In today’s session, we will attempt to answer three questions:
- What IS a Zestful life?
- Where does Natural medicine fit in?
- Does Self-Awareness, Philosophy and Meditation form part of Healthy Living and why?
11:00
The Art of Making Bread
In this session we talk to Doris and Hans about bread making. Doris comes from a family of bread makers, and she will demonstrate making "Zopf" - a Swiss Sunday breakfast bread.
01:00 PM
Gardening: A Pure and Simple Joy
A video demonstration of the steps needed to prepare, plant and enjoy your own herb and vegetable garden at home.
02:00 PM
Story Time, Closing and Dedication
Favourite stories with a philosophical basis that originate from different cultures.
Closing and dedication.
It would be most propitious if all could attend this session to round off the weekend.
- Having registered you will be sent a personal link to the session (this link cannot be shared).
- The sessions marked "SPP Meditating Students" are for current SPP students who are meditating in the school. All other sessions are open to all SPP students and their family and friends.
- If you have any problems registering please contact Karen 082 975 8352 or k8r8n68@gmail.com