Can wisdom be taught? What if it were more about questions than finding “the answer”? How might reading be a meditative practice? Can writing from earlier centuries provide inspiration without mediation by academic experts?
Valentin Gerlier is a scholar, musician and author, who is also the founder of the School of Sophia – a new hybrid educational platform that explores these sorts of subjects. “Inspired by the ancient Wisdom Schools”, its seminars are grounded in collective inquiry, with experiential insights as part of the process.
Our conversation considers how wisdom relates to worldly action. The school’s curriculum asks about power: “Can it flourish for the good, or is it something to surrender?” Could a deeper intelligence help? In addition to discussing that, we explore some of the influences on Valentin’s work, including:
Mysticism, Joseph Milne and the Temenos Academy
Satish Kumar, Schumacher College and Small is Beautiful
The texts for this term are The Tempest by William Shakespeare and Simone Weil’s Gravity and Grace. A recorded introductory meeting will be archived here. Weekly sessions are on Mondays from February 2, with in-person gatherings to follow.
* For yogic perspectives on wisdom, join me for a course at truthofyoga.com *
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