Philosophy 4: Presence
Presence of mind enables us to live fuller, richer lives - and to help others live such lives too. Through this course, we can come to appreciate what the present really is and what it contains. We'll consider the nature of the mind and its amazing powers and capabilities.
The next term of practical philosophy is devoted to Presence. of Mind. Enjoy the good company of philosophic friends on a journey of discovery, to the source of true satisfaction.
Tuesday evenings at 7.15pm, from 5 May 2026
This course will be delivered in a hybrid format of six in-person and five online sessions. Plus - not to be missed! - an in-person Practice & Study Day on Sunday 5th July.
See for yourself the amazing value this course offers:
In-person sessions run from 7.15pm until 9.30pm
Venue: Sixth Form Centre, St Albans Girls' School, Sandridgebury Lane, St Albans, AL3 6DB.
The venue has ample free parking. Tea, coffee, and biscuits included.
Accessible, ground floor meeting room
Online sessions are held Tuesdays 7.15pm - 8.45pm - see dates below
Sunday 5th July 2026
A practical and quiet day of mindful work/practice in kitchen, house, or garden, plus an elective study session
Coffee/tea and vegetarian lunch all included
Organised in conjunction with three other branches of the Philosophy School in the south of England
Ample, free parking
ENROL EARLY AND SAVE 20%
All eleven sessions plus Study & Practice Day: Normal price £112.50
Just £90 when you enrol by 4 May 2026
Enrolments open April 2026
Pay monthly by direct debit (£22.50 per month) to lock in the special offer rate and save 20% every time. Download, print, complete and send the direct debit form to arrive by 6 January.
Course dates (provisional)
5 May - In person
12 May - Online
19 May - In person
26 May - Reading week, no session
2 June - In person
9 June - Online
16 June - In person
23 June - Online
30 June - In person
5 JULY - PRACTICE & STUDY DAY, WATERPERRY HOUSE & GARDENS, near Oxford
7 July - Online
14 July - In person
21 July - Online
What equipment do I need?
The course is delivered through a combination of in-person and online meetings plus an audio-visual study module, issued a week before each meeting. This means you need a device such as a PC or laptop with speaker, microphone and camera so that you can (a) watch and listen to the modules and (b) join the online meetings via Zoom. Printed materials are not provided, but a weekly Practices sheet can be downloaded and printed at home.
Topics covered
- Introduction to the subject of presence of mind. What in truth is present and receiving knowledge from what is present.
- The unchanging true existence which is always present. Explanation in Advaita philosophy. Discrimination between transient and eternal.
- Further on the need to discriminate between the transient and the eternal. The Absolute which is infinite and liberating in nature.
- Plato’s analogy of the cave.
- Being in touch with the present and the natural rhythm of events.
- The power of thought as influenced by sattwa, rajas and tamas. The importance of nourishing the mind and how that may be done.
- The power of decision. Some key decisions that need to be addressed in life. Decision making and how that may be done effectively.
- The power of love to transcend limits and overcome division. The five levels of love from the individual to the universal. The nature of criticism.
- The power of will or the power of ‘I’ associated with any desire, thought or activity. A practical approach to action.
- The powers of thought, decision, love and will as universal powers. Oneself as unlimited and the effect on this of identification. The power of attention.
- The need to trust the present moment. Practical approaches to achieve this. The principle of giving what you lack.
- Mindful Working practical session
photocredit: Alexei Maridashvili on Unsplash