Philosophy as a Way of Life: The Buddha, Sceptics, Epicureans and Stoics – Online

Saturday May 8, 2021 – Sunday May 9, 2021, (Start time Sat 15:00 CEST – End time Sun 19:00 CEST)

A weekend with with Stephen Batchelor, John Peacock – online

(This weekend will be taught in english)

From India to Greece, since ancient times, philosophy has been understood as a way of life – to be practiced through rigorous self-examination and ethical living.

This weekend will explore some of the striking parallels between the practices of early Buddhism as found in the discourses of the Pali Canon and those of Hellenistic philosophy as presented in the teachings of the Sceptics, Epicureans and Stoics.

We will look at the historical and intellectual background out of which these traditions emerged, and consider how doctrines of thinkers such as Democritus, Pyrrho, Epicurus, Lucretius, Seneca, Cicero and Sextus Empiricus resonate with those of Gotama and his followers.

Our time will be divided between seminars, discussions and spiritual exercises. As an introduction to Hellenistic philosophy, we recommend Pierre Hadot’s ‘Philosophy as a Way of Life’.

This event is run in collaboration with Bodhi College

Event Details

Sessions:

• From 15:00 to 19:00 CET each day (please select your time zone above to find out your local start time for this course) 

Cost: 

• Supporter Rate: €150
• Standard Rate:   €125
• Supported Rate: €100

This course is offered on a tiered fee basis – please choose the fee which is the most appropriate for your given your current circumstances. The price includes a fee for the teacher, no additional dana will be requested. If you are unable to afford the rate please let us know. We will make sure that no one is turned away because of lack of funds

Additional Information:

• Suitable for new and experienced Dharma practitioners
• Recordings will be available to purchase separately for those unable to attend this event live.

Teachers:

JOHN PEACOCK is both an academic and a Buddhist practitioner of nearly fifty years. Trained initially in the Tibetan Gelugpa tradition in India, he subsequently spent time in Sri Lanka studying Theravada. After doing a doctorate in philosophy, he taught Buddhist and Western philosophy and then Buddhist Studies at the University of Bristol. He went on to be Associate Director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, co-direct the Master of Studies programme in MBCT(Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy) at Oxford University, and teach Buddhist psychology on the same course.  John is now retired from academia and continues to teach meditation, as he has done for more than thirty-five years.

STEPHEN BATCHELOR is a translator, teacher, artist and writer known for his secular approach to the Dharma. A co-founder of Bodhi College, his books include Buddhism Without Beliefs, Living with the Devil, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist and After Buddhism. His most recent publication, The Art of Solitude, was published by Yale University Press in 2020. He lives in southwest France with his wife Martine.