Event

Great Books

"Great Books" is a course in applied mysticism, using books from great spiritual thinkers throughout the ages to spur us on to see our lives, and the surrounding society, from a very different perspective. Every week, we read 30-50 page excerpts of one book, then spend the class discussing the ideas, as well as how they might impact the manner in which we view and live our own lives.

Mysticism is different from religion in that it's basis is "I should," not "you should." It also points toward the question mark at the heart of being, instead of the exclamation point (as do religions).

Courses are held Tuesdays, 2-5 pm at Dixon place, and the course will explore:

March 7: Aldous Huxley, The Perennial Philosophy
March 14: Early Upanishads (Hindu)
March 21: Confucius and Mencius (Taoism)
March 28: Bodidharma and Nagarjuna (Buddhism)
April 4: Epictetus (Stoic)
April 18: Origen (early Christianity -- before it became a state relgion)
April 25: Idries Shah, Tales of the Dervishes (Sufism)
May 2: Martin Buber, Hasidic Sayings and Tales (18th century Hasidism)
May 9: Black Elk Speaks (Lakota Sioux)
May 16: Gandhi (contemporary peacemaker)
May 23: Wendell Berry (contemporary Animist)