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About the workshop and free sessions
The Path to Inner Knowledge is a 6-week workshop made of selected topics from our program.
We will meet on Wednesdays, on a weekly basis.
When?
Starting November 8th, 2023
Where?
The Atrium (next to Vroman's bookstore)
709 E Colorado Blvd,
Pasadena
If you want to get a taste of our sessions, then join us on one of the Wednesdays– September 13th, October 18th, November 1st– in a free session on Strength, Happiness and Virtues. Click one of the RSVPs on the right/below to see the details.
The session will include an outline of our philosophical approach and a review of The Path to Inner Knowledge workshop.
If you like it, you can sign up for the full workshop, which starts on
November 8th, 6.30 - 8.00 pm, and continues every Wednesday for 6 weeks.
Full workshop price- 90$
* Discount for the workshop will be given to participants in the Free Sessions
the topics
Below are some of the topics that you will encounter through the workshop.
Welcome Session - It's OK to Be Good and Happy
It’s no coincidence that some of the happiest people are also the most virtuous and resilient. Having a strong inner compass allows them to navigate the unpredictable hardships of life. This truth has been known for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks believed being a good person wasn’t just a good idea – it was the most logical way to live. Acting virtuously was seen as the Way of the Hero – it formed a powerful connection between humans and the gods. But you don’t have to be religious or have a fancy education to live a happier, more virtuous life. All it takes is a single step…
In this session, we will:
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See how “know thyself” can make you stronger
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Understand why living ethically will lead to happiness and well-being
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Get an Eastern answer to the age-old question “Who am I?” (yes, the West missed a few things)
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Discuss the relationship between authenticity and consciousness
Session 1 - The Inner Warrior
Everyone has an Inner Warrior inside us. But sometimes this Warrior is asleep when we need it most. And sometimes we forget it’s even there. But if you know how to awaken it, the Warrior will be a ferocious ally. This session, we will study how to do that by discussing the ancient Indian myth of Arjuna the warrior. We’ll also see how precious teachings sometimes hide within stories.
In this session, we will:
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Learn how to take the varied challenges of life and reduce them to a simple, workable scenario.
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Discover how your Inner Warrior functions, and how it can help you become the captain of your own ship.
Session 2 - Finding Destiny
Have you wondered if you’re here for a reason? Maybe you think you’re meant for something more, or that your life was supposed to turn out differently than it has. The word Dharma describes a perfect, mathematical harmony in the cosmos. Everything has its place, and everything fits perfectly together in ways we can only barely understand. Your place within that harmony is what some call Destiny. According to Eastern thought, moving towards one’s Destiny is the whole purpose of life.
In this session, we will:
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Demystify the Eastern concept of Dharma, and how to apply it to yourself.
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Explain Karma, and how it affects your every move.
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Discuss Hindu and Buddhist theories of reincarnation
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Learn about the daily practice of karma yoga, and how it can help you find purpose in life.
Session 3 - Overcoming
We already know that the mind is a powerful tool, but very few of us know how to make it obey our will. This session, we’ll learn how to train your mind by studying the life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as The Buddha. Siddhartha left his comfortable life as a prince to seek an end to human suffering. After reaching enlightenment, he created a simple set of instructions – a manual, of sorts – to help you face life’s challenges successfully.
In this session, we will:
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Practice the art of concentration
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Tackle the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path of Buddhism
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Understand how crisis can become a steppingstone to inner development
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Illuminate the secret of The Middle Way, the principle that paved the Buddha’s path to enlightenment
Session 4 - Fortitude
In the last decade, we’ve witnessed an enormous revival of Stoic philosophy. That’s because these ancient Greco-Roman teachings offer practical, easy-to-understand tools for surviving in a fast-paced materialistic culture like the one we now live in. The Stoics gave us ways to control our lives and develop inner peace in the face of constant adversity. This is the first of two sessions dedicated to Stoicism. The other session is in The Path to Inner Knowledge – Part II.
In this session, we will:
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Discuss why “nothing happens to anybody which he is not fitted by nature to bear” (Marcus Aurelius)
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Compare Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus
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Find out what it means to be a Citizen of the World
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See how happiness results from self-mastery
Session 5 - Breaking the Chains
Is it possible that we can spend all our lives in a dark cave of illusion? According to Plato, the answer is yes – and acknowledging that is the first step to leaving. This session, we’ll let Plato teach us how to free ourselves from mental shackles. Then he’ll challenge us with the question: “Once you’re out, would you return to the cave to rescue your friends?”
In this session, we will:
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Get a glimpse into the life and wisdom of Plato
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Unlock the meaning of the famous Allegory of the Cave
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Observe the culture and beliefs that form our own “cave of illusion”
Session 6 - The Hero of Your Story
Do you yearn to live a more meaningful life? Do you wish to overcome your weaknesses and unlock your full potential? Do you have a desire to help others, and not just yourself? If you’ve answered YES to these questions, you are ready to become a HERO! George Lucas made the Hero’s Journey famous when he used it to create the plot of Star Wars. But the meaning is much deeper, and can be applied to your own life.
In this session, we will:
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Learn the steps to become a hero
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Discuss fun examples from movies and real life
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Practice implementing the process to find fulfilment
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Contemplate how your own journey can benefit those around you
Completion of the Workshop
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Consistent with the completion of the workshop participants may request a certificate of completion.
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Successful completion is a pre-requisite for attending The Path to Inner Knowledge—Part II.
The Path to Inner Knowledge—Part II
Upon successful completion of the first part of the workshop, participants are entitled to continue to the second part. The second part lasts about 4 months and is sensitive to the pace of the group. Payment is on monthly basis.
The topics include:
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Confucius—Change the World by Changing Yourself
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Initiation according to the enigmatic Tibetan text The Voice of the Silence
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Self Sufficiency by Aristotle
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More on the Stoics
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Education vs. Self Education
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The Weighing of the Heart and other symbols from mysterious Egypt
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The Blind Men and the Elephant and The Transmission of Wisdom
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Predicting the Future by Knowing Myth and history
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Freedom and Destiny revisited
New Acropolis reserves the rights to admission to the workshop
