The ideas held by individuals and societies are of profound importance
in shaping and governing their lives. The philosophical quest begins
with such eternal questions as 'What is this creation?', 'What force
has brought it into existence and sustains it?' and 'What is my relation
to all this?' In the School these are dealt with as practical rather
than academic questions and it is found that only by the experience
of knowledge in practice does real understanding arise. Students meet
in groups to discuss and work together to come to such understanding.
The School has drawn inspiration from many of the great teachings available
to mankind and in particular from the Vedic tradition as propounded
by Shri Shantananda Saraswati, the late Shankaracharya of northern India.
This is the philosophy of non-duality which teaches the unity between
the individual self and the universal consciousness. Such differences
as seem to exist in creation are essentially illusory in nature. With
the forces of reason and love, the underlying unity may be discovered
and life may be led by individuals and societies in such a way that
is liberating for all. To aid this process the practice of meditation
is offered. This is a traditional system based on the use of a mantra
and offers greater depth of experience of unity. The aim is the full
realisation of the truth of one Self.
The Vedic teaching is reflected in many of the western teachings. The
works of Plato, his Florentine follower, Marsilio Ficino, and many others
are pursued and are found to have as much relevance and value today
as when they originated.
There are seventy sister schools around the world - in North and South
America, Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand - each one reflecting
the society in which it was established. The first of these, the School
of Economic Science, was founded in London in 1937, and continues to
flourish today.
