The School offers Zoom Classes. I completed 11 of the 12 sessions. The first session being Free. They realigned the program so I was told it was okay to go from 9 to 11. Then onto 12 then it was completed. I met 52 like minded people the first session and as topics changed and schedules changed new faces and ideas joined in. It is a commitment to be present on that week night or Sat am for 10 weeks. The knowledge is there... I learned the most from My peers. The School is what you make of it meaning if you participate there is wisdom to take with you. Stillness What would a wise person do Waking sleep Knowledge on so much.. I would say try a session, see how you feel with it. I am sure the gain is there for those that are seekers. Stay the journey Or exit at your end.... The School offers advanced courses, and the chance to meditate together. read more

I really enjoyed the environment of the people. It seemed like a place where people go and open themselves to express their opinion and what concerns them. There are all different reasons why people try to experience the class, but mostly curious to what it may be. During the second class, I realized that it was not for me. I understood it to be more of a self-help class than a philosophical class. I was more interested in why than how to. I was not looking for a peaceful state of mind through meditation but was hoping to gain more wisdom through contrary philosophical discussions. read more

If you're after a philosophy class that can genuinely shift the way you see yourself, the world, and your relationships--this is the spot. It's about finding a deeper kind of happiness that isn't tied to everything going your way, and learning how to keep steady when life isn't perfect. I participated in their 10‑week course at the downtown location and loved it. All the learning happens in class and during the week you just practice what you've learned, no outside reading etc. Easy and efficient. I've continued to take classes and they definitely deliver. read more

This is a cult. This is a cult. This is a cult. If you are a woman this cult's true philosophy is all about maintaining the patriarchy and women diminish and lose agency as the men flourish. I second TcN's account . After a couple of years you are initiated with some weird surprise Hindu religious ceremony which I believe is partly about testing your degree of compliance with the "surprise"! The lack of transparency is a tremendous red flag. However there are several red flags. They give you a paper to fill out I think after three semesters to share intimate details on your life and what you are struggling with. THey are looking for the most vulnerable people and this information is used by them in recruiting you further. read more

I attended classes here for several years; in my opinion, the school is erroneously named. While early classes do blend Eastern and Western ideas, by the 3rd or 4th semester, it begins to become clear that their worldview is based in Vedic thought. Which would be fine if they were honest and admitted this up front. At a certain point, every session includes a period of meditation (which I looked forward to). But to introduce each group to meditation, the students have to travel upstate to a property owned by the school where they partake in a quasi-religious ceremony that includes getting dressed up, bringing an offering, and kneeling before an image of the founder's guru. No one told my class in advance that this would be happening, and I got nothing but resistance when I objected to the religious nature of the ceremony. Later on, the idea of reincarnation was introduced in class as casually as the idea that rain is wet, as if we would take it as obvious that it's real (because it's part of the Indian tradition). The instructor was taken aback when I made a reasoned argument against their assertion, and would only discuss it outside of class away from the rest of the group. Despite the obvious religious undertones and the prominence of Vedic thought, those who run the school relentlessly objected to the idea that the organization could be a religion or religious. It became clear, as we neared the end of our 5th semester, that my questioning was not exactly welcome. Since then, I've sought my own path. It may be good for some people, but not what I was looking for; if I wanted to study religion, I'd go back to church. fwiw - to the reviewer who said there was never any pressure or reminders about upcoming semester, I think she is mistaken; the administrators never neglected to tell us when the next semester started, and made it clear that more advanced students were "encouraged" to volunteer our time at the school. read more

This organization is truly unique. I HIGHLY recommend attending the intro class which is offered on most days and at various times throughout the week. This is not a religious organization. It is a not for profit organized to help people apply classic Eastern and Western philosophy to their daily lives. When I took the intro class after seeing the billboard on the subway, I could not guess how much this school would change my life for the better. Starting in January 2014, the intro class which runs for 10 weeks costs $10.00 instead of the usual $90.00 in honor of the school's 50 year Jubilee anniversary. I promise it will be the best $10 bucks you will have ever spent! read more

School of Practical Philosophy - Specialty Schools Near Me - New York, New York

Good school - interesting people are drawn to the place via the subway ads. I learned some valuable lessons / techniques for dealing with difficult (corporate) life situations and people, so that alone has been helpful. Well worth the modest tuition. Rick Martin - manhattan read more

School of Practical Philosophy - School of Practical Philosophy - Specialty Schools Near Me - New York, New York

Seriously? I'm the first to review this school? Hard to believe since apparently it's been here since the '60s, but I'll give it a go. Most of us probably know of this place thanks to their subway ads--they hold three separate 'sessions' throughout the year of 10-week philosophy classes. Being *practical* philosophy, the focus is on thoughts and exercises you can try out and apply to your life instead of lectures on the history of philosophy or something like that. I've completed two weeks so far, and will update after I've completed the entire session to give overall impressions. The good: There's a lot of good here, in that they offer the classes Monday-Saturday so you can go any day of the week, and I think at $90 for ten weeks that's more than a fair price. If you continue with their Philosophy 2, 3, etc then you get a discount; the same building is also used as a Philosophy Day School for children which I think is an amazing idea. The fact that something like this exists is wonderful, and attendees of the classes I've been to so far have been from all across the NYC spectrum (not just UES-ers) which is great because you get so many different perspectives and ideas. The not-so-good: It's difficult to articulate, but at the end of both classes I've left with a slight sense of dissatisfaction, moreso after the second than the first. In the first session you're given a handout of the topics for the next ten weeks, and they all sound really interesting...but for the second week (whose topic was Levels of Awareness/Being Awake) we barely touched on it, with the instructor not even bringing up the topic until there were only 20 minutes left of a 2.5 hour class. The rest of the time was spent on a meditative exercise (which I believe is helpful but is not really what I signed up for here) and unfocused, meandering questions/answers from around the group. With no real focus until towards the end of the class, I left feeling like I hadn't gotten much out of it. It might just be that particular group dynamic isn't a good fit, so I'm going to try another session during the week (instead of the Saturday morning I've done so far) to try a different instructor and see how that goes. I'm still excited about the overall goal of this course and will write an updated review in about two months to see if it's been a successful 10 weeks. read more

I took the Intro to Philosophy class. I enjoyed the lectures and exercises. The only drawback to this was the location (it's hard to get to) and it's a long class that lets out late. Sometimes the discussions would get off topic because it's an active class and lots of people raise their hands and want to share and say something but I found that like the previous reviewer said, sometimes it would meander and it would be annoying when people were not absorbing the concepts and getting off topic. If you like Philosophical discussions about life and you want to lean how to examine your life in more detail, I would recommend the Intro to Philosophy lecture series. It definitely gives you a lot to think about in your life. read more

"What Would a Wise Man/Woman Do?" When faced with a problem, use this question to get outside of yourself and come up with a practical solution. It may not come immediately, but come it will. This, together with an unusual self-relaxation exercise, are the biggest concepts I learned alongside some 30 classmates wanting to live in peace and harmony in NYC (which, I know, is almost a contradiction in terms). The secret to doing this is the same as the secret to getting to play at Carnegie Hall: practice, practice, practice - which there is a lot of here. The good: Some teachers are AMAZING, leading great discussions and pulling quotes from classic philosophers out of their heads. After my first class, I did the two exercises prescribed, and felt "high" for the entire week. Also good: this school draws people from around the city. Black and white, rich and poor, Manhattan, Bronx and people who speak with funny accents - all of us paying rapt attention, all of us digging into our psyches, really examining ourselves. It is humanity at its best. The bad: Some teachers are less inspiring, and you are on your own to find the one(s) who best resonates with you. And once you find that teacher, get his or her name right there, that very night. Because administrators often does not know who is teaching what class, especially if the amazing teacher is a one night sub. What's that like? Imagine coming across Socrates or Aristotle by chance - and then never being able to get their name to find them again. Quick summary: If you are looking to learn a more peaceful, focused way and are willing to practice - not know but practice - the exercises they give, you won't be disappointed. read more

I have attended classes at this school for many years and now attend via the distance learning program as I have moved to Columbus, Ohio. That probably says how I feel about what I learn from these courses. To put it succinctly, I have learned to respond to situations (and people) rather than react. Life is more peaceful, satisfying and fun. There is so much more I could say, but the cost is so reasonable, so why not experience it for yourself? read more

I've been a student here for many years. In my very first class and many times thereafter, I was encouraged to neither accept or reject the material offered, but rather to take what I heard in class and experience it in day to day living. I did. And what was revealed in those experiences shifted my perspective to a way of life unimaginable to the way I used to live, which was primarily in my head. read more

Real life practical philosophy. The teachings here are pointings to the TRUTH. Everyone at the school is pleasant and helpful. A must for the toolbox of your life! read more

I have been attending classes for over two years and it has actually changed my life! Aside from providing me with real tools for living a happier and more peaceful life, I have met the most amazing, smart people and am constantly learning new things and exploring new ideas. The minimal cost in exchange for the benefits you receive make this the best deal in the city. I would highly recommend the School of Practical Philosophy to anyone looking to improve themselves, learn something new and meet and interact with kind, great people. read more

If you're like me (& most of the students here), you'll have seen the advertisements for this school in the subway for years and thought about attending, but didn't pull the trigger, until...Having just completed the 10 week Intro course, I can say that it's well worth your time to try it out. Am I enlightened? Will I no longer experience negative thought? Em, no. I found it challenging to sit through a 2.5hr class each week after work, and listening to my fellow students' sometimes long-winded observations could be tedious. Despite that, I recommend the course. Even if you pick up and apply only a couple of the weekly "tools" to your life, it can be useful. The student body is also much more diverse than what I typically encounter in my day to day life, and it's been a good reminder that intelligence, thoughtfulness, and insightfulness is demonstrated by people from all walks of life.@ read more