Service
“Work is love made visible.”
— Kahlil Gibran
When any kind of work is undertaken in the spirit of love for the benefit of all, relinquishing any personal agenda, it is called Service. The School is truly an organization founded on the idea of Service. With no paid employees, the School of Practical Philosophy relies on students to undertake all operational activities, including maintaining the building, serving refreshments, teaching classes and all administrative efforts.
Once students have been introduced to the meditation practice, they are invited to participate on volunteer Service teams that support the daily operations at the School. While Service fulfills the practical needs of running the School, the philosophic benefits of serving are of even greater value to the students. The aim of Service at the School is to bring the principles presented in the classroom to life in a practical way. Under the guidance of a senior student, those serving learn how to work with refined attention in the present moment; to experience unity with other students in the school; and to work for the welfare of all, free from any limitations or preconceptions about the task at hand.
When approached with the right spirit, these practical experiments with philosophy serve as a gateway to the happiness and freedom that can be availed of in daily living. This mindful, attentive work is essential to the process of self-discovery and Service becomes an integral part of the Philosophy program.
“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”
— Albert Schweitzer.