Our purpose is to reaffirm the Perennial Philosophy which,
like an underground river, has flowed through all civilizations and all ages,
and wherever it sends up springs and fountains,
Beauty and Wisdom have flowered
KATHLEEN RAINE
A part-time Diploma Course (non-accredited) over two years
Applications are now being taken for the next Foundation Course beginning in October 2025
Course Objectives
The purpose of the two-year course is to provide an introduction to the universal tradition that is our spiritual heritage, through direct engagement with key texts of both the West and the East. It offers an opportunity to study works of philosophy, poetry, and mysticism that have shaped and nourished civilization. By exploring perennial teachings, which for centuries have renewed and sustained our culture, it offers a vital counterbalance to prevailing assumptions and values. The expertise of the tutors is devoted to providing the most direct encounter possible with the teachings themselves, which, springing from the love of wisdom and the quest for truth, open up infinite riches for study and contemplation. It is hoped that students will learn from, and not merely about, some of the profoundest thinkers the world has known.
NOTE ON DISTANCE LEARNING:
The Temenos Academy does not provide distance learning, record the seminars, or make the curriculum available to non-students.
For those wishing to explore Dante’s DIVINE COMEDY from afar, we suggest listening to the unique series of 21 talks given in 2001-2 by the late John Allitt, Fellow of the Temenos Academy (available in the website archive HERE).
TO VIEW A FILM ABOUT PART 1 OF THE FOUNDATION COURSE PLEASE CLICK HERE
Part One: The Western Tradition: Oct 2025 – June 2026
Students will be introduced to seminal texts of metaphysics, the visionary imagination and mysticism in the Western tradition. These formative works of the West include readings from the Dialogues of Plato, the Enneads of Plotinus, the poetic vision of Dante’s Divine Comedy, the Christian mystical writings of Meister Eckhart, and the theology of love in St Bernard of Clairvaux’s On Loving God.
Part One: structure
The course is divided into three modules over three terms:
a) Metaphysics: 10 weeks, 7 October to 9 December 2025
b) The Visionary Imagination: 12 weeks, 6 January to 24 March 2026
c) Mysticism: 10 weeks, 21 April to 23 June 2026
Part One: content
Metaphysics
Weeks 1–5: An introduction to Plato’s account of the creation of the cosmos, the nature of reality and the relationship between knowledge and the real, the mystical vision of the philosopher, the nature of the soul and Plato’s understanding of philosophy as a spiritual practice.
Textual sources: Timaeus, Republic, Phaedrus and Phaedo.
Weeks 6–10: An introduction to Plotinus’ understanding of the One and the Many, the soul’s descent into the body and the path of return to the transcendent.
Textual source: Selections from the Enneads.
The Visionary Imagination
The full text of Dante’s great visionary poem, The Divine Comedy, will be read in English translation. The module will cover the metaphysical and cosmological background to the poem as well as introducing students to the rich heritage of illustrations of the Divine Comedy from medieval to modern times.
Weeks 1–4: Inferno
Weeks 5–8: Purgatorio
Weeks 9–12: Paradiso
Mysticism
Weeks 1–5: An introduction to the great Christian mystic Meister Eckhart through selected sermons, Biblical commentaries and treatises.
Textual Sources: Sermons, Commentary on John 1, Book of Benedictus, and On Detachment.
Weeks 6–10: An introduction to the mystical theology of love in St Bernard of Clairvaux.
Textual Source: On Loving God.
Foundation Course Part 1 flyer 2025-2026
Part Two: Eastern Traditions: October 2026- June 2027
Students will be introduced to textual sources of the perennial philosophy in three major Eastern traditions: Hinduism, Taoism and Islamic Mysticism. Through guided reading of the The Bhagavad Gītā and the Upaniṣhads; the Tao Te Ching, Chuang Tzu and the Huai Nan Tzu; and ’Attar’s The Conference of the Birds, along with the writings of the great Islamic metaphysician Ibn ’Arabi, Part Two will ground students in the wisdom traditions of the East.
Part Two: structure
The course is divided into three modules over three terms:
a) Hinduism: 10 weeks, 6 October to 8 December 2026
b) Taoism: 10 weeks, 12 January to 23 March 2027
c) Islamic Mysticism: 10 weeks, 20 April to 22 June 2027
Part Two: content
Hinduism
Weeks 1-5: An introduction to the classic of Hindu religious philosophy, the Bhagavad Gītā. The full text will be read.
Weeks 6-10: A study of selected passages from the principal Upaniṣhads, focusing on teachings concerning the Self or Ātman, the doctrines of rebirth and salvation, and the concept of Brahman. Where possible, the commentaries of Shankara will be used as a guide.
Textual sources: Selections from the Upaniṣhads and The Bhagavad Gītā.
Taoism
An exploration of key themes of Taoism, including heaven and earth, life and death, transformation and illumination.
Weeks 1-4: Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching (complete text).
Weeks 5-7: Selected writings from the Chuang Tzu.
Week 8-10: Selected writings from the Huai Nan Tzu.
Textual Sources: Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, and selections from the Chuang Tzu, and the Huai Nan Tzu.
Islamic Mysticism
Weeks 1–5: A study of the full text of ’Attar’s The Conference of the Birds, introducing basic principles of creation, unity, self-knowledge and the spiritual quest.
Weeks 6-10: An introduction to the work of Ibn ’Arabī, based on selected readings from The Ringstones of Wisdom, exploring these themes in more depth.
Textual Sources: ’Attar, The Conference of the Birds. Ibn ’Arabī: selections from Fuṣūṣ al-ḥikam (The Ringstones of Wisdom), al-Futuḥāt al-Makkiyya (The Meccan Revelations) and Kitab al-Isfar (The Book of Journeying).
Foundation Course PART 2 Flyer 2026-2027
Tutors
DR VALENTIN GERLIER (Metaphysics) is a lecturer in Theology, Philosophy and Ethics at the University of Chester and Research Associate at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, Cambridge. He is a tutor and member of the Temenos Academic Board and teaches Shakespeare at the Institute of Continuing Education, University of Cambridge.
DR MARK VERNON (The Visionary Imagination) is a psychotherapist and writer. He has a PhD in ancient Greek philosophy, and degrees in theology and physics. His books include A Secret History of Christianity: Jesus, the Last Inkling, and the Evolutuion of Consciousness, Dante’s Divine Comedy: A Guide for the Spiritual Journey, and Awake! William Blake Reenchants the World. He lives amidst the ‘lovely hills of Camberwell’ in south London. For more see www.markvernon.com
DR JOSEPH MILNE (Mysticism & Hinduism) now retired Honorary Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Kent, is a Fellow of the Temenos Academy, Trustee of The Eckhart Society, and Editor of Land & Liberty magazine. His main interests are the medieval Christian mystics, the interpretation of Shakespeare, and the Western tradition of natural law.
SANDRA HILL (Taoism), after completing postgraduate studies in fine art at St. Martin’s School of Art, travelled to the Far East to pursue her interest in the influence of Eastern philosophy on Western art. She lived for four years in Japan, returning to the UK to study both classical philosophical and medical texts. Sandra currently practises Chinese calligraphy, Taoist meditation and acupuncture.
JANE CLARK MA (Islamic Mysticism) is a Senior Research Fellow of the Muhyiddin Ibn ’Arabi Society. She has a Masters degree in Medieval Arabic Philosophy from the University of Oxford, and has been studying, teaching and lecturing on the ideas of Ibn ’Arabi for more than thirty years.
Tuition
Study of the modules will take place over six terms, with weekly meetings led by the module tutor on Tuesday evenings between 6.45pm and 8.45pm. Students will be expected to read approximately thirty or forty pages of text each week. Tuition will be conducted by lectures and guided discussions on the content of the previous week’s reading.
Accreditation
In order to receive a Certificate of Completion students will be required to write one essay of approximately 2000 words for each module and to attend a minimum of 80% of classes. Students who successfully complete both Part One and Part Two, and fulfil these criteria, will be eligible for a Temenos Academy Foundation Course Diploma. However, students may also attend the classes and not write an essay and therefore not receive the Certificate or Diploma.
NB The Temenos Academy awards its own beautifully designed and hand-inscribed Diplomas – the Academy is not accredited by any other institution.
Venue
The Art Workers Guild, 6 Queen Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 3AT.
Nearest Underground Russell Square or Holborn
Cost
THE COURSE FEE is £1600 for two years (Part One and Part Two). A non-refundable deposit of £400 will be required by 30 April 2025 in order to secure your place, the remainder (£1200) payable by 31 July 2025.
Separate Parts (Part One or Part Two) and individual modules will only be offered if spaces are available, at £900 per Part or £400 per module.
Early booking is recommended.
The Course is open to students 18 years of age and over.
We regret that no refunds can be made after the start of the course.
Discretionary concessions are available on application stating reasons to temenosacademy@myfastmail.com
Enrolment
To enrol please complete the Enrolment Form on the flyers (links above) or contact the Course Registrar, Emma Clark at: temenosacademy@myfastmail.com
On receipt of your payment, the curriculum will be sent to you.
Your enrolment includes an annual membership of the Temenos Academy, you will be sent the TEMENOS ACADEMY REVIEW, other publications as issued, and the programme of public lectures and seminars for that year.