Peter Bolland

Join us in person. Twenty five centuries ago an Indian teacher named Siddhartha Gautama courageously challenged the prevailing wisdom of his time through an arduous process of self-examination and experimentation. Known to us as the Buddha, or “the awakened one,” he spent his life teaching others a clear and simple method of breaking free from habitual, conditioned thinking and awakening into the here and now. We will examine the central hub of all Buddhist philosophy and practice – the Four Noble Truths – and bring these ancient, down to earth insights to bear on the everyday problems of our lives. Free.

Join us every Friday morning via Zoom from 10:00-10:30 for Friday Reflections with Peter Bolland as we go deeper to reveal the wisdom hidden just beneath the surface of our everyday lives. New themes, questions, and readings every week. $5

In “The Great Philosophers” series we explore the most influential luminaries in the history of Western philosophy, from Socrates to Sartre. And it all began with Socrates (470-399 BCE), the “gad fly” of Athens, teacher to so many, including the young Plato who would go on to devote his career to writing the most important philosophical dialogues in the Western canon, nearly all featuring his long-dead teacher Socrates. Against a backdrop of moral relativism, destructive self-interest, and political chaos (sound familiar?) we find Socrates cajoling his fellow Athenians, and us, to devote our energies instead to the care of our souls. $15. In person or via Zoom.

Join us every Friday morning via Zoom from 10:00-10:30 for Friday Reflections with Peter Bolland as we go deeper to reveal the wisdom hidden just beneath the surface of our everyday lives. New themes, questions, and readings every week. $5

It is said that all philosophy after Plato is “merely footnotes”—so formative is the work of this 5th century BCE Greek philosopher. Using his dead teacher Socrates as a character in nearly all of his dialogues, Plato (429-347 BCE) essentially invents the philosophic method while laying the foundation for Western philosophy across metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. Even now we recognize our own philosophical curiosity and longing in his remarkable writing and incomparable influence. In our ongoing series on The Great Philosophers, Plato is not one to miss. $15

Join us every Friday morning from 10:00-10:30 via Zoom for Friday Reflections with Peter Bolland as we go deeper to reveal the wisdom hidden just beneath the surface of our everyday lives. New themes, questions, and readings every week. $5

Join us in person at the beautiful Rancho Santa Fe Senior Center for this one-hour presentation. The ancient Chinese wisdom tradition of Daoism has been challenging, informing, and illuminating truth-seekers for thousands of years. But the insights of Laozi and Zhuangzi come from another place and time – a rural, patriarchal, pre-industrial world with little resemblance to our own. Can the wisdom of these ancient sages still be relevant today? How can we adapt the teachings of the Daodejing and Zhuangzi to the problems of our modern lives? What’s surprising is how easily this is accomplished, and how rich and vivifying the results. (Free)

Join us every Friday morning from 10:00-10:30 via Zoom for Friday Reflections with Peter Bolland as we go deeper to reveal the wisdom hidden just beneath the surface of our everyday lives. New themes, questions, and readings every week. $5

The most important pupil to emerge from Plato’s Academy in Athens, Aristotle (384-322 BCE) would end up challenging Plato’s core metaphysical assertions while refining and strengthening his ethical theories. In our ongoing series on The Great Philosophers, join us for this exploration into the way Aristotle shaped the Western worldview like no other philosopher before or since. Join us in person at Grossmont Center, or via Zoom from anywhere in the world. $15

Join us every Friday morning from 10:00-10:30 via Zoom for Friday Reflections with Peter Bolland as we go deeper to reveal the wisdom hidden just beneath the surface of our everyday lives. New themes, questions, and readings every week. $5