Infopoint Spirituality & Philosophy

 

It is currently in the Maieutics School’s planning to introduce a reporting and information point at ZB/Library of Zeeland. This involves having a place in the library building where knowledgeable people can be contacted about the existence of extraordinary experiences, such as, for example, the out-of-body experience or OBE (= the sudden experience of feeling that you are suddenly outside your body), the shared-death experience or SDE (= the sudden experience of ‘escorting’ someone who is dying into another reality) and, of course, the near-death experience or NDE (= the sudden experience of no longer being in material reality).

The approach is for people to tell their stories one-on-one in a neutral, safe environment. If necessary, general information can be provided about the experience they themselves or perhaps someone they know has been through. The reporting and information point is being set up because research shows that on the one hand there is a need to talk about this topic, while on the other hand it is still taboo. Talking about it can promote coping.

 

Who is the Infopoint Spirituality & Philosophy for?

Both people with extraordinary experience and interested parties are welcome to exchange views with us.

 

When does the Spirituality Infopoint & Philosophy start?

As soon as more is known about the exact start, it will be published here. In the meantime, it may already be possible to request an interview via the Contact webpage.

The Philosophical Practice

The background of the Infopoint Spirituality & Philosophy is what is nowadays called the Philosophical Practice. It can be described as a kind of spiritual workshop where one tries to become wiser. Of course, we already know other kinds of practices, such as the dentist’s practice or the psychologist’s practice. But those two are mainly of medical interest. It is different with Philosophical Practice. There, it is mainly about insight into a person’s philosophical development and/or insight into existential issues, such as certain life choices, for example. Of course, psychology and philosophy can touch each other, but the philosopher does not so much want to treat a psychological problem, such as a phobia, for example. He wants to act as a sounding board, helping people gain more insight into their lives as such. Several forms of Philosophical Practice currently exist in the Netherlands. There is even an Association for Philosophical Practice (Vereniging voor Filosofische Praktijk – VFP).

The Philosophical Practice in the Maieutics School

As also described on the homepage and explained in the booklet Unconditional Love, in the Maieutics School we start from two fundamental human experiences: 1) the experience of finitude (doubt experience) and 2) that of infinity (totality experience). To the first kind we count experiences of failure, betrayal, mortality, fear, grief or pain. To the second kind we count the near-death experience (NDE) and similar experiences. Both doubt and totality experiences give rise to philosophical questions about life. That is the focus of the Philosophical Practice in the Maieutics School. We want to make those questions negotiable.

Research shows that knowledge from the totality experience has a beneficial effect on the human psyche. That knowledge leads us to the insight that we ourselves and others are essentially loving beings. This insight alone can help us in dealing with ourselves and others. If egoism and narcissism make way for a healthy form of self-love (= caring for and accepting oneself), inner emptiness and dependency disappear. From this state of personal fulfilment and satisfaction, one is naturally also more loving towards one’s fellow man. After all, one must first feel love to be able to give it….

Furthermore, the totality experience takes us back to our metaphysical source of Unconditional Love. That insight can be a great inspiration for the hope of an afterlife. By this is meant a life that is in many ways completely incomparable to life here on earth. The metaphysical world exceeds all our expectations.

Philosophical Practice in the Maieutics School aims to zoom in on the aspects just mentioned. In doing so, the philosophical practitioner acts as a discussion partner who helps the visitor to achieve clarity for himself. The aim is to find insights that the person concerned can then work with. It is known, for instance, that suicidal people, after they have come into contact with knowledge from the totality experience, either through personal experience or not, often do not try again. It is also known that the totality experience can help grieving after a death.