Philosophy ‘Shorts’

You may have heard of sacred places, sacred sites, sacred geometry.  Have you ever wondered what that actually means?  What makes something sacred?

One suggestion could be that for something to be sacred, it must reflect the same sacred dimensions of our own inner self, our own inner being. And for us to be able to truly recognise a sacred place or thing, we must be willing to acknowledge that sacredness within our own selves.

Have you ever seen a natural scene, or a magnificent building, or a beautiful painting, and been awestruck by it? What do you think caused that response?

Sri Shantananda Sarasvati spoke at length about number, providing deep insight into the true nature of the Creation. Great teachers such as Plato and Pythagoras were most interested in symbolic and sacred mathematics. Written at the entrance to Plato’s Academy were the words ‘Let not he who has not geometry enter here.’ And in Plato’s Republic, it was stated that the first subject for the education of the youth would be arithmetic (or number).

‘The study and contemplation of number and geometry can show us, if we look with the eyes of ancient mathematical philosophers, that neither outer nature nor human nature is the hodgepodge it may seem.  Symbolic mathematics provides a map of our own inner psychological and sacred spiritual structure.’
Michael S. Schneider: ‘A Beginners Guide to Constructing the Universe’

So, let’s take a look at the numbers.

Marita Brewster is a foundation member of the School of Philosophy in Melbourne, and has studied, practiced and tutored philosophical concepts for over 40 years.

She leads the Plato faculty in the School of Philosophy, and facilitates seminars in Platonic philosophy in Australia and abroad.