History

Origins

While it is an independent organisation, the School has its roots in the School of Economic Science, London.

The School of Economic Science was founded in 1937 by a Scottish MP, Andrew MacLaren to "promote the study of the natural laws governing relations in human society, and the study of the laws, customs and practices by which communities are governed" largely as a response to the the severe economic depression of the early 1930s. Leadership was subsequently passed to his son, Leon MacLaren, a barrister, who served in that capacity until his death in 1994.

During the late 1950s philosophy became the central subject of study and practice within the School, and in the early 1960s the School made contact with a leading figure of the vedantic tradition in India, Shantananda Saraswati, from whom it received invaluable guidance in the study and practice of philosophy for over 30 years.

While there has never been an expansion plan as such, sister organisations have been established all over the world in response to demand. Each organisation remains administratively and financially independent. A list of affiliated Schools is available here.

The Wellington School was the first 'foreign' offshoot in 1959 and the Auckland School followed in 1960. Both schools continue to maintain a close relationship with the School of Economic Science.

Comments

We invited all students to respond to two questions;

• What where you looking for when you first attended the Introductory Course?
  • What you have found so far?

These are a selection of comments about the school from current students, some old, some new.

• What I was looking for was an interesting course to keep my mind active and to have some diversion from the usual work related round-about. Friends had told us quite some time before that they had attended one term and that they had really enjoyed it. I was enthusiastic after the first night and suggested to [my wife] that she take the other evening.
  • We haven’t looked back since and simply live and enjoy the good life.
• I had always been looking for "something" but wasn't quite sure what. The School's approach seemed to balance my need for both reason and faith.
  • Wisdom, good company, a framework for life that pretty much works for me.

If you would like to make a comment, please email us, giving your name and Group (for verification).

Detractors

The School has attracted some criticism over the years. Most of this has been derived from criticisms of the School of Economic Science in London. You can learn more about that here. A more recent review describes this as "a particularly good example of how tabloid sensationalism can create considerable amounts of smoke from not very much fire."

Locally, criticism has focused around a perceived lack of transparency in the School's courses with respect to the advaita vedanta component. This criticism has been acknowledged and the School is making considerable efforts to be more overtly transparent and candid in all its activities.

We also are listed at the cults.co.nz website.
The comments made about us are inaccurate and incorrect. The central theme seems to be that we attempt to practise some form of mind control over students. This is simply not true. We offer self-disciplines that may help students gain greater control over their own minds. We do not seek to control anybody else's mind.
We note that this website also dislikes the following groups or individuals; Hindus, Buddhists, Islam, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, Amway, the Freemasons, chiropractors, Phil Goff (the politician), Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses, Harry Potter (the books and movies) and dozens of others.
We recommend you make up your own mind.
If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact us.