Ongoing Courses

यावद् स्थास्यन्ति गिरयः सरितश्च महीतले । तावद् रामायणकथा लोकेषु प्रचरिष्यति ॥
yāvad sthāsyanti girayaḥ saritaśca mahītale | tāvad rāmāyaṇa-kathā lokeṣu pracariṣyati ||

“As long as the mountains stand and the rivers flow upon the earth, so long will the story of the Ramayana be told among men.” Uttara Kanda, Valmiki’s Ramayana

The Ramayana: The Eternal Journey of Dharma and Devotion

The Ramayana is one of the most timeless epics in Indian culture, shaping the moral and spiritual fabric of society for millennia. It is not just a tale of heroism and adventure but a profound narrative of dharma, the righteous path, woven through the life and challenges of Lord Rama. The epic transcends time with its themes of love, loyalty, sacrifice, and the eternal struggle between good and evil.

As the famous saying from the Ramayana goes, “When Rama is installed in the heart, everything will be added unto you—fame, fortune, freedom, fullness, and the fulfilment of life.” The Ramayana invites us to reflect on the deeper truths of human existence, offering a guide for living a life of virtue in harmony with oneself and the universe.

In this class, we will discuss the various layers of the Ramayana, examining the virtues of Lord Rama, the devotion of Sita, the loyalty of Hanuman, and the choices made by Ravana. We will also reflect on the unwavering commitment of Lakshmana, who exemplifies selfless service; the wisdom and compassion of Vibhishana, who chooses righteousness over familial loyalty; the bravery and dedication of Jatayu, who sacrifices everything for a noble cause; and the deep love and sorrow of Bharata, who, despite being offered the throne, remains loyal to his exiled brother, etc.

We will converse on these characters —their inner conflicts, ethical dilemmas, emotions, insights, and doubts—as they navigate the complexities of life, relationships, and strive toward ultimate freedom. Through this journey, we will discover timeless lessons on values, responsibility, lucidity, resilience, courage, determination; the external challenges we face but also the internal battles that shape our character and destiny — themes that remain deeply relevant to modern life.

In this profound book, Lord Krishna reveals to Arjuna the ultimate reality of oneself, the universe and its cause. He also shows Arjuna the means to prepare him for the knowledge through karma yoga, meditation & other shifts in attitude. This teaching makes us understand the vision of oneness. It also enables us to view life as a great opportunity to utilize our talents, skills, and contribute to the well-being of ourselves and others; and in the process, free ourselves from guilt, hurt, and fears.

The Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad, one of the shortest yet most profound Upaniṣad, offers a gateway to understanding the ultimate nature of reality of the self. This Upanishad expounds the vision of Vedanta through the sacred word Om. The methodology used to unfold the vision is our own waking, dream and deep sleep experience at an individual level and the entire physical, subtle and causal universe at the cosmic level. This text challenges us to question the reality we perceive and recognize our true nature as infinite, unchanging consciousness.

The Gauḍapāda Kārikā, an ancient commentary by the sage Gauḍapāda employs reason, logic, and poetic insight to reveal the relative nature of the world and the ultimate truth being Brahman. Adi Śaṅkarācārya’s commentary on the Kārikā enriches this dialogue with his profound clarity and intellectual rigor, offering seekers a comprehensive understanding of Advaita Vedānta’s essence.

Swami Dayananda’s prayer guide offers a profound pathway to deepen one’s spiritual practice through the power of prayer. Rooted in the ancient wisdom of Vedanta, this guide provides not only prayers but also insights into their meanings and significance, helping practitioners connect with the divine in a meaningful and heartfelt way. It serves as a tool to uplift the mind, instill
peace, and cultivate devotion, making the spiritual journey both accessible and enriching for seekers at all levels

The Mahabharata has deeply influenced every aspect of Indian culture over the last 5,000 years and is revered as the Fifth Veda by Hindus. Even though the main theme of the epic is the Great War in Kurukshetra, it comprises many stories and other stories within stories, all woven together, offering us rich and various parables, insightful dialogues, discussions between various characters and beautiful metaphors. As the famous saying goes, ‘What is found here about the four human pursuits i.e., dharma, artha, kama and moksa, may be found elsewhere. However, what is not found here will not be found elsewhere.’ No wonder that many believe this most magnificent epic to be the greatest story ever told.

In this class, through the story of Mahabharata we will explore human life and its condition such as greatness and misery, the difficulty of being good and pursuing freedom. We will reflect on the various characters of this profound text, their inner conflicts, ethical challenges, the emotions they go through, their insights and doubts, mistakes and falls, as they navigate their lives and strive towards freedom

Chapter 6 has a prominent place in the tradition because of its brilliant and comprehensive unfolding of the teaching. It is in the form of a dialogue between a son, Svetaketu and his father, Aruni. Aruni teaches his son about that one thing knowing which everything is as well known. He employs different methods to make Svetaketu discover the meaning of the famous equation ‘Tat tvam asi, you are that’. Through the sentence ‘Tat Tvam Asi’, the Upanishad reveals our nature to be fullness that we have always been searching for.

In this profound book, Lord Krishna reveals to Arjuna the ultimate reality of oneself, the universe and its cause. He also shows Arjuna the means to prepare him for the knowledge through karma yoga, meditation & other shifts in attitude. This teaching makes us understand the vision of oneness. It also enables us to view life as a great opportunity to utilize our talents, skills, and contribute to the well-being of ourselves and others; and in the process, free ourselves from guilt, hurt, and fears.

La Kena Upanishad se présente sous la forme d’un dialogue qui commence par quelques questions fondamentales posées par un étudiant à son enseignant sur l’existence : sous l’impulsion de qui l’esprit voit-il, entend-il, nourrit-il des désirs, éprouve-t-il des émotions, peut-il se souvenir d’événements passés ? Qu’est-ce qui, en moi, permet à la force vitale d’exercer ses fonctions dans le corps, grâce à quoi je peux parler ?

L’enseignant répond à cette question apparemment sans réponse avec une lucidité étonnante et aide ses élèves à découvrir que la véritable nature du « je » est Brahman, l’Un Sans Second et Illimité, qui est la vérité de l’univers tout entier, et par lequel tout dans cet univers fonctionne comme il le fait. L’enseignement se termine par une histoire captivante sur la quête de cette vérité par le Seigneur Indra.

“Les yeux n’y ont pas accès. L’organe de la parole (également) n’y accède pas, pas plus que le mental. Nous ne le reconnaissons pas comme un objet. Nous ne savons (donc) pas comment transmettre cette connaissance d’une autre manière. Il est en effet différent du connu et aussi de l’inconnu. Voilà comment (nos) prédécesseurs nous l’ont expliqué. ” Kena Upanishad 1.3

Bhāgya Sūktam is a celebrated hymn from the Rig Veda (Ṛg Veda 7.41), traditionally chanted at dawn to invoke Bhaga—the principle of auspiciousness, prosperity, and rightful share in life. The word bhāgya does not merely mean “luck” in a casual sense; it refers to that order by which each person receives what is due, in alignment with the larger cosmic harmony (ṛtam). The hymn invokes multiple deities—Agni, Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa, the Aśvins, and others—not as separate powers competing with each other, but as different expressions of one total, intelligent order that governs life. Morning is emphasized because it symbolizes clarity, renewal, and receptivity—the right inner condition to align with this order.

From an Advaita Vedānta standpoint, Bhāgya Sūktam is not a mere prayer for external wealth, but a refinement of vision. It helps shift the seeker from a narrow, transactional approach to life toward an appreciation of Īśvara as the giver of all results. Prosperity here includes not only material well-being, but also clarity of intellect, supportive relationships, and a mind aligned with dharma. By repeatedly invoking Bhaga, the hymn cultivates a sense of gratitude, trust, and participation in the universal order—laying the psychological and ethical foundation for a life of inner growth and meaningful action.

Meditation: Bringing Isvara in your life, growing as a person and contemplating upon realities. According to the Gita and Upanishads, meditation is not regarded as a technique but as an essential component of our pursuit of knowledge and freedom. The purpose of these guided meditation classes is to take you through the different steps of traditional Vedantic meditation, in order to give you a solid foundation for your own individual practice. It would include: Scanning the body and watching your breathing to come back to yourself; mental repetition of a mantra or japa to know the ways of your mind; develop a relationship with Isvara for emotional growth; finally contemplate on the teaching of Vedanta which reveals the oneness between Isvara and yourself.