Ongoing Courses

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

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

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

Oral prayers offered to Isvara are an integral part of the pursuit of maturity and freedom. We will learn some essential shanti mantras, starting by the ones chanted at the beginning and the end of Vedanta classes. Then some beautiful and inspiring Vedic and non-Vedic prayers, along with their meaning, which can become part of your daily routine.

The texts of the prayers in Sanskrit, with transliteration, and the English meaning will be given to you.

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.