| Subject |
Particulars |
| Introduction
To Course |
Overview of the Content
The Elements of Each Lesson |
| Starting
Prayer |
Gâyatrî Mantra |
| Definition
of Yoga |
What, really, is Yoga? |
| The
Bhârata Dharma |
Commonalities in all Indian Spiritual
Traditions |
| The
Beginnings - |
|
| An Indian
Cosmology |
| • |
Shiva and Shakti
as Consciousness and Power |
| • |
Sound-Vibration and the Emerging
Universe |
| • |
Mahâpralaya: The Dissolution
of the Cosmos |
|
| The
Scientific View |
The Explosion of the Primeval Atom
and The Expanding Universe |
| Sages
and Preceptors |
| • |
The Tapasvin / The
Ascetic Tradition of Yoga |
| • |
The Rishis, Munis and Saints
|
|
| The
Historical Origins of Yoga |
Early Scriptural References
Issues Regarding the Oral Tradition
|
The
Early Texts
(main pre-classic yoga sources)
|
| • |
The Shrutis |
| • |
The Purânas and Yoga |
| • |
The Epics: Mahâbhârata
and Râmâyana |
|
| The
Upanishads and Yoga |
Upanishadic Thought as Revolution
The Beauty of the Upanishads: Chanted
Shlokas |
| Karma-Yoga |
The Bhagawat Gîtâ and
Karma-Yoga |
| Some
Essential Vocabulary |
Âtman, Brahman, Ishta, Jîva,
Avidyâ, Jnâna, Citta, Cit,
Mâyâ, Samsâra, Moksha
|
| On Transformation |
Existence and Being
Is Yoga A Religion? |
| Mantras |
| • |
The Background |
| • |
Mantras and Their Value in Meditation |
| • |
An Introduction to OM and SOHAM |
|
| Âsanas
and Their Names |
Example: Pâshâsana and
the Story Behind It |
| The
6 Darshanas (Viewpoints) |
A Very Brief Introduction to Indian
Philosophy |
| The
Two Underlying Theories of Yoga |
Sâmkhya and Vedânta
Elaborating on a Delicate Difference
|
| Yoga
Philosophy Assignment |
Discussing the Assignment |
| Yoga
and Patanjali |
The Story of Patanjali
The Background of The Yoga Sûtras
|
| The
Yoga Sûtras |
| Elaborating on the
Yoga of Eight Limbs and the Interconnection
between the Limbs: |
| • |
Yama and Niyama |
| • |
Âsana and Prânâyâma |
| • |
Pratyâhâra and Dhâranâ |
| • |
Dhyâna and Samâdhi |
| The Major Commentaries
on the Sûtras |
|
| Understanding
India |
| • |
The Âshramas
(The 4 Stages of Life) |
| • |
Rebirth, Karma and so-called
Fatalism |
| • |
Common Threads in Hinduism,
Buddhism, Jainism |
| • |
Kathenotheism - God in India |
|
| Jainism |
A Short Introduction to the Jaina
Tradition and The Concept of Syadvada
(only if time allows) |
| Stories
from the Purânic Treasure |
Shiva and His Shakti and the Revelation
of the Yogic Knowledge |
| Meditations
on the Ultimate Reality |
The Indian Experience |
| On Rituals |
Essay by Sir John Woodroffe
|
| Tantra
and Shaktism |
| • |
Definitions |
| • |
The Connection to Buddhism |
| • |
Shaktism/Shaiva Tantrism: Backgrounds
|
|
| Key
Features of Tantra |
| • |
Mantra |
| • |
Mudrâ |
| • |
Prâna |
| • |
Bhûtashuddhi |
| • |
Yantra |
| • |
Panchakosha |
| • |
Siddhi |
| • |
Panchatattva (The 5 Makâra) |
|
| The Tantric World
of Bîja-Mantras |
| The Background / Working with
Mudrâs |
| Working with Life Force |
| Purification of Elements |
| Meditation on Geometric Devices |
| Working with the Subtle Body
|
| The Attainments |
| Wine, Meat, Fish, Parched Grain
and Ritual Sex |
|
| The
Sacred River Gangâ |
The Background (only if time allows)
Gangâ Devi and Bhagiratha
The Story of Poet Jagannâtha |
| Hatha-Yoga |
Creating the Divya-Deha |
| The
Founders and Scriptures |
Matsyendranâtha and Gorakhnâtha
The Major Texts of Hatha Yoga |
| The
Main Features of Hatha Yoga |
Shatkarma: The Cleansing Practices
Âsana: The Postural Tradition
in Hatha
Bandha and Mudrâ: Calming Body
and Mind
Pratyâhâra: Techniques of
Sensory Control
Prânâyâma: The Link
to the Subtle Body
Dhyâna: The Visualisation Process
|
| The
Nâtha Tradition |
The Contribution of Nâthas to
Yoga |
| Mudrâ
Practice |
Understanding and Working with Mudrâs |
| The
Chakras and Kundalinî |
Terminology and Location
The Awakening of Kundalinî-Shakti
The Chakra System and its Relationship
to Âsana and Prânâyâma
|
| The
Ritual of Transformation |
Prânapratishthâ Ceremony
as Applied Ritual |
| Understanding
Prânâyâma |
Background and Physiology of Prânâyâma
including Essential Kriyâ-Yoga
Methods |
| Bhakti-Yoga |
The Background
Revisiting The Bhagawat Gîtâ
Surrendering: Îshwara Pranidhâna
The Example of Râmakrishna |
| Bhajans |
An Evening of Devotional Chanting |
| Yoga
and Buddhism |
The Life of the Enlightened
One
The Dharma and Its Influence on Yoga
Tibet: Repas, Yantra Yoga and Trul Khor
|
| Yoga
and Meditation in China and Japan |
Commonalities and Differences in
the Approach |
| Meditation
Practice |
Jnâna-Yoga Meditation |
| Jnâna-Yoga |
The Path of Wisdom
Jnâna as experienced by Ramana
Maharshi |
| Yoga
As It Is Today |
Looking at the Yoga Tree and Its Many
Branches |
| Short
Summary of the Course |
The Yoga Sâdhana
Pravritti - The Outgoing Path
and Nivritti - The Path of Return |
| Finishing |
Meditating on a Poem
Ârati
Pûjâ - The Ritual of Light
|
