*Space is limited to 20 students*

Program Type: Online Course

Date & Time: Offered as 7 weekly sessions on Tuesdays. Oct 20, 27, Nov 3, 10, 17, 24, Dec 1, 7:00-8:30pm EDT

Hours: 10.5 hours

What You’ll Learn: 

• Short introduction to the Bhagavad Gita and the first 3 chapters
• Detailed focus on the 4th Chapter, the Yoga of Wisdom
• Remove doubts about Supreme Reality with the knowledge of Jnana Yoga
• Learn about the true nature of the Self and its awareness during all levels of consciousness – waking, dreaming and deep sleep states
• Study each verse with commentary of Swami Sivananda and Adi Shankaracharya

Course Description:

What can we do to remove suffering from our own lives and the lives of others? If you desire to go deeper and look for answers join this course on the 4th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. The Bhagavad Gita is not simply a philosophical text, but a practical guide to daily life. It teaches us how to live in the world amidst suffering and still maintain a calm mind and joyful heart.

Rukmini Chaitanya has been teaching Bhagavad Gita in yoga teacher training for many years. She encourages group interaction and questions during course sessions and is also available during the week to offer individual guidance to students. Join her to learn about the true nature of the Self. Become a witness to the life being lived through you, and find peace and joy along the way.

Who is this course for? 

This course is for those longing to know the real purpose of life and are seeking answers to existential questions such as — Why are we here? What are we here to do? Who am I? Why was I born? What is this world? Why is there suffering in the world? What can we do to remove suffering from our own lives and the lives of others?

It is for yoga teachers who wish to gain more knowledge of yoga philosophy in order to share with their students, yoga students who are seeking a deeper understanding of the yogic scriptures, and for those interested in Eastern philosophy, meditation, and spiritual practice.

Why should you take this course?

It is important to be in the company of other seekers and spiritual practitioners while studying the sacred texts. You will get to spend time with a teacher who has been treading this spiritual path for almost 20 years, receiving inspiration and guidance.

After these 6 weeks, you will have confidence, motivation and inspiration to continue more vigorously with your own practice of yoga, meditation and studying the scriptures. You will also be in a better state of mind, with an elevated mood and a sense of purpose in life. This will allow you to inspire family members and friends – not by preaching to them, but by your mere presence.

What you will experience during the course?

We will meet once a week for an hour a half. During the meeting, we will chant each verse in Sanskrit, read the English translation, explain the meaning of the verse and then go over the commentary of Swami Sivananda.

During these sessions, you will feel that your mind becomes clearer. This is because the teachings are based on great wisdom and are highly logical and clear. But you will also feel intuitive faith in these teachings because they come from an ancient lineage of great masters. These teachings go beyond reason and logic and touch the deepest levels of your heart. Even without understanding the Sanskrit words, chanting the verses is a very powerful experience. The English translation of Swami Sivananda is also very powerful and provides great inspiration to the listeners.

You are encouraged to ask questions during the live sessions so that your doubts are removed. You will spend time with like-minded people from all over the world who are sharing the desire to remove suffering, find joy and answers to the deepest questions of life.

Course Schedule:

Class 1: Glorification of the Gita and the lineage

• Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita and a summary of the first 3 chapters.
• Guru Parampara – how the knowledge is transmitted from teacher to student until it reaches us

Class 2: The Avatar

• Lord Krishna as an Avatar
• How he descends
• When he descends
• The purpose of the descent of the Avatar

Class 3: The Knowledge of the Avatar and its results

• The nature of the Lord as a silent witness of all actions
• One who recognizes this becomes liberated – free from karma
• To realize this knowledge one needs to be free from attachment, hatred and fear and one needs to be surrender to the Lord and attain Self-knowledge

Class 4: The wisdom of seeing inaction in action and vice versa (the characteristics of the wise)

• The nature of action and inaction
• The activities are at the level of the body, but the true “I” is not the body, it is the actionless Self
• A wise person is self-sufficient, contented, independent, equanimous and free from attachments and jealousy

Class 5: The Glory and the means of Knowledge

• Spiritual practice is compared to sacrifice – yajna (devotion)
• All our spiritual practices lead to liberation by preparing the mind
• Only Self Knowledge leads directly to liberation and therefore, it is superior
• To get this Knowledge one should approach an enlightened Guru with humility, faith and reverence and ask to receive the knowledge

Class 6: The Benefits of Knowledge

• The benefits of Self Knowledge – becoming free from delusion, recognizing one’s identity with the Lord
• Crossing beyond samsara and the bondage of karma
• All negative karmas are reduced to ashes by this Knowledge
• Ignorance, the root cause of suffering, is resolved by this Knowledge.

Class 7: Qualifications and disqualifications for Knowledge

• The qualifications and disqualifications with regard to Self Knowledge
• The importance of having faith in the Guru and in the scriptures
• Cultivating self control and a sincere desire for knowledge
• The problem of doubt and how to remove it

Class 8: Conclusions

• Summary of the entire course
• Discussion, sharing, Q&A
• Advice for continuation of the study and the practice of yoga

Requirements & Recommendations: 

• No experience necessary. This program is open to beginners as well as advanced practitioners.
• Viewing Device: Desktop or laptop computer will provide the best experience, although you can also connect via a tablet or smartphone.
• Internet connection: High-speed broadband wired or wireless is best.
• Video: Download Zoom to your computer, or install the Zoom app to your device.  For interactive group sessions, a webcam or integrated camera will allow others to feel more connected with you.
• Audio: Headphone speakers are recommended. If you wish to participate vocally, a headset with a microphone will be ideal.

Course Includes:

• 10.5 hours on-demand video
• Bhagavad Gita – translation and commentary by Swami Sivananda
• Course Manual