- LIVE ONLINE PROGRAM
Sept 29 – Dec 22, 2022
Vedanta: Teachings from the Upanishads on the Essential Freedom of the Self
Swami Brahmananda
12 WEEKLY SESSIONS, Thursdays, 6:00-7:45pm ET
Course Description:
Join this 12 weeks course with Swami Brahmananda to learn the Vedanta teachings on the oneness of all existence, the knowledge of the Upanishads, the science that raises us above the plane of bondage and suffering and shows us the path to freedom. Vedanta reveals the essential nature of the self which is ever free and blissful. The study of Vedanta frees us from our limiting ideas about oneself and the world.
Vedanta teaches that the love that you feel towards an object is in fact the love that you feel towards that which is called perfection and completeness or bliss. What you love is the happiness which is reflected or imagined in the state of possessing the desired object. It is that happiness which is dear to you, in all that is dear to you in life, not the objects in which that happiness temporarily reflects. That happiness or completeness of being is the true nature of what you are, the Self.
“The Self is dearer than a son, dearer than wealth, dearer than everything else, because it is innermost. One should meditate upon the Self alone as dear. He who meditates upon the Self alone as dear – what he holds as dear will not perish.”
What you'll learn:
- The course focuses on the Vedantic teachings from the Maitreyi Brahmana of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, where sage Yajnavalkya teaches his wife Maitreyi the most sublime knowledge of the Atma or Self.
- The one Self is present in the countless objects and the recognition of this truth leads to eternal happiness which is the essential nature of the Self.
- The source of all joy is the Atman or Self, and not the objects outside as is wrongly conceived by the non-discriminative mind.
- Every object is a source of joy as long as it is recognised as non-different from the Atman, and the very same object turns into the cause of misery, the moment it is taken to be separated from the Self and treated as an external entity to be possessed and enjoyed.
- The love for an object is really the love for that which is eternal in that object, the Self, and we wrongly think that it is for the temporal name and form.
- How to overcome emotional attachments and addictions and erroneous misconceptions about yourself and the world.
- Tools to strengthen your power of spiritual discernment, clarity of vision and equanimity in life’s challenges
- The teachings are meant for new and experienced students alike.
Additional Information:
Offered as 10 weekly sessions on Thursdays, Sept 29, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov 3, 10, 17, 27, Dec 1, 8 & 15 ~ 6:00-7:45pm ET
This program is offered live through Zoom webinar with the availability for students to interact through Q&A with the presenter.
For enrolled students, a video recording will be available after each class in the event you miss a class or would like to review the content.
It is possible to register and take the course at any time. You can catch up on any classes you miss with the recordings.
Requirements and 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.
Swami Brahmananda is a monk and senior teacher of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers and is the current Manager of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas. Swami Brahmananda joined the Sivananda organization in 1999 and was initiated into Sannyasa (monasticism) in 2006.
A long-time practitioner of yoga, meditation and philosophical studies, he regularly teaches meditation and yoga philosophy for the Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ Training Courses as well as the Advanced Yoga Teachers’ Training Courses. He also teaches online courses on the Patanjali Yoga Sutras and Vedanta. Swami Brahmananda is a much-loved, inspiring, and knowledgeable teacher.