- LIVE ONLINE PROGRAM
June 9 – August 25, 2026
Living at the Source: Contemplating God as Mother
Swami Brahmananda
12 WEEKLY SESSIONS, Tuesdays, 6:00-7:45pm ET
Course Description:
Learn how to contemplate the ultimate truth in daily life: Sarvam Shaktimayam Jagat – the whole universe is the Shakti.
Mother is electricity, the brightness of the sun, the depth of the ocean, movement in the hand, the smell and fragrance in flowers, the musical note in sound, everything in this universe, invisible as well as visible, all motion, all force, all movements; and She is present in the human being as intelligence, as mind, as Vrittis (thoughts), as emotions-everything that we perceive in this world either within the individual or without in the forces of nature.
She is the very life of the universe. She is the very source.
Join this inspiring journey to learn how to feel that the Divine Mother sees through your eyes, hears through your ears, and works through your hands, that the body, mind, Prana, intellect and all their functions are Her manifestations.
The one, universal life throbs in the hearts of all. Drive deep this consciousness within your heart. Always meditate and practise this ideal of divine oneness.
What You'll Learn:
The following are points of teaching and the benefits of this great contemplative science, by which we learn to see everything as the One:
- Devi or Maheswari or Parasakti is the Supreme Sakti or Power of the Supreme Being. Devi is the Mother of all. The pious and the wicked, the rich and the poor, the saint and the sinner–all are Her children. Devi or Sakti is the Mother of Nature. She is Nature Itself.
- She lies dormant in the Muladhara Chakra in the form of serpentine power or coiled-up energy known as the Kundalini Sakti. She is at the centre of the life of the universe. She is the primal force of life that underlies all existence. She vitalises the body through the Sushumna Nadi and nerves.
- There is no difference between God and His Sakti, just as there is no difference between fire and its burning power. Sakti is inherent in God. Just as you cannot separate heat from fire, so also you cannot separate Sakti from God, the possessor of Sakti. Sakti is Brahman Itself. Siva and Sakti are one. Siva is always with Sakti. They are inseparable. Worship of Durga or Parvati or Kali is worship of Lord Siva.
- You are more free with your mother than with anybody else. You open your heart more freely to your mother than to your father. There is no God greater than the mother. It is the mother who protects you, nourishes you, consoles you, cheers you, and nurses you. She is your first Guru. The first syllable which almost every quadruped, or human being, utters is the beloved name of the mother–Ma. She sacrifices her all for the sake of her children.
- Worship of Devi or the Universal Mother gives not only prosperity, but liberation from all bondages. It leads to the attainment of Knowledge of the Self. The story of the Kena Upanishad, known as the Yaksha-Prasna, supports this view. Uma taught the Truth to the Devas
- Sakti is all. She can do anything. She can mend or end. For the sake of the continuance of Her Divine Play here, She Herself, as Avidya-Maya, has veiled the Truth from you and bound you to this Samsara. When She is propitiated through the practice of sincere devotion and unconditional self-surrender, She, as Vidya-Maya, removes the veil and enables you to perceive the Truth.
- No one can free himself from the thraldom of mind and matter without Mother’s grace. The fetters of Maya are too hard to break. If you worship Her as the great Mother, you can very easily go beyond Prakriti through Her benign grace and blessings. She will remove all obstacles in the path, and lead you safely into the illimitable domain of eternal bliss, and make you absolutely free.
- Maya Shakti has two powers: the Avarana-Sakti or the veiling power, and the Vikshepa-Sakti or the projecting power. The Avarana-Sakti veils the difference between the seer and the seen inside, and the difference between Brahman and the universe outside. It is this Sakti that is the cause of Samsara. When this veiling power disappears through Brahmabhyasa (continuous meditation on Brahman), the nature of Brahman and the world becomes clear.
Additional Information:
Offered as 12 weekly sessions on Tuesdays, June 9, 16, 23, 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28, August 4, 11, 18, 25, 2026 from 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.
Course Includes:
- Recordings of the live sessions
- Course Manual
- Teacher’s availability to reply to questions about the study material between classes
Swami Brahmananda
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.