Living at the Source: Cultivating Stillness of Heart and Mind – Samadhi Pada – April 2025

Learn what makes our spiritual life effective and successful and how to overcome emotional addictions and attachments. You will learn tools to strengthen your meditation practice based on the most important Yogic scripture – the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. Swami Brahmananda will offer an in-depth study of the first chapter or Samadhi Pada on the topic of Samadhi or concentration.

Join this inspiring journey through the Patanjali Yoga Sutras, discovering the true nature of who you are, what is the mind, how the mind can bind and how when purified it paves the way to liberation and true lasting happiness. The teachings and practices are meant for new and experienced students alike

Raja Yoga, the royal path of mind control, is the most comprehensive and scientific approach to God-Realization. The precepts and doctrines of this ancient science were first compiled and explained by Patanjali Maharishi, the greatest psychologist of all time. Never has man’s mind been so completely analyzed. Never has the process of eliminating human suffering been so succinctly presented. The methods of Raja Yoga are profound and timeless. They are the most useful techniques available to modern man beset by the tremendous stresses and strains of our competitive society.

Students will have the opportunity to get personal guidance from Swami Brahmananda on their studies.

What You’ll Learn:

• An in depth study of the Samadhi Pada, the first chapter of the Yoga Sutras on the topic of Samadhi or concentration. Sutras 1 to 16 of the chapter will be covered and explained with traditional commentaries and practical insights.
• The definition of Yoga as union or yoke. Yoga is a method by which the individual soul becomes united with the Supreme Soul, the Reality that underlies this universe. Yoga also is defined as an effort to separate the Reality from the apparent.
  
• Samskaras or latent impressions and Vasanas or subtle desires, karmic tendencies.
  
• The five chitta vrittis or mental modifications of which some are painful and others not painful.
  
• Pramana – means of validating that knowledge or perception is true, as a foundation for realizing the ultimate truth.
  
• The control of the chitta vrittis is brought about by Abhyasa or practice and Vairagya or non-attachment. What is Abhyasa or a successful practice of controlling the mental modifications and how is non attachment cultivated.
  
• Practice and non-attachment (abhyasa and vairagya) – how to cultivate self discipline and regularity in the practice of spiritual disciplines and practical ways to cultivate non-attachment, desirelessness and dispassion.
  
• Yoga Philosophy – gain a thorough understanding of the teachings of the Patanjali Yoga Sutras by which we attain clear understanding of the nature of the mind and its being different from pure consciousness, freedom from binding emotions, attachments and addictions.
• Yoga Psychology – the Patanjali Yoga Sutras is the most complete teaching on Yoga psychology.
• The process of Yoga – the stilling of the thought waves in the mind lake or Chitta, by which one attains abidance in pure consciousness.