- LIVE ONLINE PROGRAM
Jan 29 – April 16, 2025
Self-Surrender and Self-Knowledge Cultivating Equanimity and Non-Attachment
Swami Brahmananda
12 WEEKLY SESSIONS, Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm ET
Course Description:
Join this 12-week course with Swami Brahmananda to learn what makes our spiritual life fulfilling and fully integrated with our everyday activities. Throughout this course you will learn how to overcome emotional disturbances and attachments and gain tools to cultivate mental equanimity and inner strength based on the teachings of Yoga and Vedanta as taught in the Bhagavad Gita. The teachings and practices are meant for new and experienced students alike.
The Bhagavad Gita is acclaimed as the teaching that guides us how to put in practice and apply directly in our life the sublime teachings of Yoga and Vedanta. Throughout the Bhagavad Gita the attitude of surrendering oneself to the Divine and accepting life’s dualities and challenges as God’s grace is given as a means for attaining peace and equanimity. When the mind is thus purified from binding attachments and emotions one can attain Self-knowledge and abide in one’s true nature as the all-pervading, limitless Self.
What You'll Learn:
The course is an in-depth study of the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, verses 38 – 72, containing the illuminating teachings on the wisdom of Karma Yoga as the Yoga of equanimity and the nature of the liberated soul or one established in the knowledge of the true nature of the Self.
Some of the topics included are:
- What makes our spiritual life fulfilling and fully integrated with our everyday activities.
- How to cultivate mental equanimity and overcome emotional disturbances and attachments.
- How to attain Self-knowledge and inner freedom while engaging with the world.
- Wisdom concerning Yoga, endowed with which one shall cast off the bonds of action.
- The Karma Yogi consecrates all his works and their fruits as offerings unto the Lord (isvarapanam) and thus obtains the grace of the Lord (isvaraprasada).
- Having taught Arjuna the immortal nature of the Atman, Lord Krishna turns to the performance of action without expectation of fruit. A man should not concern himself about the fruit of the action, like gain and loss, victory and defeat. These are in the hands of the Lord. He should perform all action with a balanced mind, calmly enduring the pairs of opposites like heat and cold, pleasure and pain, that inevitably manifest during action. Krishna advises Arjuna to fight, free from desire for acquisition of kingdom or preservation of it.
- The Yoga of equanimity or the doctrine of poise in action where one sees the pairs of opposites of pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat the same. If anyone does any action with the above mental attitude or balanced state of mind he will not reap the fruits of his action. Such an action will lead to the purification of his heart and freedom from birth and death. One has to develop such a balanced state of mind through continuous struggle and vigilant efforts.
- The description of him who has steady wisdom and is merged in the Superconscious State. How does one of steady wisdom speak? How does he sit? How does he walk?
- He whose mind is not shaken by adversity, who does not hanker after pleasures, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom.
"When Swami Brahmananda teaches, he frequently uses inspiring stories, anecdotes and brilliant analogies which make the teachings easier to understand, to remember, and then to apply in daily life. A magnificent and powerful creative force emanates from him. Throughout this course, you will get an understanding on how the mind works and you will gain significant tools to gradually master it to ultimately Self-surrender to God."
Additional Information:
Offered as 12 weekly sessions on Wednesdays, Jan 29, Feb 5, 12, 19, 26, Mar 5, 12, 19, 26, Apr 2, 9 & 16, 2025 from 6:30-8:30 pm 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:
- 24 hours of on-demand video
- 12 live sessions of 2 hours of study from the Patanjali Yoga sutras and guided practices. Each class includes teachings, practice time and dedicated time for questions and answers
- Home guided practices – including recorded guided meditations
- Feedback and personal guidance on student’s home practices
- Availability to ask questions about the studies and practices between classes
- Course Manual
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.