Hindu Studies Foundation Archives - Hindu University of America

Advaita Vedanta: A Method

Learning Outcome:-

Develop a clear understanding of Advaita Vedanta as a method, and the ramifications of that.
Gain a comprehensive understanding of Advaita epistemology and its role as a key to understanding the vision of the Upanisads.
Connect the epistemology to Advaita ontology and the fulfillment of its soteriological end.

In this course, we will examine the methods (prakriyas) used in the Upanisads to reveal the existence and nature of the non-dual reality. We will begin with a basic discussion of Advaita epistemology to understand the important claim of the Upanisad that it provides, not just information about the non-dual reality, but the means through which one can directly know it. First, we will undertake a close reading of Sankara’s introduction to the Brahmasutra, and commentary on Taittiriya Upanisad 2.1.1 to establish the core principles of superimposition and negation as well as implicative statements. With these parameters, we will study dialogues in the Mundaka, Taittirya, and Mandukya Upanisads that employ the foundational method of inquiry into cause-effect, and also, the methods of analysis of the levels of our waking experience and analysis of the three states of waking, dream, and sleep. Throughout, we will be connecting what we discover to the soteriological aim of Advaita Vedanta—release from human suffering and the cycle of birth and death.

Required/Elective: Required

Prerequisites: Introduction to Advaita Vedanta

Faculty/Instructor: Swamini Agamananda Saraswati

Quarter Offered: Winter 2020

Area of Study:- Hindu Studies Foundation

An Overview of the Veda

The Vedic-view of the purpose of life as explained by the four puruṣārthas – Dharma, Artha, Kāma, and Mokṣa will be discussed. An overview of the four Vedas, each consisting of the two major categories, which are further subdivided into different portions, the arrangement of the mantras into mandalas and aśtaka systems, internal classifications of each Veda into Samhitā, Brāhmana, Āraṇyaka, and Upaniṣads will be covered. The Veda’s structural hierarchy and purpose, and supplementary texts of the Vedic corpus such as – Sūtra – Bhāṣya – Vyākhyā – Ṭīkā – Ṭippaṇī – Prapaňcikā – Saṅgraha – Kārikā – Vṛtti – Vārtika – Prakaraṇa – Vāda – Khaṇḍana, including an overview of the six Darśanas will be examined, in addition to the differences between śruti and Smṛti

In this course students will be able to:

Recognize the whole Vedic body of knowledge and its layout.
Understand the inter-relationships of the various components of the Vedic corpus.
Inquire into the concept of human progress in relation to the timelessness of ancient Vedic knowledge.
Explore the relevance of the Vedic body of knowledge in today’s age.
Examine contemporary views and interpretations of the Veda.

Areas of Study: Hindu Studies Foundations

Required / Elective: Required

Prerequisites: Admission into a program of Study

Faculty: Sri Swāmi Svātmānanda

Ancient Greek Philosophy

Course Content:

Students will receive an intensive introduction to the core issues in ancient Greek philosophy by reading excerpts and complete texts from ancient philosophers including Parmenides, Empedocles, Plato, Aristotle, and Proclus, writing response papers, engaging in-class discussion, and submitting a final paper.

Students will gain insight into philosophical discourse and terminology, as well as intellectual tools with which to contribute to today’s philosophical and theological disputes.

Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundations

Required/ Elective: Required

Prerequisites: Admission into a Program of Study

Instructor: Dr. Edward P. Butler/ Dr. Vishwa Adluri

Bhagavad-Gita for the beginner – YOGA

Course Content:
The YOGA course presents the basis of the Atma and the four paths of self-realization as prescribed in Shrimad Bhagavad-Gita. Union with one’s own self is Yoga and the four paths of Yoga in Bhagavad-Gita are Karma Yoga, Gnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. Karma yoga describes the path of action, Gnana yoga describes the path of knowledge, Dhyana yoga describes the path of meditation and Bhakti yoga describes the path of devotion. In this course the participants shall learn the following. The doctrine of rebirth and reincarnation. The law of Karma and its five factors. The principle of Gnana and its components. The process of Dhyana and its essentials. The practice of Bhakti and its methods. This course helps students to understand, explore and apply the divine wisdom of the Bhagavad-Gita in their own lives. The course simplifies the learning process for the beginner using specially designed illustration workbooks, transliteration textbooks and guided audios for practice and recitation. The transliteration textbooks are available in 12 Indian languages and 12 world languages. The interactive sessions are conducted online in English. The course is divided into 3 modules Sadhana, Sodhana and Vaadana.
Sadhana: In this module students understand the verses in three steps.
Step 1: Shloka Rachana (Copy writing the shloka): In this step each verse is written in a language of choice by copying from the transliteration textbook.
Step 2: Shloka Shravana (Listening to the verse): In this step the students will get to know the accurate pronunciation of each verse.
Step 3: Shloka Anucharana (Guided recitation): In this step students will learn the accurate pronunciation of each verse through guided practice.

Sodhana: In this module students understand the meaning of the shlokas in 2 steps.
Step 4: Bhava Darshana (Graphic illustration): In this step the meaning of the shlokas is explained through graphic illustration.
Step 5: Pratipada Artha (Word meaning): In this step the word by word meaning of the shlokas is translated from Sanskrit to English.

Vaadana: In this module the interpretations of different acharyas to the shlokas of each lesson are explored to gain deeper meaning and summarized by the students in about 500 words. A debate on contemporary issues and situations is held towards end of the course. During the debate the students shall apply their learnings from the course and present their remarks and recommendations by referring to the specific shlokas of YOGA course.

Class Structure:

There will be a minimum of 1.5 contact hours with faculty every week. The class is structured in a way that promotes discussion and debate based on self-study and reflection each week. After the weekly class the students will be required to submit audio recordings of verses and complete online assignments with drag and drop type questions.

Course Learning Objectives:

In this course students will be able to:

Practice accurate pronunciation of the shlokas through guided chanting.

Discover the interpretations from different commentaries on Bhagavad-Gita.

Gain a deeper understanding of the Bhagavad Gita by comparing and analysing the similarities and differences between the interpretations of various acharyas.

Comprehend the simultaneous co-existence of diverse understandings of the divine wisdom of Hindu Dharma, enshrined in its varied Sampradayas.

Discover the foundations of Hindu Dharma from the Bhagavad-Gita

Gain an overview of the Hindu Wisdom, and Hindu Pathways for spiritual growth.

Required / Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: – Admission into program of study

Faculty / Instructor: Mr. Gopi V. Prasad

Time: 11:00 am EST – 12:30 pm EST / 8:30 pm IST – 10:00 pm IST

Day: Sunday

Start Date: October 9, 2022

End Date: December 18, 2022

Quarter Offered: Fall 2022

Bhagavad-Gita for the Beginner -Gnana

Course Content:

The GNANA explains three types of actions and the fruits of such actions. The four-fold social order on the basis of human character and action. The three types of people based on their actions and determination. Austerities of mind and the three types of minds. Factors of emotional equilibrium. The four forms of worship and three kinds of worshippers. This course helps students to understand, explore and apply the divine wisdom of the Bhagavad-Gita in their own lives. This course simplifies the learning process of the Bhagavad-Gita for the beginner by using easy to understand graphic illustrations and simple to practice recitations, specially designed illustration workbooks, transliteration textbooks and guided audios for practice and recitation. The interactive sessions are conducted online in English. The transliteration textbooks are available in 12 Indian languages and 12 world languages. The course is divided into 3 modules Sadhana, Sodhana and Vaadana.

Sadhana: In this module students understand the verses in three steps.

Step 1: Shloka Rachana (Copy writing the shloka): In this step each verse is written in a language of choice by copying from the transliteration textbook.

Step 2: Shloka Shravana (Listening to the verse): In this step the students will get to know the accurate pronunciation of each verse.

Step 3: Shloka Anucharana (Guided recitation): In this step students will learn the accurate pronunciation of each verse through guided practice.

Sodhana: In this module students understand the meaning of the shlokas in 2 steps.

Step 4: Bhava Darshana (Graphic illustration): In this step the meaning of the shlokas is explained through graphic illustration.

Step 5: Pratipada Artha (Word meaning): In this step the word by word meaning of the shlokas is translated from Sanskrit to English.

Class Structure:

Course Learning Objectives:

In this course students will be able to:

Practice accurate pronunciation of the shlokas through guided chanting.

Discover the interpretations from different commentaries on Bhagavad-Gita.

Gain a deeper understanding of the Bhagavad Gita by comparing and analysing the similarities and differences between the interpretations of various acharyas.

Comprehend the simultaneous co-existence of diverse understandings of the divine wisdom of Hindu Dharma, enshrined in its varied Sampradayas.

Discover the foundations of Hindu Dharma from the Bhagavad-Gita

Gain an overview of the Hindu Wisdom, and Hindu Pathways for spiritual growth.

Required / Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: – Admission into program of study

Faculty / Instructor: Mr. Gopi V. Prasad

Time: 11:00 am EST – 12:30 pm EST / 8:30 pm IST – 10:00 pm IST

Day: Sunday

Start Date: April 10, 2022

End Date: June 26, 2022

Quarter Offered: Spring 2022

Bhagavad-Gita for the Beginner – DEHA

Course Content:

DEHA is the first of a three-course series titled, DEHA, GNANA and YOGA. The Deha course highlights the Material and Psychic aspects of the body. The Gnana course describes the Physical, Social, Occupational, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual dimensions of divine wisdom. The Yoga course explains the four paths of Yoga in Bhagavad-Gita.

The DEHA Course helps students to understand, explore and apply the divine wisdom of the Bhagavad-Gita in their own lives. It simplifies the learning process for the beginner using specially designed graphic workbooks, transliteration textbooks in multiple languages (12 Indian languages and 12 world languages) and guided audios, available in recitation and practice versions. The interactive sessions are conducted online in English.

The Course is divided into 3 modules – Sadhana, Sodhana and Vaadana through which Students will acquire a thorough overview of Hindu Dharma and enrich the quality of their spiritual lives.

Sadhana: In this module students understand the verses in three steps.

Step 1: Shloka Rachana (Copy writing the shloka): In this step each verse is written in a language of choice by copying from the transliteration textbook.

Step 2: Shloka Shravana (Listening to the verse): In this step the students will get to know the accurate pronunciation of each verse.

Step 3: Shloka Anucharana (Guided recitation): In this step students will learn the accurate pronunciation of each verse through guided practice. After this step the students would be able to independently practice the recitation using the guided chanting audios available online.

Sodhana: In this module students understand the meaning of the shlokas in 2 steps.

Step 4: Bhava Darshana (Graphic illustration): In this step the meaning of the verse is explained through graphic illustration.

Step 5: Pratipada Artha (Word meaning): In this step the word by word meaning of the shlokas is translated from Sanskrit to English.

Course Learning Objectives:

In this course students will be able to:

Practice accurate pronunciation of the shlokas through guided chanting.
Discover the interpretations from different commentaries on Bhagavad-Gita.
Gain a deeper understanding of the Bhagavad Gita by comparing and analysing the similarities and differences between the interpretations of various acharyas.
Comprehend the simultaneous co-existence of diverse understandings of the divine wisdom of Hindu Dharma, enshrined in its varied Sampradayas.
Discover the foundations of Hindu Dharma from the Bhagavad-Gita.
Gain an overview of the Hindu Wisdom, and Hindu Pathways for spiritual growth.

Class Structure:

Required / Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: N.A.

Faculty / Instructor: Mr. Gopi V. Prasad

Time: 11:00 am EST – 12:30 pm EST

Day: Every Sunday

Start Date: January 16, 2022

End Date: March 20, 2022

Quarter Offered: Winter 2022

Certificate in Hindu Civilizational Studies

The Certificate program in Hindu Civilizational Studies (C.H.C.S) is an in-depth exploration of the Hindu Civilization from a Hindu perspective. It provides the student with a grounded understanding of Hindu Dharma as one of the oldest, continuous, and still thriving cultures of the world. It unfolds the paradigm of Dharma, i.e., sustainability or natural order, through an exploration of its culture and knowledge traditions. This program enables the student to discover, reconnect and become profoundly established in the paradigm of Sanatana Dharma through a systematic study of the Hindu Civilization.

It comprises of 2 parts:

1. Exploring Hinduism – a set of courses to gain an understanding of Sanatana Dharma and Hindu thought – the bedrock of the Hindu Civilization, by exploring the history, facets, and practices of this culture, which is based on the principles of Dharma at its core. What is Sanatana Dharma? What is Hinduism? When did Hinduism start? Who is a Hindu? What makes Hindus different? Does Hindu thought have relevance in today’s world? Answers to such questions can be found in this “Exploring Hinduism” set of courses.

2. Hindu Contributions To The World – a set of courses to learn how the Hindu civilization and its knowledge systems had influenced world progress with contributions in the realm of both Matter and Mind. This series of courses looks beyond the myths set in motion by a few hundred years of colonial encounter and examines the evidence for the sciences, technologies, inventions, industry, prosperity, wealth and thought leadership that had made India a sought-after civilization across times. It is now accepted knowledge that India was at the top in world trade for around 2000 years with 1/3 rd of world trade coming from India. But there is very little mention of how India accomplished this position. What did it create? What did it trade in? This set of courses goes into the details of the individual components that made up this 33% of world trade and its impact on the world and in India. This subject matter stays unacknowledged and is rarely available for discussion. It also addresses the crucial question, “How could this civilization give all this and more – both to the East and the West?”. It is a cyclic program of 8 quarters / courses, where participants can join during any quarter and get their Certification once they complete the 8 courses in any order and at their own pace, depending on their ability to join any quarter. This program is open to all – those with or without Indian or Hindu roots, wherever they may be in the world. It will help see the world from a Hindu, Bharatiya, Indic perspective and experience how different it is, from what we think we know.

Program Learning Outcomes: At the end of this program, students will be able to:

Explain the Hindu Paradigm of Dharma
Describe salient aspects of the Hindu Civilization
Critique various misrepresentations of Hinduism
Synthesize an expansive account of world history
Establish an expanded sense of purpose and relevance

Required / Elective: Required

Prerequisites: Admission into a Certificate in Hindu Civilizational Studies

Faculty / Instructor: Dr. D. K. Hari, Dr. D. K. Hema Hari,

Quarter Offered: Fall 2022

Certificate Program in Hindu Studies

Program Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this Certificate Program, Students will:

Clarify the Hindu Paradigm, having acquired an overview of Hindu principles, practices, values, history, philosophy, society, culture, traditions, and civilization.
Articulate the contemporary relevance of Hindu thought and contribute its value to the Hindu community as well as to humanity in general.
Apply their learning to think from a Hindu context and develop strategies for the preservation and transmission of Hindu thought across the generations.
Create new pathways for service, leadership, and global engagement from a Hindu context, and new realms of self-expression for themselves.
Contribute with confidence and clarity, in unique and innovative ways towards fostering the culture and traditions of Hindu Dharma.

Structure of the Program:
The certificate program consists of a total of 24 credit hours of coursework. It can be completed at the earliest in 8 quarters, if the students can take 3 Credit hours per quarter, or more slowly over time, in any case, under five years. Students must take at least 15 Credit hours from the Core Courses in the Certificate program. They may complete the remaining 9 credit hours by taking any set of elective courses from the community education program.
Pre-requisites:
The students must have completed the Orientation to Hindu Studies course minimally and must demonstrate a deep interest in service, contribution and making an impact from within a Hindu context, in order to be admitted into the Certificate Program in Hindu Studies.

Below is the list of courses-

Sr. No	Course Codes	Course Names	Core/ Elective	Faculty	Credits
1	HSF5000	Orientation to Hindu Studies	Core	Shri. Kalyan Viswanathan	1.5
2	HSF1001	Exploring Hinduism – Part A – Geography and History	Core	Dr.Hema and Dr. Hari Kandadai	1.5
3	HSF1002	Exploring Hinduism – Part B – Divinities and Dharma	Core	Dr.Hema and Dr. Hari Kandadai	1.5
4	HSF1003	Exploring Hinduism – Part C – Timekeeping, Calendar and Celebrating Cosmic Connect	Core	Dr.Hema and Dr. Hari Kandadai	1.5
5	HSF1004	Exploring Hinduism – Part D – Society and Culture	Core	Dr.Hema and Dr. Hari Kandadai	1.5
6	HSF2101	Dhyaanam – Meditation and the Meditator	Core	Swamini Brahmaprajnananda	1
7	HAM4201	Reconstructing Hindu History – The Commissions	Core	Dr. Raj Vedam	1.5
8	HAM4202	Reconstructing Hindu History – The Ommissions	Core	Dr. Raj Vedam	1.5
9	YOG2001	The Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita	Core	Dr. Shriram Sarvottham	1.5
10	YOG2002	The Yoga of the Yoga Sutras	Core	Dr. Shriram Sarvottham	1.5
11	TAT3104	Hindu Temples and Traditions	Core	Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran	1
12	TAT4001	Advaita, Visistadvaita, Dvaita, – The three flavors of Vedanta Sastra	Core	Mr. Krishna Kashyap	1.5
13	HAM2100	How Hindu Dharma -Transformed America	Core	Dr. Philip Goldberg	1
14	TAT1101	Ayurveda – The Wisdom of Wellbeing	Core	Ms. Luvena Krishnamurthy	1
15	HSF1005	Lessons from the Valmiki Ramayana	Core	Mr. Shantanu Gupta	1
16	HSF2001	Introduction to Hindu Philosophy: Shad Darshanas.	Core	Dr. Kalika Uttarkar	1
17	HSF2002	Introduction to Upanishads – Part 1	Core	Dr. Kalika Uttarkar	1.5
18	HSF1101	Living our Swadharma in a contemporary world.	Core	Swamini Brahmaprajnananda	1
19	HSF1401	Introduction to the Vedic Ritual	Core	Shri. Sree Aswath	1
20	HSF2201	Understanding Hinduphobia	Core	Dr.Indu Viswanathan	1.5
21	HSF1203	Hindu Contributions in the Realm of Mind – Part A – Arts and Sciences	Elective	Dr.Hema and Dr. Hari Kandadai	1.5
22	HSF1204	Hindu Contributions in the Realm of Mind Part B – Life and Lifestyle	Elective	Dr.Hema and Dr. Hari Kandadai	1.5
23	HSF1006	Lessons from the Valmiki Ramayana For Teens and Parents	Elective	Mr. Shantanu Gupta	1
24	HSF1201	Hindu Contributions in the Realm of Matter Part A – Big 5	Elective	Dr.Hema and Dr. Hari Kandadai	1.5
26	HSF1202	Hindu Contributions in the Realm of Matter Part B – Game Changer	Elective	Dr.Hema and Dr. Hari Kandadai	1.5
27	TAT3102	Hindu Musical Traditions – A Historical Prespective	Elective	Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran	1
28	TAT3101	Hindu Musical Traditions – A Cultural Immersion	Elective	Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran	1
29	TAT1102	Disease through the Lens of Ayurveda	Elective	Ms. Luvena Krishnamurthy	1
30	TAT1103	Ayurveda – Essential Nutrition	Elective	Dr. Rupali Panse	1.5
31	TAT1201	Sri Ramcharitmanas – Continuity in Change	Elective	Dr. Pandita Indrani Rampersad, Sadhvi Anandamaiyee Giri, Geeta Vahini	1
32	TAT1301	Vishnu Sahasranama Sotram	Elective	Acharya Mrityunjay Mani Trivedi	1
33	TAT1302	Bhaja Govindam – A Topical Approach	Elective	Dr. Vaidyanathan Ramaswami	1
34	TAT4002	The Three Vedantic perspectives on the Bhagavad Gita	Elective	Mr. Krishna Kashyap	1.5
35	TAT3001	Dakṣiṇāmūrtistōtram by Ādi Śaṅkara	Elective	Dr. Swaminathan	1
36	TAT1001	Introduction to the daśaśāntimantras	Elective	Dr. Swaminathan	1
37	TAT2100	Across the Universe : Hindu Dharma and Western Creative Arts	Elective	Dr. Philip Goldberg	1
38	YOG2100	An Immersive exploration of the iconic “Autobiography of a Yogi”	Elective	Dr. Philip Goldberg	1
39	HSF1300	Bhagavad-Gita for Teens and Parents	Elective	Mr. Gopi Prasad	1.5
40	HSF1301	Bhagvad-Gita for the beginner – Deha	Elective	Mr. Gopi Prasad	1.5
41	HSF1302	Bhagvad-Gita for the beginner – Gnana	Elective	Mr. Gopi Prasad	1.5
42	HSF1303	Bhagvad-Gita for the beginner – Yoga	Elective	Mr. Gopi Prasad	1.5
43	CPS2001	The Dharma Of Global Sustainability	Elective	Dr. Sailesh Rao	1
44	CPS2002	The Yoga Of Global Transformation	Elective	Dr. Sailesh Rao	1
45	CPS2003	Sustainability is Sanatana Dharma	Elective	Dr. Sailesh Rao	1
46	HSF1007	Discover the contemporary relevance of Hindu Dharma	Elective	Mr. Jeffrey Armstrong	1
47	YOG3100	Antaranga Yoga	Elective	Sri Raghu Anantnarayan	1
48	YOG3101	Antaranga Mandapam	Elective	Sri Raghu Anantnarayan	1
49	YOG3300	The Yoga of Motherhood	Elective	Ms. Shilpa Agarwal	1
50	HSF3101	The Renaissance of Sanatana Dharma In the Light of Sri Aurobindo – Part 1	Elective	Dr.Sampadananda Mishra	1
51	HSF3102	The Renaissance of Sanatana Dharma In the Light of Sri Aurobindo – Part 2	Elective	Dr.Sampadananda Mishra	1
52	HSF3103	The Renaissance of Sanatana Dharma In the Light of Sri Aurobindo – Part 3	Elective	Dr.Sampadananda Mishra	1
53	HSF3201	Sankhya Darshana through the Sankhya Karika – Part 1	Elective	Dr. Kuldip Dhiman	1
54	HSF3202	Sankhya Darshana through the Sankhya Karika – Part 2	Elective	Dr. Kuldip Dhiman	1
55	TAT3203	Vedantasara of Sadananda – Part 1	Elective	Dr. Kuldip Dhiman	1
56	HSF3301	Ramayana for Excellence in Management and Leadership	Elective	Dr. Balkrishnan Muniapan	1
57	HSF3001	Upanishadic Dialogues – I: The Chandogya Upanishad	Elective	Dr. Narasimhan Anantharangachar	1

The Certificate program in Hindu Studies (C.P.H.S) prepares Students to engage with the world as a Hindu with confidence and clarity. Along the way, it also aims to develop in the student a lifelong love for service and contribution. At the end of the program, students will be informed, empowered, and inspired by the possibilities of living a deeply fulfilled life as a Hindu, and making a real difference in the world. As Students discover the range and depth of Hindu thought, its uniquely awesome cosmology, and clear up some of the misconceptions and erroneous narratives that they have inherited, they will find themselves being profoundly transformed, naturally creating new realms of self-expression, and new possibilities for who they can now be in the world.

Program Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this Certificate Program, Students will:

Clarify the Hindu Paradigm, having acquired an overview of Hindu principles, practices, values, history, philosophy, society, culture, traditions, and civilization.
Articulate the contemporary relevance of Hindu thought and contribute its value to the Hindu community as well as to humanity in general.
Apply their learning to think from a Hindu context and develop strategies for the preservation and transmission of Hindu thought across the generations.
Create new pathways for service, leadership, and global engagement from a Hindu context, and new realms of self-expression for themselves.
Contribute with confidence and clarity, in unique and innovative ways towards fostering the culture and traditions of Hindu Dharma.

Program Context

Being successful in our professional lives, as a Doctor, Engineer, Business person, Entrepreneur, or a Lawyer and so on, equips us with a basic ability to compete effectively in the contemporary economy, to survive and succeed in the world. But it does not necessarily address a deeper dimension of human possibility i.e., the spiritual or the Adhyatmika realm. In each of us lies dormant a need and a desire for deeper engagement with the world, to contribute, to make a difference and be of service in a profound and meaningful way. In each of us lies as yet unfulfilled the potential for leadership and global impact, sometimes even as yet unimagined. In every one of us without exception there lies the possibility of going within, exploring the realms of deeper levels of consciousness, and transforming our connection and relationship with the cosmos itself, manifesting the perfection and possibilities that already lie within us. These are the realms of Dharma and Moksha, the unique dimensions of Hindu thought.

What is the purpose of our human existence? Does it have one? What does it mean to live a successful life? What is the source of deep fulfillment and contentment in our lives? What is Dharma? What is our Svadharma? How do we ensure that we fulfill the unique purpose and opportunity of our lives? How do we even discover it? Have we exhausted the possibilities of being alive already? How has Hindu Dharma addressed these questions?

In the Certificate Program in Hindu Studies, Students will engage with these questions in a deep and authentic way, as they prepare themselves for service, leadership, and contribution, and for making a deep and lasting impact in the communities in which they live, as well as the world in general. Whether you are interested in writing, speaking, and teaching, in counseling and healing, in social work, media or the performing arts, in education and curriculum development, in providing leadership in your communities, working with youth or in inter-faith domains, or simply engaging with schools and colleges, and the institutions of our contemporary world, or being of service in some other vital way, the Certificate Program in Hindu Studies, will empower and enable you in your life’s journey.

This program will take work, commitment, and the ability to sustain your interest through several quarters. But what you will accomplish at the end, who you will become in the process, and all the new aspirations and possibilities that you will create for yourself, that you didn’t even know that you had, will transform you in an amazing and inspiring way. You will go beyond your real or perceived limitations, capacity and capabilities, and may even sustain and nurture the continued relevance of Sanatana Dharma for posterity as its ambassador.

Structure of the Program:

The certificate program consists of a total of 24 credit hours of coursework. It can be completed at the earliest in 8 quarters, if the students can take 3 Credit hours per quarter, or more slowly over time, in any case, under five years. Students must take at least 15 Credit hours from the Core Courses in the Certificate program. They may complete the remaining 9 credit hours by taking any set of elective courses from the community education program.

Pre-requisites:

The students must have completed the Orientation to Hindu Studies course minimally and must demonstrate a deep interest in service, contribution and making an impact from within a Hindu context, in order to be admitted into the Certificate Program in Hindu Studies. Students who have not taken the Orientation to Hindu Studies course, may enroll into the Certificate Program in Hindu Studies, with the understanding that they will register into the course immediately.

Who will benefit?

This program can benefit everyone who is interested in living a life of service and contribution, who wishes to engage with the communities in their lives in a meaningful way, in a Hindu context. It applies to all those who wish to reconnect deeply with their own Hindu cultural roots, develop a deeper understanding of their own unique place in the world. For Non-Hindus who have developed some level of curiosity and interest in the Hindu world, this program will deepen their engagement with that world, and open up entirely new possibilities for contribution and service.

List of courses

The list of Courses available for Students as part of the Certificate Program in Hindu Studies is listed below. Each course is designated as a Core course or an Elective course. These courses may be taken in any sequence, as long as the student first completes the Orientation to Hindu Studies course, at the very beginning of the program.

The Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita

YOG2001 - (C.P.H.S - Core Course) This Course takes the Students into a Journey of Exploration of Yoga as enunciated ... Read More

The Renaissance of Sanatana Dharma In the Light of Sri Aurobindo – Part 2

HSF3102 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) More than any one single figure, Sri Aurobindo prophesied that the renaissance of Sanatana ... Read More

Vedantasara of Sadananda – Part 1

TAT3203 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) In this Course, Students will inquire into some of the fundamental misunderstandings that have ... Read More

Advaita, Viśiśtādvaita and Dvaita – The three flavors of Vēdānta śāstra

TAT4001 - (C.P.H.S - Core Course) Hindu Thought provides for the simultaneous co-existence of varied perspectives on the nature of ... Read More

Sankhya Darshana through the Sankhya Karika – Part 2

HSF3202 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) This Course is the Second of a two-part course series presenting an in-depth exploration ... Read More

The Yoga of Motherhood

YOG3300 - (C.P.H.S – Elective Course) In our yogic tradition, a siddhi can be defined as a spiritual power. Certainly the ... Read More

Orientation to Hindu Studies

HSF5000 - (C.P.H.S - REQUIRED Course) The word ‘Orientation’ in this course title carries two meanings. The first and obvious meaning ... Read More

The Yoga of the Yoga Sutras

YOG2002 - (C.P.H.S - Core Course) This course takes the students into a journey of exploration of yoga as enunciated ... Read More

Introduction to the Vedic Ritual

HSF1401 - (C.P.H.S - Core Course) Ritual is the laboratory where the mind is purified, settled, and prepared for higher ... Read More

Bhaja Govindam – A Topical Approach

TAT1302 – (C.P.H.S – Elective Course) In this course, students will learn Bhaja Govindam with its verses re-organized around some ... Read More

Antaranga Yoga

YOG3100 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) Antaranga yoga course is designed to use the itihasa-purana Mahabharata as a mirror to ... Read More

Discover the contemporary Relevance of Hindu Dharma

HSF1007 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) This course, targets an age group of 18-35 and will explore the question – ... Read More

Certificate Program in Hindu Studies

The Certificate program in Hindu Studies (C.P.H.S) prepares Students to engage with the world as a Hindu with confidence and ... Read More

Exploring Hinduism for Teens and Parents

HSF1001 - (C.P.H.S – Core Course) “Exploring Hinduism – The Overview”, is the first course in the series titled "Exploring Hinduism" ... Read More

Bhagavad-Gita for the Beginner – DEHA

HSF1004 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) Bhagavad-Gita for the Beginner – DEHA is the first part of a three-part sequence ... Read More

Sri Ramcharitmanas: Continuity in Change

TAT1201 - (C.P.H.S – Elective Course) This course explores the Ramcharitmanas, an epic poem composed in the sixteenth century in Ayodhya, ... Read More

Indian and Western Music Traditions – A Comparative Study

TAT3103 - (C.P.H.S – Elective Course) This course is the first of a three-part course sequence in the Hindu Musical Traditions ... Read More

Lessons from Valmiki Ramayana

HSF 1005 - (C.P.H.S - Core Course) This course will help the participants get a well-versed understanding of the story, ... Read More

Dhyaanam – Meditation and the Meditator

HSF2101 - (C.P.H.S - Core Course) Living in the contemporary world includes navigating conflicts at the level of family, work, ... Read More

Hindu Musical Traditions – A Historical Perspective

TAT3102 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) This Course is the second in the 2-Course Sequence in the Hindu Musical Traditions ... Read More

Hindu Temples and Traditions

TAT 3104 - (C.P.H.S - Core Course) Temples occupy an important place in the Hindu mind, both in India and ... Read More

Bhagavad-Gita for the beginner – YOGA

HSF1303 - (C.P.H.S – Elective Course) “Bhagavad-Gita for the beginner - YOGA” is the last part of a three-part sequence of ... Read More

Hindu Musical Traditions – A Cultural Immersion

TAT3101 - (C.P.H.S – Elective Course) This course is the first in a 2-Course sequence in the Hindu Musical Traditions – ... Read More

The Three Vedantic Perspectives on the Bhagavad Gita

TAT4002 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) Hindu Thought provides for the simultaneous co-existence of varied perspectives on the nature of ... Read More

The Renaissance of Sanatana Dharma In the Light of Sri Aurobindo – Part 3

HSF3103 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) More than any one single figure, Sri Aurobindo prophesied that the renaissance of Sanatana ... Read More

A student reading textbook outside the temple

How Hindu Dharma Transformed America

HAM2100 - (C.P.H.S – Core Course) This course explores the history and impact of Vedic Wisdom on America’s Spiritual Landscape ... Read More

An Immersive exploration of the iconic “Autobiography of a Yogi”

YOG2100 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) Of all the books that spread Hindu dharma beyond India, none has had as ... Read More

Sustainability is Sanatana Dharma

CPS2003 - (C.P.H.S – Elective Course) This course explores how the modern quest for sustainability relates to the eternal search ... Read More

Reconstructing Hindu History – The Commissions

HAM4201 - (C.P.H.S - Core Course) This course is the first of a two-quarter course sequence that examines the scientific ... Read More

Living our Svadharma in a contemporary world

HSF1101 - (C.P.H.S - Core Course) A practical guide to - living our svadharma. Living in the contemporary world is ... Read More

Exploring Hinduism -Geography and History

HSF1001 - (C.P.H.S – Core Course) “Exploring Hinduism – Geography and History”, is the first course in the series titled "Exploring ... Read More

Reconstructing Hindu History – The Omissions

HAM4202 - (C.P.H.S – Core Course) This course is the second of a two-quarter course sequence that examines the scientific evidence ... Read More

Introduction to Hindu Philosophy: ‘Shad Darshanas’

HSF2001 - (C.P.H.S - Core Course) This course will introduce the student to the six traditional perspectives of Hindu Philosophy, ... Read More

Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram

TAT1301 - (C.P.H.S – Elective Course) This course on Vishnu Sahasranama stotra, will prepare students to chant the slokas with ... Read More

Hindu Contributions to the world in the realm of matter

HSF1002 - (C.P.H.S – Elective Course) This course explores the contributions of the Hindus to the world in the realm of ... Read More

The Renaissance of Sanatana Dharma In the Light of Sri Aurobindo – Part 1

HSF3101 - (C.P.H.S – Elective Course) More than any one single figure, Sri Aurobindo prophesied that the renaissance of Sanatana Dharma ... Read More

Understanding Hinduphobia

HSF2201 - (C.P.H.S – Core Course) This course serves as a starting point for those who are interested in learning ... Read More

The Dharma Of Global Sustainability

CPS2001 - (C.P.H.S – Elective Course) This course explores the impact of ancient Vedic Wisdom on the modern questions of ... Read More

Sankhya Darshana through the Sankhya Karika – Part I

HSF3201 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) This Course is the first of a two-part course series presenting an in-depth exploration ... Read More

Introduction to Upanishads – Part 1

HSF2002 - (C.P.H.S – Core Course) Upanishads form a strong philosophical foundation in the development of Hindu philosophy and culture ... Read More

The Yoga of Global Transformation

This course explores how humanity can meet the ever-pressing challenge of global sustainability, that we all confront collectively. It explores ... Read More

Ramayana for Excellence in Management and Leadership

HSF3301 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) This course aims to introduce Srimad Ramayana as an important literature in teaching and ... Read More

Exploring Hinduism – Divinities and Dharma

HSF1002 - (C.P.H.S – Core Course) “Exploring Hinduism – Divinities and Dharma”, is the second course in the series titled ... Read More

Hindu Contributions to the World in the Realm of Mind – Towards Sciences and Arts

HSF1203 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) This course belongs to the set of the courses which explore the contributions of ... Read More

Hindu Contributions to the world in the realm of matter

HSF1202 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) This course explores the contributions of the Hindus to the world in the realm ... Read More

Across the Universe: Hindu Dharma and Western Creative Arts

TAT2100 - (C.P.H.S – Elective Course) This course is both a celebration and a deep analysis of artists who opened ... Read More

Ayurveda – The Wisdom of Wellbeing

TAT1101 - (C.P.H.S - Core Course) This foundational course is designed to make the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda accessible to ... Read More

Bhagavad-Gita for the Beginner -Gnana

HSF1302 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) Bhagavad-Gita for the Beginner - Gnana is the second part of a three-part sequence ... Read More

Ayurveda – Essential Nutrition

TAT1103 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) In our contemporary era, concern for the prevention of disease is neglected in favor ... Read More

Certificate program in Shuddh Hindi – Beginner Phase

Certificate Program in Shuddh Hindi (CPSH)– Beginner Phase is the foundation set of 4 courses for students of all ages, from 9th Grade onward. It is the first of three successive phases – Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced, which together comprise the CPSH. There is no prerequisite for this program. The medium of instruction is English, and the course is easily accessible for a global audience. It is a 4 – Quarter, 44 – week detailed study that prepares beginner level students, i.e., those without any prior knowledge of Hindi or devanAgari, to achieve a level of comfort with the Hindi language that will enable them to pursue higher learning with ease. The Beginner Phase of CPSH is aimed at high school students and adults with a passion to learn a new language, those who are keen to engage with the texts and literature of pristine Hindi and its numerous derivative knowledge systems. It is taught by dedicated HUA Faculty members, via a user-friendly Online Platform, featuring a learning model that uses live virtual classrooms.

Learning Objectives:

In this course, students will be able to:

Master the “devanAgarii” / Hindi script
Pronounce the Hindi letters correctly, by understanding the origin of each sound
Make simple sentences in all three persons
Learn how to make requests and instructional statements
Learn how to ask questions
Recite simple Hindi words and phrases through listening, with the correct pronunciation.
Listen to and recite simple songs.
Using case endings
Using different tenses
Comprehend and recite simple verses
Write short essays and stories
Build a vocabulary of at least 1,000 words in Hindi (nouns, pronouns, and verbs)
Engage in beginner level conversations

Program Structure: CPSH – Beginner Phase is structured in the form of 4 quarters (1 year) sequence, 1.5 Credit hours each. This will add up to 60 hours of instruction and 120 hours of self-study in total. Structured innovatively using the prescribed curriculum and textbooks, augmented with other appropriate course content.

At the end of the 4th quarter, students may enter the intermediate phase, which has 4 quarters i.e., 44 weeks.

Required / Elective: Required

Prerequisites: Admission into a Certificate Program in Shuddh Hindi – Beginner Phase

Faculty / Instructor: Shri. Chandrasekar Raghu, Smt. Asha Chand, Smt. Minakshi Rai,

Quarter Offered: Fall 2022

As part of Hindu University of America’s commitment to ongoing community education, most courses available at the university including Graduate Division courses are open for registration from members of the community as continuing education students. Anyone including already employed professionals and prospective degree students may apply to any single course as a special student if they can demonstrate that they have the prerequisite preparation. They may discuss their preparedness to take any course with the course faculty or instructor.

The continuing education stream of courses is targeted towards people who wish to learn ongoingly, without pursuing a specific degree or certificate.
There are no prerequisites enforced, other than those required by the faculty, and anyone may register. We invite prospective students to try out a course or two and come back for more
Courses taken as part of community education can be bundled together to earn certificates at a later stage.

Sri Ramcharitmanas: Continuity in Change

TAT1201 - (C.P.H.S – Elective Course) This course explores the Ramcharitmanas, an epic poem composed in the sixteenth century in Ayodhya,

Holiday Season Gift Course

This Holiday Season, light a lamp of knowledge by gifting a HUA course(s) to your family and friends. Your Gift

Teaching Yoga for Children

YOG3004 - This course enables students to integrate yoga in their teaching career, for guiding children, and for developing spiritual

Lessons from Valmiki Ramayana

HSF 1005 - (C.P.H.S - Core Course) This course will help the participants get a well-versed understanding of the story,

Bhagavad-Gita for the Beginner – DEHA

HSF1004 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) Bhagavad-Gita for the Beginner – DEHA is the first part of a three-part sequence

Discover the contemporary Relevance of Hindu Dharma

HSF1007 - (C.P.H.S - Elective Course) This course, targets an age group of 18-35 and will explore the question –

Race and Hindu Reform

HAM6405 - This course is the second part of a two-part course sequence that begins with HAM6403-Race and Modern Hinduism.

Hinduism and Conflict Resolution

CPS5502 - The course explores Hindu ideas and their relevance for conflict resolution. Click here to check if you are

Mahābhārata VI: Methods and Scholarship

TAT7206 - This course is the sixth of a 6-part Course Sequence that explores the great epic of India, The

Teaching Yoga for Children

YOG3004 - This course enables students to integrate yoga in their teaching career, for guiding children, and for developing spiritual

The Bhagavadgītā and the West

HAM6404 - This course traces the history of the Western reception of the Bhagavadgītā, a central text of classical Hinduism.

Establishing the Importance of Hindu Studies in an Academic Setting

Introduction to the daśaśāntimantras

TAT1001 - This course provides an immersive introduction to the Mantra and Chanting traditions of Sanatana Dharma. It focuses on

Decolonizing the Hindu Condition

PHS6302 - This course will analyze in detail the psychological and sociological consequences of the British colonial narratives on Hindus,

Race & Modern Hinduism

This course traces the construction of “race” in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Europe, beginning with the theological, political, and scientific source

Holistic Yoga – 2: Deepen Your Yoga Practice

YOG2000 - This course provides in-depth experience of holistic yoga, that integrates asana, pranayama, and meditation techniques for a sustained

Managing Diabetes through Holistic Yoga

This course provides online classroom training under the guidance of senior yoga therapists so that students can learn to practice

Reconstructing Hindu History – The Commissions

HAM4201 - (C.P.H.S - Core Course) This course is the first of a two-quarter course sequence that examines the scientific

Managing Back Pain through Holistic Yoga

YOG1006 - This course provides online classroom training under the guidance of senior yoga therapists so that students can learn

Hindu Musical Traditions – A Cultural Immersion

TAT3101 - (C.P.H.S – Elective Course) This course is the first in a 2-Course sequence in the Hindu Musical Traditions –

Indian and Western Music Traditions – A Comparative Study

TAT3103 - (C.P.H.S – Elective Course) This course is the first of a three-part course sequence in the Hindu Musical Traditions

Exploring Hinduism for Teens and Parents

HSF1001 - (C.P.H.S – Core Course) “Exploring Hinduism – The Overview”, is the first course in the series titled "Exploring Hinduism"

Antaranga Mandapam

YOG3101 - How is this Coronavirus pandemic going to end? Will we return to our 'old selves' and our 'familiar

Holistic Yoga -Philosophy and Practice

YOG1000 - This course provides an introduction to holistic yoga, that integrates yoga philosophy from classical scriptural texts and sustained

Advaita Vedanta: A Method

HSF6004 - This course will explore and demonstrate the use of the methods (prakriyas) used in the Upanisads to unfold

Comparative Religion: Death and Meaning

HSF6003 - The central problem of human life is twofold: morality and mortality. Given the certainty of death, is there

History of Dharmaśāstras II

HSF6006 - This is the second course in a two-part survey course that provides an overview of dharma literature from

History of Dharmaśāstras I

HSF5006 - This two-part survey course provides an overview of dharma literature from ancient and medieval texts of the Hindu

Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo

An exploration of Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy and select writings with a focus on the intersection of spirituality and practicality towards

The Mahābhārata II: Dicing and Exile

TAT7202 - This course is the second of a 6-part Course Sequence that explores the great epic of India, The

Human Rights: A Hindu Perspective

CPS6506 - To demonstrate how human rights concept and policy could be found in Hindu philosophy, and also how such

Discover Life by Exploring India

HSF5001 - A unique study abroad course that offers an authentic, transformative and enriching experience. This course is aimed at

Philosophy of Nonviolence

An examination of the concept of nonviolence, its evolution and practice in various cultures and traditions.

The Humanities and the University – II

Inspired by neo-humanism, the research university was to facilitate self-cultivation, aesthetic appreciation (especially through knowledge of classical antiquity), and a

International Politics: A Hindu Perspective

CPS6507 - To explore methods to bridge the chasm between the practice of international politics and universal moral principles.

Contesting Neo-Hinduism

PHS7302 - The current mainstream narrative in western academia is that there are two kinds of Hinduism: traditional and neo

Philosophy of Science and Hinduism

PHS8302 - In the colonial and postcolonial contexts, there have been many attempts both by Indians and western people to

Philosophical Foundations of Orientalism

Orientalism employs a technique termed “deconstruction.” In order to effectively and critically examine a colonial and postcolonial discourse, it is

Orientalism and Hinduism

PHS7301 - In postcolonial scholarship, Edward Said’s work Orientalism can be considered a landmark text. This course helps students understand

Arthaśāstra

CPS 5505 - To examine the core ideas such as state, war, and peace in the ancient text Arthashastra, a

Śhānti Parva

CPS5504 - To elaborate ideas of good governance and duties of a ruler towards his subjects and Dharma as enshrined

The Vision of the Bhagavad-Gītā

HSF5002 - Distilled from the Upaniṣad, the Śrīmad Bhagavad-Gītā is a fundamental text of Hindu Dharma which has given rise

Anticolonialism and Postcolonialism

PHS6301 - This course introduces the theories of various anticolonial and postcolonial writers in order to create a framework for

The Foundation of Vedānta

HSF5004 - Vedānta also known as the Upaniṣad, found at the end of all four Vedas, reveal the goal and

An Overview of the Veda

HSF5003 - The Vedas are the oldest body of sacred knowledge known to man. A bird’s eye view of the

Vālmīki’s Rāmāyaṇa

TAT7203 - Vālmīki’s Rāmāyaṇa is a classic story of human self-development focused on the relationship between the macrocosm (the kingdom)

The Mahābhārata I: From Beginning to End

TAT7201 - This course is the first of a 6-part Course Sequence that explores the great epic of India, The

Ādi Śaṅkara

TAT6202 - Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, the author of numerous commentaries and pedagogical tracts, is the seminal philosopher in Hinduism, especially its

Bhakti and Philosophy

TAT6201 - In religious studies, bhakti is often described as devotion or intense feeling, and presented as “faith” in contrast

Ancient Greek Philosophy

HSF6002 - What is the meaning of existence? What is the nature of truth? These were the questions asked by

Historicism and Its Crisis

HAM8402 - The intellectual movement known as historicism dominated the nineteenth century. At its simplest, it is the view that

Comparative Religion: Death and Meaning

Learning Outcomes:

This is a comparative course in the Abrahamic, Greek, and Hindu paradigms. At the end of this course, students will be able to:

Understand the phenomenon of death and its importance to religion;
Interpret, analyze and critique the views on death and meaning in major religions of the world;
Show the relationship between death, salvation, and personal identity; and
Discuss and clarify philosophical arguments as they arise in these texts.

Required / Elective: Required

Faculty: Dr. Vishwa Adluri

Prerequisites: Admission into a program of study

Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundations

Quarter Offered: Spring 2020

Critical Issues in Hindu Studies

The European colonization of India was justified by the construction of a particular narrative, beginning in the nineteenth century centered on the “White Man’s Burden” of civilizing India and the Hindus. “Scholars” hired by the East India Company and European missionaries, sometimes in tandem and at others in isolation, created a certain narrative on the Hindus and India in order to justify their colonial rule and missionary activities respectively. With the growing influence of the Europeans over Indians, the narrative became a massive industry with more and more scholars joining the force adding more nuance and sophistication to the discourse. This narrative has acquired a life of its own and today can be considered as the “received knowledge” on India and Hindus. Whether this narrative squares with the self-understanding of pre-colonial Hindus is a matter which we will examine in subsequent courses; however in the current one, we will first educate ourselves with the various descriptors that the Europeans used to define the Hindus, critically examining the various agendas–which the fathers of the narrative were quite explicit about behind such scholarship. The aforementioned scholarship in many different ways informs the self-understanding of educated Hindus today, and if the current Hindus want to connect with the worldview of their ancestors as they move forward in time, it is important for them to become familiar with this European narrative and also with the motivations that shaped the discourse, to begin with. This discourse is a distortion and in order to correct it, it is important to become familiar with its nuances.

In this course, the student will

study in detail the writings of some of the early European Indologists like James Mill and Abbe Dubois in order to understand their characterization of Hinduism and Hindus as oppressive and hierarchical;
understand the explicit motivations due to which such characterizations were made;
be able to see clearly that such characterizations have become “received knowledge” on Hinduism and Hindus, which gets replicated and reproduced in mainstream academia from grade school to graduate studies whereas the motivations for creating such a construct have been made invisible;
be able to see the basis of Academic Hinduphobia that exists in the mainstream today;
gradually begin developing the skills required to effectively counter the distorted narrative in academia and media.

Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundations/Postcolonial Hindu Studies

Required/ Elective: Required

Prerequisites: Admission into a Program of Study/ Must have completed Orientation to Hindu Studies or Concurrently enrolled in OTHS.

Instructor: Dr. Kundan Singh

Start Date: April 11, 2020

End Date: June 19, 2020

Day: Every Saturday

Time: 2:00 PM — 5:00 PM EST.

Quarter: Spring 2020

Dhyaanam – Meditation and the Meditator

Course content:

Amrtabindu Upanishad reveals that the mind is the cause of both bondage and liberation. How can we transform our relationship with the mind such that it does not bind us but leads us to the truth? In the light of Vedanta, we move through three stages –

First stage – My mind is a problem. I want to fix my mind.
Second stage – My mind is an instrument, a glorious gift from Ishvara. True to its name (antah-karana-inner instrument) I use it as and when required for my different pursuits.
Third stage – I, chaitanyam illumine my mind and do not judge myself on the basis of the conditions of my mind.

Millions have traversed the landscape of transforming their minds and living happy, purposeful lives guided by the wisdom of our revered Rishis. The course will include the understanding of the mind in the Vedic tradition, some meditation practices and an enquiry into the nature of the meditator. Drawing from the Yoga sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads, this course will lead the participant to have a guided, suitable and meaningful meditation practice.

Course Learning Objectives:

Learn the purpose and practice of at least six types of meditation.
Transform your relationship with your mind such that you use the mind effectively
Discover a peace, cheerfulness and gratitude for your life and in your relationships
Develop a closer relationship with Bhagavan
Enquire into the nature of the meditator (Atma) through the varying meditation practices.
Integrate dhyaanam into your lifestyle meaningfully

Class Structure:

There will be a minimum of 1 contact hour with one or more faculty every week. Since this is an experiential course, the class is structured such that there will be a lecture component along with different practices of meditations, discussion based on self-study and reflection each week. While the content being discussed in each class will be concluded within 60 minutes, the discussion time will be free format, and can continue for an additional 30 minutes maximum. During the course, students will be required to share their reflections and write a short essay. This need not be an academic quality paper – but should be based on students’ self-reflection on what they have learnt and assimilated so far. The significance of the course is on learning and integrating Dhyaanam into one’s lifestyle while being centred in the battlefield of life.

Required / Core: Core

Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundation

Prerequisites: Admission into program of study.

Faculty / Instructor: Swamini Brahmaprajnananda Saraswati

Start Date: July 17, 2022

End Date: September 25, 2022

Day: Every Sunday

Time: 11:00 am EST – 12:30 pm EST

Quarter Offered: Summer 2022

Discover Life by Exploring India

This course involves 35 days of the journey in India, including 9 destinations, 6 different areas of study and an immersive experience of the lifestyle of Yoga and Ayurveda.

In this course students will be able to:

Explore the different aspects of the self and various modalities of relationship with the environment
Examine the wisdom of ancient traditions in the light of the challenges of modern life
Develop a greater understanding of the history, culture and traditions of India
Deepen your research into your own fields of intellectual interest, while gaining entirely new perspectives on life
Gain the ability to comprehend global challenges and identify creative solutions

This course can be taken as a part of several different programs or as a stand-alone course. It can also be taken by people who have no academic interest, and simply want to enjoy travel to a world that is at once both ancient and contemporary.

Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundations

Prerequisites: None

Instructor: Adriana Salazar

Discover the contemporary Relevance of Hindu Dharma

Course content:

The Vedic Hindu paradigm (or cosmology) represents an alternative to the Western paradigm. The paradigm of Western thought is centered on the idea of linear progress in time, that relentlessly renders tradition, and the thought of prior generations obsolete. It presents itself in opposition to tradition, on the principle that whatever value traditions might have had for humanity in the past, they have been decisively superseded by the progress of thought. The Vedic Hindu paradigm presents itself as timeless i.e., that it encapsulates principles, values and ideas that do not age with time, and become relevant again and again, in every age and era, and even for all of humanity. The ground covered by this course will include a subset of the following themes, as selected through a democratic process by the students themselves:

Purushartha – Living a whole, complete, and fulfilled life
Ashrama Dharma – The Stages of a human life
The Wheel of Samsara – Karma, Janma and Reincarnation
Oneness and Identity – the conclusions of Vedanta
Dharma versus Religion – A Categorial misalignment
The Hindu concept of Brahman, and its unfolding into Purusha and Prakriti
The transcendental and the Material worlds – in Hindu Dharma
The Scope of the Vedas – Vedic Teachings about Teaching the Vedas
Moksha, Freedom and Salvation – A comparative inquiry
Yoga – A means for self-transformation
Sanatana – Timelessness versus Historicism – The place of Hindu Dharma in world religion
Cyclic Time versus Linear History – The central cosmological difference
From the Vedas to NASA – Astronomy and Time and the antiquity of Hindu culture
Avatars, Rishis, Yogis, Gurus and Acharyas – the continuously unfolding revelation
People of the Book versus People of a Library
Teaching Dharma versus Preaching and Proselytization
Sanskrit – The mother of the World’s Languages
The centrality of the Bhagavad Gita – the dialog between Krishna and Arjuna
Speaking about the Epics – The Ramayana and the Mahabharata
One God, Many Gods, Father God, Mother God, Angry God, and Friendly God
Murti, Deity or Idol – Explaining worship through images
Diversity, Plurality, Democracy and Hindu Culture
The three Gunas – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas – the basis for good and evil
The three Doshas – Ayurveda and the interface to material nature
Hindu Dharma, Holy Cows, and global Ecology and Sustainability
Modernity according to the Hindu sages of yore
Ahimsa – Non-violence and Vegetarianism in Hindu Dharma
Jyotisha – Explaining Vedic Astrology to the uninitiated
Darshana – Ways of understanding the Cosmos
The Vedic Cosmology and the Dharma Traditions – Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism
Progressivism and Historicism – Chronological Snobbery
Colonization, Colonial Consciousness and Postcoloniality
Who were the real Pagans? The world before Monotheism.
Varna, Jati, and Caste – A clash of incommensurable paradigms
The Guna, Karma paradigm of Varna and Jati
The Aryan Race and the Racial Paradigm of Caste

Course Learning Objectives:

In this course students will be able to:

Vote and determine which themes from this list are of interest for them
Discover the timeless and immediate relevance of Hindu Dharma for themselves
Distinguish the paradigm of Hindu Cosmology from the Western paradigm
Deepen and broaden their knowledge and understanding of Hindu Dharma
Learn to communicate about Hindu Dharma to diverse groups with confidence
Build the skills required to become an Ambassador of Hindu Dharma in time

Class Structure:

There will be a minimum of 2 contact hours with the faculty every week for 10 weeks. The class is structured in a way that promotes discussion and debate based on self-study and reflection each week. While the content being discussed in each class will be concluded within 120 minutes, the discussion time will be free format and can continue for an additional 60 minutes.

During the course, students will be required to submit one short essay and/or make one class presentation. They need not be academic quality papers – but should be based on students’ self-reflection on what they have learnt and assimilated so far.

Required/Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: Admission into a Program of Study

Faculty/Instructor: Shri Jeffrey Armstrong and Kalyan Viswanathan

Area of Study: Hindu Studies Foundations

Program of Study: Community Education Program (CEP), Certificate Program in Hindu Studies (CPHS)

Time: 05:00 pm EST – 07:00 pm EST

Start Date: 17th July 2021

End Date: 18th September 2021

Day: Every Saturday with one exception – the class will be on Sunday, July 25th 2021, instead of July 24th.

Quarter Offered: Summer 2021

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