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Faculty: Mr. Gopi V Prasad

Bhagavad-Gita for the Beginner – Sadhana

Course Content:

The Sadhana 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. The course is divided into 3 modules Deha, Gnana and Yoga. The Deha module highlights the Material and Psychic aspects of the body. The Gnana module describes the Physical, Social, Occupational, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual dimensions of divine wisdom. The Yoga module explains the four paths of Yoga in Bhagavad-Gita. The course simplifies the learning process for the beginner using specially designed graphic workbooks, transliteration textbooks in multiple languages and guided audios, available in recitation and practice versions. The interactive sessions are conducted online in English.

The Course lays the foundation to the 3-part series of Sadhana, Sodhana and Vaadana courses, through which Students will acquire a thorough overview of Hindu Dharma and enrich the quality of their spiritual lives.

Shloka Parichaya (Introduction to the verse): Students understand the verses in two steps. 

Step 1: Shloka Shravana (Listening to the verse): In this step the students will get to know the accurate pronunciation of each verse.

Step 2: Bhava Darshana (Graphic illustration): In this step the meaning of the verse is explained through graphic illustration.

Shloka Sadhana (Practice of the verse): Students shall practice the verses in two steps.

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. 

Step 4: Shloka Rachana (Copy writing the shloka): In this step each verse is written in a language of choice by copying from the transliteration textbook. 

Course Description:

“Bhagavad-Gita for the beginner” introduces about 140 carefully curated verses (out of 700) under 17 thematic lessons from the Bhagavad Gita to students, who have no prior exposure to this important Hindu Text. In this course the participants shall study the meanings of each verse followed by guided recitation during online interactive classes. The Sadhana course is carried out using Active, Interactive and Collaborative ways of learning and offers guided practice of shlokas followed by interactive discussion of their meaning. It is the first of a three-course series titled, Sadhana, Sodhana and Vaadana. 

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. 

Required / Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: N.A.

Faculty / Instructor:  Mr. Gopi V. Prasad

Time: 11:00 am EST – 12:30 pm EST

Day: Every Saturday

Start Date: October 9, 2021

End Date: December 18, 2021

Quarter Offered: Fall 2021

Gita Vidya Sadhana For Teens and Parents

Course Content:

‘Gita Vidya Sadhana – For Teenagers and Parents’ course provides an introduction to Bhagavad-Gita through 17 thematically structured lessons covering 140 key shlokas. With the guided practice audios for accurate pronunciation and graphic illustrations for easy understanding of the shlokas, this course is designed to match the learning needs of young minds. The course highlights the Physical, Social, Occupational, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual aspects of the Divine wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita. It presents four paths of yoga in Bhagavad-Gita. With online classes, interesting quizzes and learning activities every week this course is packed with information that will be stimulating and exciting for young people.

Course Description:

The ‘Gita Vidya Sadhana – For Teenagers and Parents’ is designed to encourage both teenagers and their parents (or their grandparents) to explore the Bhagavad Gita together. It will create new conversational spaces for families, which are interested in learning together, across the generations. The course will help participants to memorize, understand and apply the divine wisdom of Bhagavad-Gita. The participants can get an overview of Hindu Dharma and enrich their personality along multiple dimensions including the spiritual. This course is delivered using Active, Interactive and Collaborative models. It offers guided practice of shlokas followed by interactive discussion of their meaning. The course material for active learning is available in multiple languages. The interactive sessions are conducted online in English.

Class Structure:

The course will have 12 online classes spread across 6 weeks period. Each online class is for a duration of 90 minutes. The class is structured in a way that promotes discussion and debate based on self-study and reflection each week. This course deals with the study of the meanings and accurate pronunciation of 140 selected versus of Bhagavad-Gita grouped under 17 thematic topics. This course involves the introduction to verses ‘Shloka Parichaya’ and their practice ‘Shloka Sadhana’.

Shloka Parichaya (Introduction to the verse): Students understand the verses in two steps.

Step 1: Shloka Shravana (Listening to the verse): In this step the students will get to know the accurate pronunciation of each verse.

Step 2: Bhava Parichaya (Introduction to the meaning): In this step the meaning of the verse is explained through graphic illustration.

Shloka Sadhana (Practice of the verse): Students shall practice the verses in two steps.

Step 3: Shloka Anucharana (Pronunciation of the shloka): In this step the accurate pronunciation of each verse is practiced with the help of the Gita Vidya Practice Audio.

Step 4: Shloka Rachana (Copy writing the shloka): In this step each verse is written down by copying from the “Gita Vidya Sadhana Workbook”.

 

Required / Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: N.A.

Faculty / Instructor:  Mr. Gopi V. Prasad

Time: 11:00 am EST – 12:30 pm EST

Day: Wednesday and Sunday

Start Date: July 14, 2021

End Date: August 22, 2021

Quarter Offered: Summer 2021

Gita Vidya Sodhana

Course content:

The ‘Gita Vidya Bhasya Sindhu’ is a collection of commentaries by various Acharyas on the Bhagavad-Gita, which will be made available to the Class participants. Students will compare the meanings, interpretations, and emphasis provided by any three different Bhashyas i.e. commentaries on the Bhagavad-Gita, and summarise their observations as part of active learning. Participants will share their observations and discuss the varied interpretations under the guidance of faculty during the interactive sessions. Students will be required to submit their compilation of various interpretations and their own findings in summary form for each module and present a final report at the end of the course.

The Sodhana course is carried out using Active, Interactive, and Collaborative ways of online learning. The course material for active learning is available in multiple languages. The interactive sessions are conducted online in English. These courses enable the students to memorize, understand, and apply the essential aspects of the divine wisdom imparted by Shri Krishna to Arjuna.

Course Learning Objectives:

In this course participants will be able to:

  • 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.

Class Structure

There will be a minimum of 3 contact hours with faculty every week. The classes are 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 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 submit their reflections on each lesson. At the end of the Sodhana course, each participant shall submit a final report for the entire course.

Required / Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: Must have completed the HSF 1004 – Gita Vidya Sadhana Course 

Faculty / Instructor:  Mr. Gopi V. Prasad

Time: 11:00 am EST – 12:30 pm EST

Day: Sunday

Start Date: 18th April 2021

End Date: 27th June 2021

Quarter Offered: Spring 2021