$1,500.00
This course is part of the following programs:
Master of Arts in Hindu Studies
Doctor of Philosophy in Hindu Studies
Admission into a HUA Graduate program of study (MAH or DHS)
In this course, the students will be able to:
This course will focus on exploring key questions, including: What is Yoga as articulated by the sage Patañjali? What role do bahiranga yoga practices (such as āsana, prāṇāyāma, yama, and niyama) play in the broader framework of Yoga? How does the Yoga Sutra examine the workings of the mind, and how does it approach mastery over it? What is the underlying thread of systematic psycho-spiritual evolution that connects the eight limbs of Yoga as described in the Yoga Sutra? The course aims to provide an authentic understanding of Yoga as presented by Patañjali. Since the Yoga Sutras are rooted in the darśana of Sankhya, the course will begin by examining the Sankhya worldview. As the Bhagavad Gita represents a synthesis of Sankhya and Yoga, this study will also prepare students for a deeper philosophical appreciation of the Bhagavad Gita.
The course is structured to systematically present and elucidate the purpose of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra in cultivating mastery over mental processes and deepening self-understanding. Through a progressive weekly layout, the course examines the ultimate aims of Patañjali’s Yoga, along with its foundational concepts and essential practices, enabling students to develop a coherent and philosophically grounded understanding of the yogic path.
Required References:
Desikachar T.K.V.D, (1999). The Heart of Yoga.
Ananthanarayanan, R. & Balasubramanian A, Yoga Sutra for Inner Work,
Optional References:
Paranjpe, A.C. (1998). Self and Identity in Modern Psychology and Indian Thought:
Desikachar T.K.V.D, (1987). Reflections on the Yoga Sutra-s of Patanjali.
Desikachar T.K.V.D, (1999). Religiousness in Yoga
Bryant, Edwin F (2009). The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. North Point Press.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali course is structured to promote learning, self-study, reflection, and discussion on a weekly basis. Each week consists of two 1.5-hour sessions centered on a specific theme. In the first session, students engage in an in-class discussion after watching selected short video excerpts from the seminar “Inner Work Through Yoga” and reading relevant sections from the reference material. In the second session, students submit a self-reflective essay addressing key questions provided, followed by a dialogue based on these reflections.
$1,500.00
On the program page, there are multiple payment plan options to choose from.
