Ayurveda – The Wisdom of Wellbeing

Ayurveda – The Wisdom of Wellbeing

Course Content:

In the course, the role of food and nutrition in Ayurveda alongside methods of food preparation and consumption will also be discussed. We will also study the protocols to keep the body in good health through daily and seasonal routines (Dinacarya & Rtucarya). Students will develop an understanding of the stages of manifestation of illness in the body and how Pancakarma treatments and Ayurveda’s therapeutic formulations address them to maintain homeostatic balance in the body.

Course Learning Objectives:

In this course students will be able to:

  1. Understand and apply the principles of Ayurveda to enhance their lifestyle.
  2. Learn how to identify imbalances in their body and utilize the power of Ayurveda to address mild imbalances.
  3. Use consciousness-based principles of Ayurveda to improve interpersonal relationships
  4. Integrate Ayurveda and Ayurvedic protocols to make lifestyle adjustments for the whole family

Class Structure

There will be a minimum of 1 contact hour with the faculty every week. The curriculum will include reading, reflection, observation, and interactive practices. The class time will include an additional 30 minutes that will provide an opportunity for Q&A and group discussion.

Required / Elective: Required

Area of Study: Text & Traditions

Prerequisites: Admission into a Program of Study

Faculty / Instructor: Ms. Luvena Krishnamurthy

Start Time: July 17, 2023

End Date: September 25, 2023

Day: Monday

Time: 09:00 pm EST – 10:30 pm EST

Holidays: Labor Day (September 4, 2023)

Quarter Offered: Spring 2023

Beginning Shuddh Hindi – Script & Sounds

Beginning Shuddh Hindi – Script & Sounds Learning Objectives:

  1. Master the “devanAgarii” / Hindi script
  2. Pronounce the Hindi letters correctly, by understanding the origin of each sound
  3. Build a vocabulary of at least 200 words in Hindi (nouns, pronouns, and verbs)
  4. Make simple sentences in all three persons

Course Contents:

  1. Vowels (“svar”) & Consonants (“vyanjan”)
  2. Conjoint letters (“bArah khaDii”)
  3. Compound consonants (“saMyuktAkShar”)
  4. Simple words in Hindi
  5. Simple sentences with 2 or 3 words
  6. Question words

Required / Elective: Required 

Prerequisites: Admission into CPSH 

Faculty / Instructor:  Chandrasekar Raghu, Dr. Shraddha Modi

Program of Study: Certificate Program in Shuddh Hindi (CPSH)

Start Date:- July 14, 2023

End Date:- September 22, 2023

Day:- Fridays

Time:- 8:00 pm EST – 9:30 pm EST

Quarter Offered: Summer 2023

Beginning Shuddh Hindi – Tenses, Genders, and Adjectives

Beginning Shuddh Hindi – Tenses, Genders, & Adjectives

Learning Objectives:

  1. Refresh what has been learned so far
  2. Build a vocabulary of at least 1,000 words in Hindi (nouns, pronouns, and verbs)
  3. Using case endings
  4. Using different tenses
  5. Comprehend and recite simple verses
  6. Engage in beginner level conversations
  7. Write short essays

Course Contents:

  1. Refresher exercises covering the previous 3 quarters of study
  2. Use of past tense and masculine and feminine genders
  3. More in-depth use of all 8 case endings (“kArak-chihn”)
  4. Use of future tense in masculine and feminine genders
  5. Use of “mujko”, “usko”, “chAhiye”, and “sirf”
  6. Using animal names in sentences
  7. More on adjectives
  8. Simple stories – reading and comprehension
  9. Beginner level conversations and translations

Books required:

The students can buy the book directly from the amazon

Required / Elective: Required 

Prerequisites: Admission into CPSH , completion of HIN0103

Faculty / Instructor:  Chandrasekar Raghu, Dr. Shraddha Modi

Program of Study: Certificate Program in Shuddh Hindi (CPSH)

Start Date: July 12, 2023

End Date: September 20, 2023

Day:- Wednesdays

Time:- 8:00 pm EST – 9:30 pm EST

Quarter Offered: Summer 2023

Certificate in Hindu Civilizational Studies

Certificate program in Hindu Civilizational Studies

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 1/3rd 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:

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

Required / Elective: Required

Prerequisites: Admission into a Certificate in Hindu Civilizational Studies

Faculty / InstructorDr. D. K. HariDr. D. K. Hema Hari,

Quarter Offered: Spring 2024

Certificate Program in Hindu Studies

Certificate program in Shuddh Hindi – Beginner Phase

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 Certificate Program in Shuddh Hindi 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: 

  1. Master the “devanAgarii” / Hindi script
  2. Pronounce the Hindi letters correctly, by understanding the origin of each sound
  3. Make simple sentences in all three persons
  4. Learn how to make requests and instructional statements
  5. Learn how to ask questions
  6. Recite simple Hindi words and phrases through listening, with the correct pronunciation.
  7. Listen to and recite simple songs.
  8. Using case endings
  9. Using different tenses
  10. Comprehend and recite simple verses
  11. Write short essays and stories
  12. Build a vocabulary of at least 1,000 words in Hindi (nouns, pronouns, and verbs)
  13. 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 / InstructorShri. Chandrasekar RaghuDr. Shraddha Modi

Quarter Offered: Summer 2023

Daksinamurtistotram by Adi Sankara

Daksinamurtistotram by Adi Sankara Course content:

The Daksinamurtistotram by Adi Sankara consisting of ten stanzas is a profound Vedantic text expounding the various tenets of Vedanta. The hymns are in praise of Lord Dakṣiṇāmūrti visualized as the embodiment of Self-knowledge. Hence, the text describes the reality of the Self as the limitless Brahman in ten verses which are linked together in such a way leading to the discernment of the one indivisible reality threading through the individual self, the world, and the causal principle, Īśvara.

The text pulls together the philosophical content of the Upaniṣads, the Bhagavad Gītā and the Brahmasūtras – the three core pillars of Vedantic knowledge and presents a comprehensive summary. The profundity of the ten verses inspired Surēśvarācārya, a well-known disciple of Ādi Śaṅkara, to write a lengthy commentary (vārtika) known as Mānasōllāsa, meaning that which invigorates the mind of an assiduous seeker of Self-knowledge.

Course Learning Objectives:

In this course students will:

a) Examine the ten meditation verses of the Dakṣiṇāmūrtistōtram
b) Discuss their meanings through a detailed exposition of the verses
c) Interpret the relevant commentaries on the text
d) Recognize the nature of the Self, in relation to the world and its cause
e) Establish a grounded understanding of the core teachings of Vedanta

Class Structure

There will be one 90 min class every week. This will consist of a lecture for 75 min and a 15 min Q&A pertaining to the subject matter discussed. Class-room participation is encouraged.

Purchasable Readings before the Course:
Readings:
1. Hymn to Sri Dakṣiṇāmūrti of Ādi Śaṅkara – A commentary by Swami Chinmayananda, 2009
2. Sri Dakshinamurti Stotram: In praise of the teacher of teachers, by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Kindle edition from https://www.amazon.com/
3. Sri Daksinamurti Stotram of Sri Sankaracarya by Swami Tattvavidananda Saraswati, 2002, – https://www.avgbooks.org/
4. Dakshinamurti Stotra with Manasollasa, Swami Harshananda, https://www.amazon.com/

Required / Elective: Elective

Prerequisites: Some exposure to the Vēdānta śāstra and ability to read Sanskrit.

Faculty: Dr. Venkataraman Swaminathan 

Start Date: July 11, 2023

End Date: September 19, 2023

Time: 08:00 pm EST – 9:30 pm EST

Day: Tuesday

Quarter Offered: Summer 2023