PRE-ARRIVAL PREPARATION PHASE
Post-Departure Reflections

Yoga Philosophy – What is Yoga? Types of Yoga, History of Yoga Timeline

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/world-history-beginnings/ancient-india/v/indus-valley-civilization

https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/9942/mulabandhasana

Preparation: There are two assignments to prepare to begin our study of the Bhagavad Gita.

  1.  Read Eknath Easwaran’s Introduction to his translation of the Gita, pages 13-67 of the required text.  His writing is lucid and most understandable.  And, this introduction is an excellent overview of the themes and content of the Gita.  I promise that your reading of the Bhavagad Gita will be much more accessible and alive after you have read this introduction.
  2. Watch Eknath Easwaran in one or two short YouTube videos.  You get to hear this wonderful teacher talking about the Gita.  In the first (3 minutes long), Eknath talks about Gandhi’s relationship with the Gita.  In the second video (36 minutes) Eknath comments on some of his favorite verses. It is a bit long and slow.  The content is wonderful but it does take some effort to focus. So, give this one a try but I understand if you find it difficult to follow. Personally, I found both inspiring.  Enjoy!

https://www.ancient.eu/The_Vedas/

https://vedicfeed.com/the-four-vedas/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurukshetra_War

https://vedicfeed.com/18-days-of-the-mahabharata-war-summary-of-the-war/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata

 

https://www.hinduwebsite.com/summary.asp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devi_Mahatmya

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patanjali

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Patanjali

 

https://advaitamandscience.org/2014/05/25/six-schools-of-hindu-philosophy/

The Life of Adi Shankaracharya

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_conquests_in_the_Indian_subcontinent

https://www.sikhnet.com/news/islamic-india-biggest-holocaust-world-history

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddha

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adinath_Sampradaya

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatkarma

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asana

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranayama

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakra

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kundalini_yoga

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandha_(yoga)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kriy%C4%81

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakti

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadi_(yoga)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudra

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirumalai_Krishnamacharya

https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/9321/krishnamacharya

For a modern Indian interpretation of the Gita and its value and applicability to many facets of modern life, listen to this TED talk Roopa Pai.  She applies the lessons of the Gita to a wide variety of topics but avoids the religious interpretation.  

 

Course Discussion