‘When disappointment stares me in the face and all alone I see not one ray of light, I go back to the Bhagavad-Gīta. I find a verse here and a verse there, and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming tragedies.’ Mahatma Gandhi
Philosophy
The word ‘yoga’ is most frequently associated in the West with the practice of physical postures, but yoga is also a wisdom tradition offering a wealth of insight on human existence.
The texts of the yoga tradition seek answers to the bigger questions human beings ask themselves. What is my essential nature? Where did I come from? What happens when I die? How should I live? These writings invite us to enter different ways of seeing the world, expanding our horizons. Understanding yoga philosophy can enrich our daily practice, giving us a context for the practice of āsana (yoga postures), prāṇāyāma (breath control) and meditation.
Having studied yoga philosophy for many years with the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and SOAS, London, where she completed her MA in Traditions of yoga and Meditation, Susan now teaches short courses in yoga philosophy in Salisbury. These courses run throughout the year offering an introduction to the key texts of the yoga tradition and an exploration of the relevance of the central concepts of yoga philosophy for today.
The Ramayana
Spring/Summer 2024
The Rāmāyaṇa composed by the sage Valmiki has been described as ‘one of the most moving and beautiful stories of all time’. It tells the story of Rāma, king of Ayodhya, the kidnapping of his wife, Sītā, and the ensuing battle with the demon king Rāvaṇa. For Hindus, Rāma is not only the hero of an epic tale but a divine avatar. So whilst the Rāmāyaṇa can be enjoyed simply as a spellbinding story it can also be read as spiritual wisdom containing essential teachings on love and virtue (dharma). In this course we shall enter the magical world of the Rāmāyaṇa through Krishna Dharma’s vivid retelling.
10.45-12.15 on 26 March, 9 and 23 April, 7 and 21 May, 4 and 18 June, 2, 16 and 30 July at 45 Belle Vue Rd
Cost: £150
