‘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.
Short Courses in Yoga Philosophy 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 Mahābhārata
Autumn 2023
The Mahābhārata or ‘great story’ is the epic saga of the Kaurava and Pāṇḍava families. On the surface, it is a gripping tale of conflict and intrigue amongst kings, demons, gods and sages but it also contains a wealth of ethical teaching and spiritual instruction, making it one of the great classics of religious literature. This course is an invitation to begin the journey into the vast mythological landscape of the Mahābhārata through Krishna Dharma’s succinct retelling.
Dates and times: 3, 17 and 31 October, 14 and 28 November, 12 December 10.45-12.15
Venue: 45 Belle Vue Rd. Cost: £90 for the six-session course.
