Introduction to Vedanta

Session 1: Introduction to VedāntaWhat is Vedānta or Upaniṣad? Meanings and interpretations of the term. Significance of Upniṣads being the final portion of Vedic literature. Upaniṣads and Āraṇyakas. Number of Upaniṣads.

Session 2: Īśavāsya-UpaniṣadDiscussion of the main concepts of Īśa-Upaniṣad: the Lord (Īśa); concept of Karma: action; Brahman: the highest reality and how an individual should elevate himself after knowing these doctrines.

Session 3: Kena-UpaniṣadDiscussion about the nature of individual through sense organs; principle of Brahman; story of battle between Gods and demons which leads a reader to story of Umā Haimavatī and Indra.

Session 4: Kaṭha-UpaniṣadThe famous story of Yama and Naciketā and its philosophical interpretation; pertinent questions asked by Naciketā on death, state of an individual after his death, etc., and illuminating answers by Yama; Discussion of Ātmavidyā which elaborates the sense-organs, concept of individual (Jīva) and the highest reality.

Session 5: Praśna-UpaniṣadThis Upaniṣad includes the questions raised by six sages to sage Pippalāda. The female principle Rayi and male principle Prāṇa as the cause of the creation of the world; the role of Prajāpati; origin of Prāṇa; the three states Jāgrat (waking), Swapna (dream) and Suṣupti (deep sleep); worship of Oṁ; the concept of ṣoḍaśakalapuruṣa (person who possesses 16 digits or parts) will be discussed in this session.

Session 6: Muṇḍaka-UpaniṣadThis session elaborates the principles of Parā-vidyā and Aparā-vidyā; Understanding the principle of Highest Reality through the questions and answers; Creation and dissolution as the aspects of Highest Reality; Sādhanā for the individual; the relation between Jīva (the individual) and Īśvara (the Lord).

Session 7: Māṇḍukya-UpaniṣadThe great mantra Oṁ is discussed in all twelve mantras of this Upaniṣad. The importance of Oṁ will be discussed in this session as it covers all the three foremost principles namely Jīva, Jagat and Jaganniyantā. The session also elaborates Oṁ as one syllable and its existence as three phases of Time (Past, Present and Future) and Oṁ as Brahman: the highest reality.

Session 8: Taittirīya- UpaniṣadDiscussion about the Śikṣā: the phonetics in cosmic sense with reference to the first chapter of the Upaniṣad, i.e., Śikṣāvallī. Discussion on the subjects of second chapter, i.e., Brahmavallī: Discription and definition of Brahman, theory of Creation, concept of Pañcakośa (five sheaths) and concept of Ānanda (the bliss). The story of Bhṛgu and Varuṇa with reference to the third chapter of Upaniṣad, i.e. Bhṛguvalli.

Session 9: Aitareya- UpaniṣadDiscussion on the concept of Creation which is the main theme of this Upaniṣad. Idea of ‘Birth’ from the stage of conception, and the doctrine of Brahman and Jīva will be discussed in the session with reference to Aitareya-Upaniṣad.

Session 10: Chāndogya-UpaniṣadThe worship of Sāma, Significance and worship of Oṁ and the famous stories such as Satyakāma Jābāla will be discussed with their significance.

Session 11: Bṛhadāraṇyaka- UpaniṣadThis Upaniṣad which is huge in size is divided into six chapters. The cosmic Aśvamedha sacrifice, dialogue between Gārgya and Ajātaśatru, Yājñavalkya and Maitreyī, Janaka and Yājñavalkya will be discussed in this session.