Yoga Philosophy: An Overview - 35 hrs
The purpose of this course is to introduce the essential aspects of Yoga philosophy and history in a user-friendly manner while finding various ways to apply it to everyday life.
Welcome
Reflections on Yoga
Map of India
Introduction by Georg Feuerstein
Further Reading and Listening
Health Beyond Posture
Quiz
For Reflection
Toward a Philosophy of Āsana
Āsana As a Tool of Nondual Experience
A Brief History of Āsana
Quiz
For Reflection
The Words Yoga, Yogin, Yoginī, etc.
Forms and Types of Yoga
Is Yoga a Religion?
Yogic Focal Point: The Ultimate Reality
The Six Major Branches or Types of Yoga
Styles of Contemporary Yoga
Traditional Yoga
Teacher, Disciple, and Initiation
The Guru
The Spiritual Path
Quiz
For Reflection
The Ten Principles
Quiz
For Reflection
In Praise of the Philosophical Life
For Reflection
Why Study Yoga Philosophy?
For Reflection
Step One: Self-Observation
Step Two: Self-Acceptance
Step Three: Self-understanding
Step Four: Self-discipline
Step Five: Self-actualization
Step Six: Self-transcendence
Step Seven: Self-transformation
Further Notes
Periods in the Evolution of Yoga
Archaic Yoga
Preclassical Yoga
Classical Yoga
Postclassical Yoga
Select Resources For Further Study
Quiz
For Reflection
The Origins of Yoga
Yoga and the Indus-Sarasvati Civilization
The Solar Yoga of the Vedic Seers
Yoga in the Early Upanishads
Key Teachings of the Upanishads
Transcendental Spirit
Spiritual Liberation as Self-Realization
Karma and Reincarnation
The Five Sheaths
The Sacred Syllable OM
The Teachings of the Middle Upanishads
The Teachings of the Medieval Yoga Upanishads
Recent Upanishads
Quiz
For Reflection
The Date of the Bhagavad-Gītā
The Mahābhārata Epic and the Bhārata War
Who is Krishna?
God Vishnu’s Ten Incarnations
Who Is Arjuna?
The Ultimate Reality
The Nature of the Cosmos
Krishna’s Integrative Teaching
Karma-Yoga
Jnāna-Yoga
Bhakti-Yoga
Liberation
Key Verses From the Gītā
Quiz
For Reflection
The Identity and Date of Patanjali
The Composition of the Yoga-Sūtra
The Sanskrit Commentaries
The Principal Teachings of Patanjali
Multiple Transcendental Spirits
The Lord: A Special Spirit
The Cosmos
The Yogic Path
Moral Foundations
(1) Nonharming
(2) Truthfulness
(3) Nonstealing
(4) Chastity
(5) Greedlessness
The Ladder of Ecstasy
Paranormal Abilities
Liberation
Key Aphorisms From the Yoga-Sūtra
Quiz
For Reflection
What is Tantra?
The Philosophy of Tantra
The Tantric Path
Mantra Recitation
Symbolic Hand Gestures
Geometric Representations of Psyche and Cosmos
Ritualism
The Five "Forbidden" Things
Meditation as Visualization
Nondual and Spontaneous Ecstasy
Liberation in Tantra
Quiz
For Reflection
The Historical Development of Hatha-Yoga
What Is Hatha-Yoga?
The Principal Teachings of Hatha-Yoga
Quiz
For Reflection
The Path
The Six Hygienic Practices
Breath Control
The Three Locks
Sealing the Energy
Cultivating the Inner Sound
Hatha-Yoga’s Rāja-Yoga
Quiz
For Reflection
Final Notes
What's Next?