Introducing Atma yoga teacher training

Teacher Training

Class Session 1

What is Consciousness?

Thus the wise living entity's pure consciousness becomes covered by his eternal enemy in the form of lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.

The difference between matter and spirit is that matter has no consciousness like the living entity; therefore this consciousness is supreme and eternal. Consciousness cannot be produced by a combination of matter.

What is Consciousness?

Consciousness is the symptom of the soul. Even if one does not find the soul within the heart, where he is situated, one can still understand the presence of the soul simply by the presence of consciousness.

Activities/Behavior Discussion

Activities = Karma – Any endeavor physical or mental carried out to sustain life– Two ways

Subha = auspicious– Nitya, everyday things– Naimittika, every once in a while things– Kamya, selfish desires

Asubha = inauspicious– Vikarma, doing things inappropriate, not nice, perverse, even to

evil– Akarma, inactivity

Activities/Behavior cont’d.

Karma

SubhaAuspicious

AsubhaInauspicious

SelfishDesires -

Kamya

SelflessDesires –

NityaNaimttika

Selfish“part of the problem”

(societal)Detrimental

Causing Harm

What Influences Your Consciousness?

Sound Vibration– Music, talking, internal chatter

Activities/Behaviors Food Other People Visual What You Wear

SAC-CID-ANANDA

Give the individual back his complete experience and understanding of his reality

Comes from:SAT

EternityEternalTruth

Absolute

CITKnowledge

Understanding

AnandaJoy

Bliss

Atma Yoga Fundamentals

Be honest about where you are starting Be honest about where your student is

starting– Very important for a teacher

Vedas Purpose

Vedas = Truth Purpose is to move you towards your true nature Lord Krishna to Arjun

yo yo yäà yäà tanuà bhaktaùçraddhayärcitum icchatitasya tasyäcaläà çraddhäàtäm eva vidadhämy aham

TRANSLATIONI am in everyone's heart as the Supersoul. As soon as one desires to worship some

demigod, I make his faith steady so that he can devote himself to that particular deity.

– Like Virtual Reality or Video Game, it must respond to the individual– Machinery of reality has to respond to the desires of the player– You are not actually doing anything– Another example would be dreaming

Yoga Spectrum

Must prepare the nervous system for changes in consciousness

Ranges from Mechanical to Surrender

Mechanical – controlled, self initiatedMore outside in

Surrender – guided, divinely inspiredMore inside out

Goals of Atma Yoga Program

To obtain an understanding of the Vedas (source of Yoga) as they are.

– Compassionate comprehension Develop respect for Vaisnavas as an authoritative source of

knowledge– Vaisnavas – someone who is attached to God. – Ultimate example of spiritual activism

To realize the nature of the divine Self and its constitutional position

– Knowing who you are and how you were originally set up To create spiritually conscious teachers, leaders and healers

Atma Yoga Program, cont’d.

Atma yoga re-engineers Hatha and Raja into a more complete yoga in consideration and understanding of the Vedas.

Transcendental – not physical, not mystical, to lead to original nature

Highest achievement in Vedas is the state of boundless and spontaneous love

Bottom line of any yoga practice is humility and tolerance

Golden Age in Kali Yuga

Humility and tolerance heralds the Golden Age – leads to service and sacrifice as acts of love and

compassion which have the power to free the soul and transform society

Golden Age in Kali Yuga lasts 10,000 years New wave of consciousness coming to the

world

Teacher Training

Class Session 2

Opening Chant

Om

Namo

Bhagavate

Vasudevaya

Translation: I humbly offer my respects to the personality and source of pure consciousness.

Homework Expectations

Workbook Daily Sadhana (3 kriyas) Reading Memorizing

– Teacher Mantras Silent Teacher chant Opening Class Chant Savasana Relaxation Sequence Ending Chant

– Extreme familiarity with the Power Yoga class Enable you to focus on the class

Required Reading

4 Main Texts (in order of reading)1. Searching for Vedic India – Due 4/182. Human Devolution – Due 5/153. Spiritual Warrior III – Due 5/234. Leadership for Higher Consciousness - Due 6/5

Write 100 word chapter reviews for first 3 books. Also write a short review of each book (250-500 words)

Supplemental Texts

Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha – Bihar Press

Yoga Pradipika – Svatmarama Hidden Glory of India – Satyaraja Dasa Isopanisad – Vedic text translation

Atma Yoga

Three styles of yoga– Kundalini (most powerful)– Slow Deep Stretch (second most powerful)– Power Yoga (third most powerful)

**power rating is based on transformation aspect

Explanation of Sets (sequences)

Sets are predetermined, don’t change the sequence because it is designed for effectiveness

– 1 Power Yoga set– Dozens of Slow, Deep

Stretch– Hundreds of Kundalini

Each set has a progression curve (the arc)

Prepare,Purification

Set begins Set ends

Transformation,Change

Assimilate,Ground

Factors of Protection for a Set

1. Teacher mantra2. Opening class invocation3. Sets may have sound vibration in them4. Structual integrity of the sets5. Systematic relaxation6. Reading of applicable stories7. Call outs of love8. Prasadam – distribution of sanctified food, sweets,

salties (raisins, nuts)

Vedas Purpose to Life

Inquire into the nature of truth Why are you here?

– Some reason dissatisfied with spirit world – Or we were given the opportunity to experience it

Studying the Vedas

Vedas are the original knowledge As conditioned souls, we are subject to

deficiencies– 1. Must commit mistakes– 2. Prone to illusion “you are not this body” – 3. Cheating Propensity– 4. Senses are imperfect

Studying the Vedas, cont’d.

‘Hindu’ designation does not appear in the Vedas We are VARNASRAMA

– Denotes followers of the Vedas– VARNA = 4 divisions of society– ASRAMA = 4 divisions of spiritual life

4 Divisions of Society are:– 1. Spiritual leader = Brahmana– 2. Administrative/Warrior = Ksatriya– 3. Merchant or Agriculturalist = Vaisya– 4. Artisan or Craftsperson = Sudra

Nothing in the Vedas says there is a birth right to a division. You must earn your right.


Age of Kali Yuga – degraded the divisions of society into an actual lineage

Vedas are SRUTI (acquired by hearing). Brahma = first living creature to get knowledge

handed down by succession Three kinds of evidence

– 1. Pratyaksa = direct evidence, collect with senses– 2. Anumana = inductive knowledge, theory then prove– 3. Sabda-Praman = authoritative source beyond this world


Two classes of transcendentalists– 1. Impersonal = sectarian– 2. Personal = universal, Vaisnava

Knowledge acquired:– Inductive = facts to general conclusions, research then

prove– Deductive = general conclusion to specific

Transcendental Energy– Sounds outside the material plane which begin to undo

karma (both good and bad) Speed of the mind is so swift – like a “split second”

Studying the Vedas, Cont’d

Spiritual Master– Rightly heard from the authoritative source– Practically established in Brahman (truth)

Originally there was 1 Veda. Didn’t have to read it because beings were able to comprehend and remember upon hearing.

5,000 years ago Vyasadeva wrote down the Vedas because of the start of Kali Yoga and society’s degradation

– Rig– Sama– Atharva– Yajur

Teacher Training

Overview of the Vedas

Session 3

Contents

The Vedas Supplemental Texts Supplemental Information

The Vedas

Vedas = “knowledge”– From the root vid which means “to know”

The Vedas were composed in Sanskrit The “multitude of diverse desires” is one reason why

the Vedas are explaining things in different ways The Vedas don’t have an age 5,000 years ago Vyasadeya put down the Vedas in

writing because of the start of Kali Yuga and societies degradation

The Four Vedas

1. Rg2. Sama3. Yajur4. Atharva

When someone refers to the “three Vedas”, they are referring to the first three on the list. The Atharva is sometimes considered separately.

These four are also referred to as the Karma Kanda

The Four Vedas, cont’d

There are 1130 branches in total each with 4 divisions for a total of 4520 titles

Four divisions are explanatory:– Samhita (essays)– Brahmana (hand books for reincarnation and

sacrifices) – Aranyaka (treatises for renunciation for going off

to the forests, esoteric knowledge and wisdom)– Upanishad (philosophical text)


Spoken by Lord Brahma in the form of a billion versus

Entire Puranas emanated from his mouth


There are only the following left of the 4520 titles:

– 11 Samhitas– 18 Brahmanas– 7 Aranyakas– 220 Upanishads

Rg Veda

Meaning = “praise” Contains 1028 hymns praising the demigods

for victory in war It is divided into 10 mandalas (concentric

circles) It is the most famous of the Vedas 21 branches

Sama Veda

Meaning = “together” Contains the melodies and music for the

changes that are in the Rg Veda. 1000 branches

Yajur Veda

Meaning = “sacrifice” It explains how to construct alters and conduct

sacrifies Specific texts are:

– Krsna (black)– Sukla (white)

This Veda later became the source of corruption for the priest craft

100 branches

Atharva Veda

Meaning = “fire” Contains magical spells and incantations Prayers in two categories

– Bheshajani, which are healing and curing– Abhicara, which cause disease and harm to

others

9 branches

Supplemental Texts

Supplementary Texts

Puranas (stories and history)– Traditionally called the fifth Veda– 18 Mahapuranas

Itihasas (epics)– Ramayana– Mahabharata (includes the Bhagavad-gita)

Sutras (aphorisms) Upavedas Vedangas

Puranas

Mahapuranas– Six Sattvic Puranas

Vishnu, Naradiya, Bhagavat, Garuda, Padma, Varaha

– Six Rajasic Puranas Brahma, Brahmanda, Brahma-viavarta, Markandeya,

Bhavishya, Vamana

– Six Tamasic Puranas Matsya, Kurma, Linga, Shiva, Skanda, Agni

Eighteen Upapuranas Numerous sthala (regional)

Itihasas

Meaning = “histories” Ramayana – the epic of Lord Rama and Sita Mahabharata – mainly the story of Lord

Krishna, the Pandavas and the battle of Kurukshetra– Includes the Bhagavad-gita

Sutras

“Books of concise truths”– Vedanta-sutras– Shrauta-sutras– Grihya-sutras– Shulba-sutras– Dharma-sutras

Vedangas

Auxiliary sciences connected with Vedic study– Shiksha (phonetics)– Chandas (meter)– Vyakarana (grammar)– Nirukta (etymology)– Jyotish (astronomy/astrology)

Upavedas

Sciences not directly related to Vedic study– Ayurveda (study of holistic medicine)– Gandharva-veda (study of music and dance)– Dhanur-veda (military science)– Sthapatya-veda (architecture)

Division of the Vedic Literature

Shruti– Meaning = that which is heard– The four Vedas (Samhitas, Brahmans, Aryanjakas,

Upanishads) Smriti

– Meaning = that which is remembered– Puranas, Itihasas

Nyaya– Meaning = logical expression– Sutras

The Vedas

Shruti Smriti Nyaya

Rg Yajur Sama Atharva

Krishna Yajur

Sukla Yajur

Katha

Svetasvatara

Maitrayaniya

Mahanarayaniya

Taittiriya

Isavasya

Brihadaranyaka

Aitareya

Kauhsitaki

Mundaka

Mandukya

Prasna

Itihasas

Puranas

Sutras

Upavedas

Ramayana

Mahabharata

View by Division

Supplemental Information

Agama

Doctrine created by Lord Shiva Supplemental instruction for worship

– Sakta (Energy), Shakti presiding deity– Soura (Visible Source - sun)– Gunpathyai (Controller)– Shiva (Destroyer)– Vaikhasana (Ultimate Source)

Tantra

Created for purification of those who have fallen below the level of purification required to practice Agama

Shri Vidya – (e.g.Tripurasundara,) internal, sometime called the right hand (sattva – laxmi)

Mishra, mixed internal and external (rajas - saraswati)

Kausala, for personal sense gratiification. Total black magic today. (tamas - kali)

Six Aspects of Knowledge

Vaisesika – atomic structure Nyaya – logic Yoga – mystical unfolding of the mind

(hatha/raja) Sankhya – categorization Karmamimansa – material responsible Vedanta – absolute truth

Three Schools or Approaches

Karma Kanda – materially responsible– experience

Jnana Kanda – spiritual knowledge– knowledge

Yoga Kanda– (surrender) Mystical or devotional

Social Harmony in the Vedas

Varnasrama system

– The ideal: spiritual advancement (service)

– The collapse: self aggrandizement (exploitation)


Satya – Ideal (no caste-no class division)– Undivided Veda is expressed by the syllable

oà, and God is worshipped as Lord Haàsa through the process of meditation.

– The people of Satya-yuga are for the most part self-satisfied, merciful, friendly to all, peaceful, sober and tolerant. They take their pleasure from within, see all things equally and always endeavor diligently for spiritual perfection.


Treta – – at the beginning of Tretä-yuga Vedic knowledge appeared from the

original source of prana; in three divisions—as Åg, Säma and Yajur. Then from that knowledge God is worshipped as the threefold sacrifice.

– In Tretä-yuga each leg of religion is gradually reduced by one quarter by the influence of the four pillars of irreligion—lying, violence, dissatisfaction and quarrel.

– They are not excessively violent or very lusty after sensual pleasure. Their interest lies primarily in religiosity, economic development and regulated sense gratification, and they achieve prosperity by following the prescriptions of the three Vedas. Although in this age society evolves into four separate classes

– In Tretä-yuga the four social orders were manifested. The brähmaëas appeared were like the head (intelligence) of society. The kñatriyas were like the strong arms (or protection) of society The vaiçyas were like the thighs (or forward movement) of society The laborer & artisan were like the feet (or support) of society

These categories are classified in terms of one's work and qualification and not by birth.


Dvapara –– In Dväpara-yuga the virtuous qualities of austerity,

truth, mercy and charity are reduced to one half by their irreligious counterparts—dissatisfaction, untruth, violence and enmity.

– In the Dväpara age people are interested in glory and are very noble. They devote themselves to the study of the Vedas, possess great opulence, support large families and enjoy life with vigor. Of the four classes, the kñatriyas and brähmaëas are most numerous.


Kali –– In the age of Kali only one fourth of the principles of

virtue remains. That last remnant will continuously be decreased by the ever-increasing principles of irreligion and will finally be destroyed.

– In the Kali age people tend to be greedy, ill-behaved and merciless, and they fight one another without good reason. Unfortunate and obsessed with material desires, the people of Kali-yuga are almost all members of the exploited class.


Kali continued… Cities will be dominated by thieves, the Vedas will be

contaminated by speculative interpretations of atheists, political leaders will virtually consume the citizens, and the so-called priests and intellectuals will be devotees of their bellies and genitals.

The brahmacärés (students) will fail to execute their vows and become generally unclean, the householders will become beggars, the vänaprasthas (retired class) will live in the villages, and the sannyäsés (renunciates) will become greedy for wealth.


Kali continued… Above all the age will be marked by conflict

between the common people and those in power and the three way struggle between the materialist, the politico and the pseudo -spiritualist

“O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed.”

Srimad Bhagavatam


The four ages described in these slides are manifestations of various modes of material nature. The age of truth, Satya-yuga, manifests the predominance of material goodness, and Kali-yuga manifests the predominance of darkness.

According to Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura, within each age the other three ages occasionally manifest as sub-ages. Thus even within Satya-yuga evil in the mode of ignorance may appear, and within the age of Kali the highest spiritual principles may flourish for some time.


Societal roles Corresponding individual

responsibilities

Intelligensia Administrative Productive Artisan & common assistance

Spiritual knowledge Society (social interaction) Development of the mind Maintenance of the body

Everyone must be given assistance to advance


“‘Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, cleanliness, satisfaction,

tolerance, simple straightforwardness, devotion to

Me, mercy, and truthfulness are the natural qualities of the

brähmaëas.’

“‘Dynamic power, bodily strength, determination, heroism, tolerance,

generosity, great endeavor, steadiness, devotion to the

brähmaëas, and leadership are the natural qualities of the kñatriyas.’

“‘Faith in Vedic civilization, dedication to charity, freedom from

hypocrisy, service to the brähmaëas and perpetually desiring to accumulate more

money are the natural qualities of the vaiçyas

“‘Service without duplicity to the brähmaëas, cows, devas and other

worshipable personalities, and complete satisfaction with

whatever income is obtained in such service are the natural qualities of those providing

common assistance.


According to the Vedas these roles are not human nature, but fluid

changing attributes

If one shows the symptoms of being a brähmaëa, kñatriya, vaiçya or çüdra, as described above, even if he has appeared in a different class, he should be accepted according to those symptoms of classification.

Srimad Bhagavatm


Those in harmony stay in society“‘Nonviolence, truthfulness, honesty, desire for the happiness and welfare of all others and freedom from lust, anger, and greed constitute duties for all members of society.’

Those out of harmony populate jails and social institutions

“‘Uncleanliness, dishonesty, thievery, faithlessness, useless quarrel, lust, anger, and hankering constitute the nature of those in the lowest position outside the varëäçrama system.’


Life roles

Student Householder Retired Devotional


The Soul’s role

(above even social roles) Living out the nature of the soul and fulfilling your missionThis over rides all divisions

Teacher Training

Class Session 4

Six Schools of VEDIC Philosophy

Sad -Darshan is the six aspects of knowledge

Some are atheistic (A) some are theistic (T) and some are both

All six used to be practiced as one set.

Now taught independently and very sectarian (looking at only a section)

Philosophy Study Sage

Viasesika –T atomic structure Kanaada

Nyaya –T Logic Gautama

Yoga – A,T mystical unfolding of the mind (hatha/kundalini/ raja)

Patanjali

Sankhya – A,T Categorization Lord Kapila

Karmamimansa – A

material responsibility and

benefits

Jaimini

Vedanta – A,T Absolute Truth Vyasadev

Vedanta

Literally means 'end of the Vedas' but it is interpreted as 'culmination of the Vedas'

The vedic text on Vedanta is called “Vedanta Sutra”

Essence of Vedanta Sutra– Inquiry into absolute truth

Vedanta

The first verse of the Brahma-sütra is athäto brahma jijïäsäathäto brahma jijïäsä: “We must now inquire into the Absolute Truth.”

The second verse immediately answers, janmädy asya yataù:janmädy asya yataù: “The Absolute Truth is the original source of everything.”

Absolute Truth

Tendency with the Absolute Truth is not to understand all 4 parts as described in the Vedas:

– Universal form = God as nature– Brahman = the whole of the absolute truth, energy of God– Antaryami = localized as the absolute truth in your heart– Bhagavan = the opulent divine personality, God as the

person

Absolute Truth, cont’d.

Need to keep all 4 in mind. A yogi may choose to only focus on one to create his

own relationship with the Absolute Truth Analogy:

– The sun as 4 facets that are comparable: The sun’s products (grains, plants, fruits, etc.) Sunshine pervades the planet Localized – everything we see the sun makes visible The sun as a glowing ball in the sky

Progression of the Philosophies (virtue declines)

Dharma OverviewAttribute Degraded by

Cleanliness Illicit behavior

Austerity Intoxication

Honesty, Truth Deception

Compassion Animal killing

Cleanliness, Austerity, Honesty and Compassion are almost totally degraded

During Kali yuga these virtues go to 25% and go down from there.

Progression of the Philosophies(a history of spiritual revolutions)

It is the evidence of history that at a certain time every society attains its manhood, when a strong conflict ensues between the ruling power and the common people.

The life of society, its expansion and civilization, depend on its victory or defeat in this conflict.

Progression of the Philosophies

The Beginning of the Triangular Fight between Ceremonialism, Philosophy and MaterialismThe Charvaka, the Jain, the Buddhist, Shankara, Ramanuja, Kabir, Nanak, Chaitanya, the Brahmo-Samaj… of all of these, and similar sects, the wave of religion, foaming, thundering, surging, breaks in the front, while in the rear follows the filling-up of social wants. If all desires can be accomplished by the mere utterance of some meaningless syllables, then who will exert himself to go through difficulties to work out the fulfillment of his desires? [A cheaters paradise…]

From REVOLUTION to FASHION: a pattern of tamasic cooptation


The Charvakas, Who Upheld Materialism as the Highest Goal of Life

The Charvaka, or materialist, basing his doctrine on the first part - the sacrificial portion - of the Vedas, believed that all was matter and that there is neither a heaven nor a hell, neither a soul nor a God.

[The Charvaka movement] was the beginning of that caste question, and that triangular fight in India between ceremonials, philosophy and materialism which has come down unsolved to our own days.


Hence, the slashing sarcasm of the Charvakas, who believed only in the reality of sense-perceptions and nothing beyond.

What could have saved Indian society from the ponderous burden of omniferous ritualistic ceremonialism with its animal and other sacrifices, which all but crushed the very life out of it, except the Jain revolution which took its strong stand exclusively on chaste morals and philosophical truth?

Or without the Buddhist revolution what could have delivered the suffering millions of the lower classes from the violent tyrannies of the influential higher castes?

When, in course of time, Buddhism declined and its extremely pure and moral character gave place to equally bad, unclean and immoral practices, when Indian society trembled under the infernal dance of the various races of barbarians who were allowed into the Buddhistic fold by virtue of its all-embracing Spirit of equality –

then Shankara, and later Ramanuja, appeared on the scene and tried their best to bring society back to its former days of glory and to re-establish its lost status.


The Teaching of Motiveless Work Brought a Momentary Lull in the Struggle between the Priests and the Kings

The tug of war [between the brahmins and the kshatriyas had begun] in the earliest periods of the history of the [Indian race], and throughout the Shrutis it can be distinctly traced. A momentary lull came when Sri Krishna, leading the faction of kshatriya power and of jnana, showed the way to reconciliation. The result was the teachings of the Gita - the essence of philosophy, of liberality, of religion.


The Jains were very moral atheists who, while rejecting the idea of a God, believed that there is a soul, striving for more perfect development.

Objecting to the killing of cows and bulls, killing of goats and all sorts of animals… "Now", declared the Jains, "that is no work at all, because injuring others can never be any good work." And they said, "This is the proof that your Vedas are false Vedas, manufactured by the priests


The Social Wants at the Time of Buddha

Buddhism was the rebellion of the newly formed kshatriyas against Vedic priestcraft.

[After the lull cause by the reconciliation effected by Sri Krishna], the ambition of the two classes - brahmin and kshatriya - to be the masters of the poor and ignorant was [still] there, and the strife once more became fierce.


Buddhism Combated Not Only Priestcraft and Animal Sacrifice: It was the First to Break Down the Barriers of Caste

These different social divisions developed or degenerated into iron-bound castes and an organized and crystallized priestcraft stood upon the necks of the nation. At this time Buddha was born and his teaches were the revolution .


Original Buddhism... was but an attempt to combat caste and priestcraft; it was the first in the world to stand as champion of dumb animals, the first to break down caste, standing between human beings.

Buddhism... broke the chains of the masses. All castes and creeds alike became equal in a minute.

Brahmanya power was almost effaced from its field of work in Indian during the Jain and Buddhist revolutions;


Buddha Broke the Mental and Spiritual Bonds of Men by Preaching Vedanta to the Whole World

India was full of witchcraft in Buddha's day. There were the masses of the people, and they were debarred from all knowledge. If just a word of the Vedas entered the ears of a man, terrible punishment was visited upon him. The priests had made a secret of the Vedas - the Vedas that contained the spiritual truths discovered by the ancient Hindus!

What Buddha did was to break wide open the gates of that very religion which was confined in the Upanishads and to a particular caste.


Buddha preached the most tremendous truths. He taught the very gist of the philosophy of the Vedas to one and all without distinction; he taught it to the world at Large, because one of his great messages was the equality of humanity.

Human beings are all equal. No concession there to anybody! Buddha was the great preacher of equality. Every man and

woman has the same right to attain spirituality - that was his teaching.

The difference between the priests and the other castes he abolished.


The Reasons Why Buddhism Had to Die a Natural Death in India

To Break the Tyranny of Priestcraft Buddhism Swept Away the Idea of the Personal God

The aim of Buddhism was reform of the Vedic religion, by standing against ceremonials requiring offerings of animals, against hereditary caste and exclusive priesthood, and against belief in permanent souls. It never attempted to destroy that

religion, or to overturn the social order.



– Buddha is said to have denied the Vedas because there was so much killing.

– Buddha wanted no pandering to the priests, the powerful, the kings. No bowing before superstitious traditions, however hoary; no respect for forms and books just because they came down from the distant past. He rejected all scriptures, all forms of religious practice.

– Even the very language, Sanskrit, in which religions had traditionally been taught in India, he rejected, so that his followers would not have any chance to imbibe the superstitions that were associated with it.



– A lack of practicality (original Buddhism eventually required monasticism) and the lack of virtue in this age… within a century Buddhism splintered into a mass of superstition and ceremonialism.

– In this state neither the priestly class nor the administrative class emerged as the clear ruling class india was in disaray and modified vedic tantric rituals began to remerge.


Buddha fashion (and brahmanya fashion) sets the stage for the next revolution.

Enter Shiva…


“My dear sir, always remember this: …çaìkaraù çaìkaraù säkñäd… ‘Çré Çaìkaräcärya is Lord Çiva himself.’

Çré Çaìkaräcärya is the spiritual preceptor of all the Vaiñëavas and for this reason Çré Caitanya has acclaimed him as an äcärya, great preceptor. Çré Çaìkaräcärya is a perfect Vaiñëava.

– Bhakti Vinode Thakura


About 800 AD Lord Adi Sankaracarya (Shiva) delivered the philosophy of Nirvisesa Advaitam (Advaita Vedanta)

Reintroduced the validity and importance of the Vedas

Focused the philosophy on suddha monism– Idea of oneness without variety or identity– 1 with God, all beyond that is illusion (false)– Everything including God is false, only the concept of God

is 1 without variety and is real It was a “veiled” Buddhism, meant to mislead the

atheists (Mayavadi)

A major misunderstanding

advaita-siddhi VS. mahäbhäva:

?

A major misunderstanding

impersonalist VS. personalist

?


FANATICISM leads to misunderstanding: Fanatism + Fashion = Fascism

Their theory is that as long as Brahman, the non-dual transcendental truth, remains singular, He is transcendental to mäyä. They propose that when He accepts form and becomes the jéva, He acquires diverse shapes and is thus afflicted by mäyä


This notion was rejected by Çaìkaräcärya who said, “He always remains separate.

“näräyaëaù paro 'vyaktät,” or Näräyaëa exists separately, apart from

the impersonal creative energy.


In about 1017 AD Ramanuja Acarya delivered the philosophy Vasista Advaita(qualified monism)

Although everything is indeed united with God, there are real differences between the souls and God


Ramanuja established philosophy by using the 7 impossible tenants to Advaita Vedanta1. Nature of Avidya (ignorance, real or unreal)2. Incomprehensiveness of Avidya (ignorance is neither real or unreal)3. Grounds of knowledge of Avidya (obscuring layer, positive darkness)4. Location of Avidya (enter point)5. Avidyas obscuration of Brahman (it’s an impossibility)6. Removal of Avidya by Brahma-vidya (god knowledge, whatever exists

has attributes)7. Removal of Avidya (discloses bondage as real because knowledge

indicates it)


Circa 1100 AD Dvaitam (dualism) is established by Madhvacarya

– Emphasizes and defines the differences between God, the world and the souls

– Direct opposite to monism– Madhvacarya was portion of

Vamana, Brahma, Ananta Sesha and Sanaka Kumara


Circa 1200 AD, Dvaitadvaita-vada was introduced by Nimbarka

– First to identify the Supreme as the divine couple

– The 4 kumars (the sage children of Brahma who didn’t want to grow up, just wanted to meditate) initiated Nimbarka


Vishnuswami was the founder-acharya of the Rudra sampradaya and is the oldest of the four recognized sampradayas

– Born in 3,000 BC, recorded teachings in 300 BC, 900 AD and 1300 AD

In 1300 AD taught Visuddhadvaita – God is Vishnu

Note: Vallabhacarya was the son of a student of Vishnuswami

– He taught Suddha Veda = everything is one with personal god Krishna


Circa 1486 Caitanya Mahaprabhu expounded Acintya-bhedabheda-tattva

God is inconceivable and simultaneously one and different

Analogies:– “drop of water and ocean”– “grain of sand and beach”

Six Goswamis Systematized the knowledge

communicated by Lord Caitanya Distinction between quality and

quantity


Summary: Vedanta demonstrates multiple

facets of the absolute truth… God as good behavior (vedanta of Buddha) God as energy (vedanta of Shankaracharya) God as form (vedanta of Ramanuja) God as a separate person (vedanta of Madhava) God as a loving couple (vedanta of Nimbarka) God as the source and maintainer of all creation (Visnuswami) God as all of the above and then some (Chaitanya)

Progression of Philosophies

Year 3000 BC500 BC

800 AD 1014 AD 1100 AD 1200 AD 1300 AD 1486 AD

Philosophy Buddhi / Bhakti Yoga

Ahimsa &

Sunya-vada

Nirvisesa Advaitam

Visista Adviatan

DvaitamDvaitadvaita-vada

VisuddhadvaitaAcintya-bhedabheda-tattva

Delivered by

KrishnaLord Buddha

Lord Adi Sankaracarya

Ramanuja Acarya

Madhvacarya Nimbarka VishnuswamiLord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

Teacher Training

Class Session 5

Yoga Systems, cont’d

Yoga has two stages:

Preparation Spontaneity

The preparatory stages of yoga

Mystic yoga (from Satya yuga) You adhere to a regulated moral lifestyle Train the senses by austerity Strengthen the nervous system by arduous

pranayama You meditate on God (until Guru give you

shaktipada) Status: this path is extremely difficult and dangerous

and there are no known gurus accessible in the present era

The preparatory stages of yoga

Bhakti yoga (from Kali yuga) You adhere to a regulated moral lifestyle You learn about God You call out God’s names You meditate on God (until Guru give you prema) Status: this is a readily accessible process and there

are multiple known personalities accessible at the present.


Preparation– Disciplined life style – training the senses

No animal killing, no intoxication, no sex No lying, cheating, stealing… Lots of selfless service

– Strengthing (purifying) the nervous system Pranayama Controlled diet Imitating certain asanas & mudras

– Serving the guru Menial service with love Studying at the guru’s feet


Spontaneity:– Prana is the key– When it is released from the yogi’s

willfull control by the Guru (prannothana)

– Shastra describes the consequences of spontaneous yoga (extremely dangerous)

– The goal of all yoga is freeing your kundalini

– Kundalini = consciousness– Ultimate consciousness = the

mood of Radharani

Prana in mystic yoga

Bhagavan in bhakti yoga

Prana = Bhagavan


Schools of Yoga (modern)Astanga Hatha

Sivananda

Iyengar

Viniyoga

Integral

Bikram

Power Yoga

Yin Yoga (Taoist Yoga: Slo-deep)

3H0 Kundalini

Kripalu

TM

Kriya

and many more…


Systems of Yoga (shastric)

Hatha

Raja - Astanga

Kundalini

Mantra (japa)

Siddha

Buddhi

Atma

Nada

Laya

Samkya

Kaula

Shri Vidya

Svara

(see list: 40 types of Yoga)


Gurus*Vivikananda

Krishnamacharya

Parmahamsa Yogananda

Swami Rama Tirtha

Krishnamurti

Indra Devi

Richard Hittleman

Maharisis Mahesh

Visnudevananda

Yogi Bhajan

Swami Rama

Swami Satchitananda

Indra Devi

Desikachar

Dialectic for Change

Dialectic means comparison between opposites Change as in spiritual growth There are two extremes predominate in the Vedas Concept behind dialectic in philosophy is that it

should be a solution to the contradictions

Examples:•Loving relationship

with the absolute truth (anything eternal or

associated with the eternal; Krsna, Radha, Rama, Sita,

guru, etc…)

•Love through service

Dialectic for Change (spiritual growth, in the Vedas)

Thesis“action”

Engage mayaKarma:

activity for personal gain

Antithesis“Jnana”

Negate mayaNeti-neti

(includes Mystic yogis)

Synthesis is something new that is neither one or the other but a new idea:

Selfless Spiritual Service

Characteristics:•Emotionally fulfilling

•Provides understanding•Eternal

Synthesis

Acts of selfless love toward the eternal or

Its representative

Yoga is a Technology!

When you do devotional service in the material world to the eternal and you are happy, you are making everybody happy because God’s Soul is in everyone

Can be used in any platform

Teacher Training

Class Session 6

Discussion on the Mind

Bhagavad-Gita 6:5 – – Mind is a friend and an enemy– One can use the mind to either help or degrade

oneself

Bhagavad-Gita 6:6 – – If one conquers the mind it will become the best

of friends, otherwise it will remain an enemy

Discussion on the Mind, cont’d

Which is most influential to the mind?

1 1 Things you think about?

2 2 Things you do?

Discussion on the Mind cont’d

Things you do!

You can act your way into a new way of thinking faster than you can think your way into a new way of acting…

11

Discussion on the Mind cont’d

The Power of the mind is its adaptability: Meaning its ability to changing according to circumstances

• Atma Yoga teaches activities and practices that will influence the mind in positive ways

• By habits (behavior), environment and association, you can train the mind to be your friend

Habits – vrrtis (atmarama)

Cleanliness – two showers a day am & pm Austerity – give up certain sense pleasures Humility – offer respect to others Mercy/compassion - vegetarian Honesty – admitting when you don’t know Reading (listening to) spiritual material

Environment of yogi

Simple (not overly luxurious) Spiritual – music, pictures Smells nice (incense…mode of goodness

smells) Sattivic food and drink Owning spiritual material – books

Association

Always talk to sages, holy people, real yogis, Read vedic texts Listen to spiritual lectures (technology makes

it easy) Visit spiritual places

According to all the yogas, association is the most important aspect of spiritual life.

Sanga = Association

Types of association– External (circle of people)– Internal (environment of the mind)

Need a pragmatic and systematic way to address internal aspect– Important we first establish a relationship with the

mind– Tool for this is ‘Internal Dialog’

Sanga = Association, cont’d

If the mind becomes a positive influence (trained to become good association) it will act to heal you, as it becomes more spiritually inclined

Internal Dialogue improves your relationship with and the character of your mind, making it more receptive to spiritual guidance.

“As a man thinketh so is he…”

This bit of western conventional wisdom is true. (cf. James Allen) It is based on a Vedic fact:

yaà yaà väpi smaran bhävaàtyajaty ante kalevaramtaà taà evaiti kaunteya

sadä tad-bhäva-bhävitaù

"Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.“

“As a man thinketh so is he…”

BUT….

There is more to the story…

As a man act-eth so thinks he…

because behavior is prescriptive …

Act tamasic – think tamasicAct rajasic – think rajasicAct sattivc – think sattvic

Act shuddha Sattvic – think…

Your mind will follow the behavior you model with your body and emotions…

Sankya Yoga

Sankya Yoga

Definition: that which describes in detail by counting or enumerating

Sankya (or samkya) offers a detailed analysis of the nature and creation of the material world

Material Universe

Lord Brahma’s Planet

Roots = Subtle

Trunk & Branches =

Gross

Spiritual Realm

Lord Brahma’s Planet

Spiritual Realm

Spiritual and Material Existence

The spiritual realm is the real thing

The material world is like the reflection of the real thing in a body of water

SpiritualRealm

is calledPara

& is Sat (Eternal)

Material Universeis calledApara

& is Asat (Temporary)

Virtual Reality

Sankhya

How do you create a virtual reality?

Consider: where do movies come from?

How are Television images made?

What goes into putting on a play?

How to you build a totally awesome and believable virtual reality?

Sankhya, cont’d

In sankhya the underlying qualities of the universe called Gunas– Sattva = Goodness– Rajas = Passion– Tamas = Ignorance

Sankhya, cont’d

The 3 gunas work a little like the RGB of TV

Evolution Process

The material progression begins when Vishnu projects his superior consciousness (internal potency), the living entities (us) and time (external potency) into the Mahat Tattva (material nature.)

This is similar to impregnating (Visnu remains distant - the actual contact is lord Shiva)

– Womb is the intermediate place where the baby grows (Maha Tattva)

– Delivery of the baby is similar to the creation of Prakrti

Pyramid of Evolution

Brahman

Pradhana

Mahat Tattva

Prakrti

•Undifferentiated•Un-manifested=Avyakta•Distinct from Brahman

•Material modes of nature in perfect balance

•Pure energy of God

•Aggregate of material realm (like the

construction material) •Before manifestation•Includes conditioned

souls•Manifested

universe

Pradhana with 24 Elements

Tan MatrasSubtle Elements

5 Objects of The Senses

Smell/Odor

Taste

Form/Color

Touch

Sound

Antah Karana(Inner

Instrument)

False Ego(Ahankara)

Intelligence(Buddhi)

Mind (Manas)

Citta (conditioned

consciousness)

Pancha Maha Bhuta

Five Great Elements

Earth

Water

Fire

Air

Ether

Buddhi Indryas5 Knowledge

Senses

Karma Indryas5 Working

Senses

Goodness Passion Ignorance

Sight

Hearing

Smelling

Touching

Tasting

Speech

Movement

Grasping

Eliminating

Reproducing

Mahat-Tattva: shadow of pure consciousness– it is the germinating place of all creation

False Ego


Modes of Nature go out

of balance

Simultaneous with Sudda

Sattva

Manifestation Mixer = Time

Time(Kala)

FalseEgo

Death Awareness

(Mrtyu)Fear

Time is the internal spiritual potency; the

mixing element throwing the modes

out of balance

Soul is overwhelmed when it comes in contact with material world and

“conditioned” consciousness begins

The self becomes aware of its temporary

nature and deathThe “reality “ of death instills the new concept of

FEAR

Evolution Process – Mahat Tattva, cont’d.

Goodness(serenity)

Passion(activity)

Ignorance(dullness)

Capacity to think and reflect, gives

rise to desire. Origin of duality: acceptance and

rejection.

Subtle element of sound is one of the first buliding blocks.

Discernment, discrimination, making things meaningful to the senses (master of the senses). Intuition comes from the mind.

Five characteristics: doubt, misapprehension, correct

apprehension, memory and sleep.

5 Knowledge and 5 Working

Senses not activated.

(The enrergy or power to

experience material reality.)

SoundIntelligence

(Buddhi)Mind (Manas)

Under influence of False Ego

Sight

Hearing

Smelling

Touching

Tasting

Speech

Movement

Grasping

Eliminating

Reproducing

Activities & characteristics of the ethereal element can be observed as accommodation (room) for the external and internal existences of all living entities, mainly the field of activities of the vital air, the senses and the mind.

Gradual Evolution of Our Senses

Ignorance(under influence of False Ego)

Air

Ether

Touching

Fire Sight

TasteWaterTasting

Smell/Odor Earth Smelling

Form/Color

Hearing

Touch

Sound

PranaLife Force (allows the knowledgesenses to operate)

Overview of Gradual Evolution

Tan MatranSubtle Elements

5 Objects of The Senses

Smell/Odor

Taste

Form/Color

Touch

Sound

Antah Karana(Inner

Instrument)

False Ego(Ahankara)

Intelligence(Buddhi)

Mind (Manas)

Citta (conditioned

consciousness)

Pancha Maha Bhuta

Five Great Elements

Earth

Water

Fire

Air

Ether

Buddhi Indryas5 Knowledge

Senses

Sight

Hearing

Smelling

Touching

Tasting

Karma Indryas5 Working

Senses

Speech

Movement

Grasping

Eliminating

Reproducing


8 Steps to Understand and Heal the Mind

1. Establish the awareness of the mind as an “other”2. Initiate friendly relations3. Practice listening to the mind’s issues (daily basis)4. Ask to meet the other members of the mind5. Learn about the needs & concerns of all parts of the mind and

develop a cooperative relationship6. Present the goals of your training program. Your ideas for

spiritual progress to your mind, listen to objections and concerns and try to gain mutual agreement.

7. Introduce the concept of a spiritual coach or guide(s) (multiple forms are possible: teacher, acarya, deity, mantra)

8. Practice techniques & activities to build a relationship with a spiritual guide

Teacher Training

Clinic:

The nervous system

Yoga and the nervous system

nervous system topics – What is stress?– What is allostatic load?– What is the nervous

system? Sympathetic Parasympathetic

– What is the endocrine system?

– What is the immune system?

The Autonomic Nervous System

The ANS is most important in two situations:

– In emergencies that cause stress and require us to"fight" or take "flight" (run away)

– And in non-emergencies that allow us to "rest" and "digest".

The ANS regulates: Muscles

• in the skin (around hair follicles; smooth muscle) • around blood vessels (smooth

muscle) • in the eye (the iris; smooth

muscle) • in the stomach, intestines and

bladder (smooth muscle) • of the heart (cardiac muscle)

• Glands The ANS is divided into three parts: 1. The sympathetic nervous system 2. The parasympathetic nervous system 3. The enteric nervous system.

The Sympathetic Nervous System

You are taking a nice walk in the woods. Suddenly, an angry wolf appears in your path…!

These are "Fight or Flight" responses. In these types of situations, your sympathetic nervous system is called into action - it uses energy - your blood pressure increases, your heart beats faster, and digestion slows down.

Notice in the picture below (Figure 1) that the sympathetic nervous system originates in the spinal cord.

The Parasympathetic Nervous System

You are taking a nice walk in the park. This time, however, you decide to relax on a nice bench and read.

Now is the time for the parasympathetic nervous to work to save energy - your blood pressure decreases, your heart beats slower, and digestion can start.

Notice in the picture, that the cell bodies of the parasympathetic nervous system are located in the spinal cord (sacral cervical region) and in the medulla.

The Autonomic Nervous System

Structure Sympathetic Stimulation Parasympathetic Stimulation

Iris (eye muscle) Pupil Dilation Pupil Constriction

Salivary Glands Saliva production reduced Saliva production increased

Oral/Nasal Mucosa Mucus production reduced Mucus production increased

Heart Heart rate and force increased Heart rate and force decreased

Lung Bronchial muscle relaxed Bronchial muscle contracted

Stomach Peristalsis reduced Gastric juice secreted; motility increased

Small Intestine Motility reduced Digestion increased

Large Intestine Motility reduced Secretions and motility increased

Liver Increased conversion of glycogen to glucose

Kidney Decreased urine secretion Increased urine secretion

Adrenal medulla Norepinephrine and epinephrine secreted

Bladder Wall relaxed Sphincter closed

Wall contracted Sphincter relaxed


Stress activates adaptive responses. The body marshals its forces to confront a threat and, generally, does a good job of protecting us in the short run. So why can stress also be so bad for our bodies and brains?


Stress can prematurely age us and leave us chronically fatigued or depressed. When exposure to stress -- whether from a traumatic event to just the daily hassle of rush hour traffic or too much email -- disrupts the body's internal balance ("homeostasis"),


What is allostatic load?– All of these adaptive responses are described by the

term "allostasis" which means "maintaining stability, or homeostasis, through change.“

– The body actively copes with a challenge by expending energy and attempting to put things right. Most of the time it succeeds but the real problems arise when the systems involved in allostasis don't shut off when not needed or don't become active when they are needed.

Anatomy of the Endocrine System

Endocrine System, group of organs and tissues of the body that release hormones.

The endocrine glands and their hormones regulate the growth, development, and function of various tissues

and coordinate many of the processes of metabolism.

Immune system structures

The immune system protects the body from potentially harmful substances. The inflammatory response (inflammation) is part of innate immunity. It occurs when tissues are injured by bacteria, trauma, toxins, heat or any other cause.

Yoga can help the body

All have been helped by yoga

AIDS Back Pain Depression Hypertension

Arthritis Cancer Fibromyalgia Stress

Asthma Chronic Pain Heart Disease Weight Loss

Many studies show…

Yoga helps two ways

Strengthening the nervous system

Yoga helps two ways

Expanding our consciousness (shifts in perspective.)

Teacher Training

June, 2004

Class Session 7

Important elements of a Yoga Class!

Giving permission to progress along their spiritual path

Creating a safe space – Laxman Reiki circle of protection

Preparing people for shifts in consciousness Providing knowledge for realization of the true self

(not the body) Giving a body, mind and spirit/soul experience Prasadam

Important elements continued…

Provide stress relief– Grounding by feeling the weight– Center through pranayama (breath)

Get physical health benefits Gain body awareness (need to increase awareness

of what is around you) Maintaining the consciousness, philosophy and

lineage (param-para) Gain more control of the senses Provide emotional release

Important elements continued…

Encourages humility and selflessness as well as virtues

Provide good association Provides an opportunity to participate in a divine plan Training the mind/internal dialogue

– Repress, rationalize, react vs. informed witness (jnana & vairagya)

Creating gratitude Take daily life and experience it in a spiritual sense

Anatomy of an Atma Yoga Class

1. Prepare the Space

2. Clean and stock space

3. Meet and greet guests

4. Help new people set up

5. Class starts

6. Beginning invocation

7. Begin set

9. Relaxation with story

11. Call outs of love

12. Prasadam

10. Gong therapy

8. Meditation

Prepare the Space





5. Class starts


7. Begin set



12. Prasadam

10. Gong therapy

8. Meditation

If you control space, sanctify thru Ritual.

If you rent space, do mentally with opening Invocation & call outs of Love.

Begins the Circle of

Protection(Sravanum &

Kirtanum).

Make a spiritual, sattvic and peaceful space.

Clean and Stock Space





5. Class starts


7. Begin set



12. Prasadam

10. Gong therapy

8. Meditation

Makes the space

welcoming to the guests.

Ensure props for class are clean and easily accessible.

Select appropriate music to play during class session.

Meet and Greet Guests




5. Class starts


7. Begin set



12. Prasadam

10. Gong therapy

8. Meditation

3. Meet and greet guestsProviding an

warm and welcoming

environment is a priority to provide

an outstanding experience to your guests.

Don’t neglect any guest, very important to welcome.

Check with new people on background, injuries, yoga experience, etc…

Help New People Set Up





5. Class starts


7. Begin set



12. Prasadam

10. Gong therapy

8. Meditation

Helps new people feel comfortable

about the experience they

are about to have in the class.

Show new people how to set up their space surrounding their mat with props and blankets (either show them yourself or have a senior student show them).

Class Starts





5. Class starts


7. Begin set



12. Prasadam

10. Gong therapy

8. Meditation

Provides a way to focus the

classes attention and prepare them

for the experience.

Welcome everyone and introduce yourself.

Explain about the type of yoga they are about to practice.

Explain about the opening chant (describe it’s purpose and meaning).

Beginning Invocation





5. Class starts


7. Begin set



12. Prasadam

10. Gong therapy

8. Meditation

This is the second step in

the circle of protection.

Use a call and response method for the invocation (chant).

The chant offers all honor and respect to the top most source of pure consciousness.

Begin Set





5. Class starts


7. Begin set



12. Prasadam

10. Gong therapy

8. Meditation

This is the place where the work

and change happens. Shifts

the guest through the transformation process and yogic

experience.

Based on the set selected, move through the sequence and components of the set with attention and focus: Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha and Mantra

You can think of the sets as having an arc. The poses in the beginning warm and prepare the guest. The poses progress in challenge and efficacy through the top of the arc and then the ending poses lead you meditation and relaxation.

Meditation





5. Class starts


7. Begin set



12. Prasadam

10. Gong therapy

8. Meditation

Promotes the consciousness

shift and aids the guest down the

path to self realization.

Lead the guests through the selected meditation for the set (if applicable for the set)

Relaxation with Story





5. Class starts


7. Begin set



12. Prasadam

10. Gong therapy

8. Meditation

Grounds the guest and

seals in the benefits of

the practice.

Read the relaxation script.

Read a spiritual story.

Transition the guest from relaxation to a seated position for the ending invocation.

Ending Invocation





5. Class starts


7. Begin set



12. Prasadam

10. Gong therapy

8. Meditation

Maintains the consciousness, philosophy and lineage (param-para).

Lead the guests into child’s pose.

Invite the guests to respond at the appropriate places in the invocation.

Recite the invocation.

Call Outs of Love





5. Class starts


7. Begin set



12. Prasadam

10. Gong therapy

8. Meditation

Encourages humility and

selflessness. Creates

gratitude.

Recite the call outs of love with the class. Class responds while in child’s pose.

Guide the guests to a seated position.

Prasadam





5. Class starts


7. Begin set



12. Prasadam

10. Gong therapy

8. Meditation

More humility

and gratitude.

Provide each of the guests with some prasadam.

Check List for Atma Yoga Class





5. Class starts


7. Begin set



12. Prasadam

10. Gong therapy

8. Meditation

Yoga Systems

Yoga areas of influence are three fold:

Short term changes

Physical Gross body – anatomical field

Long term changes

Psychological Subtle body – mind field

Permanent changes

Consciousness(consciousness is a symptom of the soul)

Spirit/soul – transcendental field

Capacity For change

Efficacy


If you want to make a long term change, you must address the whole person with all three areas.

It is not a black or white thing as they are all interrelated.

We are looking for the next generation system which can provide a large capacity to create change

You should be able to look at a yoga system and answer:

– What is the extent and nature of a yoga system’s influence and efficacy?

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Introducing Atma yoga teacher training

Health & Medicine

Transcript of Introducing Atma yoga teacher training