Vedanta Vijnana – Key to a Transformed Life is a Course designed by Swami Advayananda, the Resident Acharya of the Sandeepany Vedanta Course, to enable both a novice and a sincere seeker study deeply the essentials of Vedanta to live a transformed and evolved life. The Course will span 88 Sundays with one-hour sessions. 

‘Vedanta’ is the comprehensive Science of Reality dealing with the knowledge of the Self and enabling a transformed life. ‘Vijnana’ is deep and clear knowledge. This Course aims to present the essentials of Vedanta through the study of select treatises of Vedanta that throw light on its salient aspects. This Course is not just for an intellectual study but rather for one to apply the Vedantic teachings in one’s life for a transformative experiential knowledge. Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda would often exhort: Understand and then stand under! The texts for the Vedanta Vijnana Course are chosen with this intention.

Atmabodha will be the first text that will be studied. It provides the student clarity on the essential concepts of Vedanta and the terms used. It provides an ideal foundation for the Vedanta Vijnana Course.

The Bhagavad Gita is unmatched and unparalleled in its presentation of the entire knowledge of Vedanta. It is a teaching of Lord Sri Krishna to the earnest Arjuna who sought solutions to life’s challenges in the workaday world. It thus provides valuable insights and teaches the application of Vedanta in daily life. Arjuna truly represents each one of us seeking to break our barriers and unfold into a transformed being of wisdom and efficiency. Thus the teaching of the Lord will be the highlight of the Vedanta Vijnana Course. Few select Chapters of the Bhagavad Gita have been carefully chosen for this Course.

The Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 is the summary of the entire Bhagavad Gita in prospect while Chapter 18 is the summary in retrospect. And Chapter 15 is a succinct summary of the entire philosophy of Vedanta. These three Chapters form the core of the Vedanta Vijnana Course.

Upanishads form the very foundation of the philosophical system of Vedanta. No study of Vedanta would be complete without delving into their mysterious depths. They are the highest and most sublime expressions that voice the wisdom of the Rishis. And of all the Upanishads, the Mundakopanishad of the Atharva Veda is exemplary in providing the complete overview of Vedanta.

Thus, these texts form the syllabus of the Vedanta Vijnana Course and are ideal for equipping us with the wisdom to live a life of true meaning, purpose, and fulfilment.

The Vedanta Vijnana Course will be conducted in hybrid mode – On-site at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, Mumbai and Online via Zoom. The Sandeepany Sadhanalaya is the Gurukula of the Chinmaya Mission and the first Ashram of the Chinmaya Mission established by Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. Those who join on-site for the Vedanta Vijnana Course will be truly blessed to bask in the aura of this divine Gurukula and study these priceless treatises enshrining the highest wisdom.

More about the Vedanta Vijnana Course

1. Atmabodha (approx. 18 sessions)

Atmabodha is a prakarana-grantha authored by Sri Adi Sankaracharya and is an essential treatise to gain Vedantic concept clarity. The unique aspect of this text is that it provides complete clarity on all important Vedantic concepts through suitable examples, similes and metaphors thus enabling easy comprehension.

1. Bhagavad-gita Introduction, Dhyana Shlokas and Chapter 2 (approx. 21 sessions)

The second chapter, ‘Sankhya Yoga’, is said to contain the essential teachings of the Bhagavad-gita. After silently witnessing Arjuna’s deluded outpour, the Lord lashes out and admonishes him that such behaviour does not befit him. The real teaching begins when Arjuna finally surrenders to the Lord as His disciple and requests for guidance.

In this entire chapter, the Lord has mainly glorified Sankhya Yoga – ‘Atmavidya’, briefly touching upon Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga, which are elaborated upon in later chapters. The Lord not only prods Arjuna to follow his svadharma (duty) but also explains the reasons for doing so. The Chapter also elaborates upon the ‘Man of Perfection’ through the Sthitaprajna Lakshana section at the end.

1. Bhagavad-gita Chapter 15 (approx. 6 sessions)

The fifteenth chapter of Gita ‘Purushottama Yoga’, mystically describes the nature of the world with the metaphor of an upside-down Ashvattha tree, which can be axed by steady and firm non-attachment. Having thus laid the foundation, the Lord next enumerates the nature of the individual soul or jiva. Continuing the thread of thought, the nature of God or Ishvara is expounded upon. Having unravelled each individual constituent, the Lord goes on to tie all ends together by explaining the relationship between the three. The fifteenth chapter systematically explains some of the simple yet profound questions that philosophy seeks to answer.

1. Mundaka-upanishad (approx. 17 sessions)

Brahmavidya is the main subject matter of the Upanishads. Presented as discussions between the teacher and the student, the Upanishads establish the jiva-brahma-aikya – the identity between an individual and the Supreme.

Mundaka Upanishad, conforming to the same approach, presents these concepts in a unique manner with beautiful analogies in three chapters each with two sections.

The uniqueness of this Upanishad is that through its resplendently woven mantras, it guides the seekers towards the Supreme. It contains some of the most oft-quoted analogies indicative of the highest Truth. It is an excellent Upanishad in that not an essential idea is left undiscussed!

1. Bhagavad-gita Chapter 18 (approx. 17 sessions)

The eighteenth chapter ‘Moksha Sannyasa Yoga’, starts with Arjuna’s question about the difference between sannyasa (renunciation) and tyaga (abandonment). Sri Krishna then proceeds to explain wh   at the two terms are in light of the three gunas – sattva, rajas and tamas – and the way they influence one’s temperament. Important concepts like the varna system, svadharma and techniques of meditation are revisited throughout the chapter. Sri Krishna concludes by imploring the seeker to ‘take refuge in Him’’ to progress in the spiritual journey. If the second chapter is a summary of the Bhagavad Gita in anticipation, the 18th Chapter is a report on the Bhagavad-gita in retrospect.

The classes will be streamed live from Sandeepany Sadhanalaya every Sunday 10:30 to 11:30 AM IST starting 5 May 2024. There will be a relay (repeat) session on the same day from 7 to 8 PM IST. Registered participants will be able to see the recordings that will be made available on the website dashboard by Monday evening IST.

Participants have the option to register for the entire Course or for each text individually, commencing with Atmabodha. If you would like to register for the Atmabodha, please click here.

Course Highlights

• Study Essential Vedanta for a Transformed Life with select texts – Atmabodha, Mundaka-upanishad and Bhagavad-gita – Introduction, Dhyana Shlokas and Chapters 2,15 and 18.
• Weekly sessions will be streamed LIVE 10:30 to 11:30 AM IST with relay (repeat) sessions on the same day from 7 to 8 PM IST.
• Participants can register for the entire Course or individually for each text.
• Doubt Clarification Sessions by Swamiji will be organised on completion of each text.

Course Format

• Approximately 88 sessions covering all the mentioned texts
• The sessions will be streamed on Zoom. Recordings will be available on the dashboard after one day.

Schedule

Start Date: 5 May 2024

Schedule: Every Sunday 10:30 to 11:30 AM IST

Relay (repeat) Session: Every Sunday 7:00 to 8:00 PM IST

Number of Sessions: Approx 88

Facilitator: Swami Advayananda

Age Eligibility: 18 and above

Prerequisite: Availability of a computer with audio-video internet conferencing facility etc. is mandatory.

Course Textbooks

1. Atmabodha by Swami Chinmayananda 

Kindle edition

2. Bhagavad-gita Chapter 2 Commentary by Swami Chinmayananda

Kindle edition

3. Bhagavad-gita Chapter 15 Commentary by Swami Chinmayananda

Kindle edition

4. Mundaka-upanishad by Swami Chinmayananda

Kindle edition

5. Bhagavad-gita Chapter 18 Commentary by Swami Chinmayananda

Kindle edition

Facilitator

Swami Advayananda was inspired by the teachings of the visionary saint Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda and joined Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Mumbai, the Gurukula of the Chinmaya Mission, at a young age of 18. In 1992, on completing his Vedanta Course at the Sandeepany, he was ordained into the dedicated spiritual life by Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. Later, in 2003, he was initiated into the sacred order of sannyasa by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda. Presently, Swamiji is serving as the President of Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF), as a Trustee of Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth (CVV) and the Resident Acharya for the 19th Sandeepany Vedanta Course.

To know more about Swami Advayananda, please click here.