Prepared and taught by Emil E. Wendel, as a 32-hours presentation within four to eight weeks Note: The following program is a sample curriculum, taught at a training in 2004   Program may be adjusted to season, day of the week and festival calendar of India   Other course durations and specific subjects upon request Subject Particulars Introduction To Course Overview of the Content The Elements of Each Lesson Starting Prayer Gâyatrî Mantra Definition of Yoga What, really, is Yoga? The Bhârata Dharma Commonalities in all Indian Spiritual Traditions The Beginnings -   An Indian Cosmology • Shiva and Shakti as Consciousness and Power • Sound-Vibration and the Emerging Universe • Mahâpralaya: The Dissolution of the Cosmos The Scientific View The Explosion of the Primeval Atom and The Expanding Universe Sages and Preceptors • The Tapasvin / The Ascetic Tradition of Yoga • The Rishis, Munis and Saints The Historical Origins of Yoga Early Scriptural References Issues Regarding the Oral Tradition The Early Texts (main pre-classic yoga sources) • The Shrutis • The Purânas and Yoga • The Epics: Mahâbhârata and Râmâyana The Upanishads and Yoga Upanishadic Thought as Revolution The Beauty of the Upanishads: Chanted Shlokas Karma-Yoga The Bhagawat Gîtâ and Karma-Yoga Some Essential Vocabulary Âtman, Brahman, Ishta, Jîva, Avidyâ, Jnâna, Citta, Cit, Mâyâ, Samsâra, Moksha On Transformation Existence and Being Is Yoga A Religion? Mantras • The Background • Mantras and Their Value in Meditation • An Introduction to OM and SOHAM Âsanas and Their Names Example: Pâshâsana and the Story Behind It The 6 Darshanas (Viewpoints) A Very Brief Introduction to Indian Philosophy The Two Underlying Theories of Yoga Sâmkhya and Vedânta Elaborating on a Delicate Difference Yoga Philosophy Assignment Discussing the Assignment Yoga and Patanjali The Story of Patanjali The Background of The Yoga Sûtras The Yoga Sûtras Elaborating on the Yoga of Eight Limbs and the Interconnection between the Limbs: • Yama and Niyama • Âsana and Prânâyâma • Pratyâhâra and Dhâranâ • Dhyâna and Samâdhi The Major Commentaries on the Sûtras Understanding India • The Âshramas (The 4 Stages of Life) • Rebirth, Karma and so-called Fatalism • Common Threads in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism • Kathenotheism - God in India Jainism A Short Introduction to the Jaina Tradition and The Concept of Syadvada (only if time allows) Stories from the Purânic Treasure Shiva and His Shakti and the Revelation of the Yogic Knowledge Meditations on the Ultimate Reality The Indian Experience On Rituals Essay by Sir John Woodroffe Tantra and Shaktism • Definitions • The Connection to Buddhism • Shaktism/Shaiva Tantrism: Backgrounds Key Features of Tantra • Mantra • Mudrâ • Prâna • Bhûtashuddhi • Yantra • Panchakosha • Siddhi • Panchatattva (The 5 Makâra) The Tantric World of Bîja-Mantras The Background / Working with Mudrâs Working with Life Force Purification of Elements Meditation on Geometric Devices Working with the Subtle Body The Attainments Wine, Meat, Fish, Parched Grain and Ritual Sex The Sacred River Gangâ The Background (only if time allows) Gangâ Devi and Bhagiratha The Story of Poet Jagannâtha Hatha-Yoga Creating the Divya-Deha The Founders and Scriptures Matsyendranâtha and Gorakhnâtha The Major Texts of Hatha Yoga The Main Features of Hatha Yoga Shatkarma: The Cleansing Practices Âsana: The Postural Tradition in Hatha Bandha and Mudrâ: Calming Body and Mind Pratyâhâra: Techniques of Sensory Control Prânâyâma: The Link to the Subtle Body Dhyâna: The Visualisation Process The Nâtha Tradition The Contribution of Nâthas to Yoga Mudrâ Practice Understanding and Working with Mudrâs The Chakras and Kundalinî Terminology and Location The Awakening of Kundalinî-Shakti The Chakra System and its Relationship to Âsana and Prânâyâma The Ritual of Transformation Prânapratishthâ Ceremony as Applied Ritual Understanding Prânâyâma Background and Physiology of Prânâyâma including Essential Kriyâ-Yoga Methods Bhakti-Yoga The Background Revisiting The Bhagawat Gîtâ Surrendering: Îshwara Pranidhâna The Example of Râmakrishna Bhajans An Evening of Devotional Chanting Yoga and Buddhism The Life of the Enlightened One The Dharma and Its Influence on Yoga Tibet: Repas, Yantra Yoga and Trul Khor Yoga and Meditation in China and Japan Commonalities and Differences in the Approach Meditation Practice Jnâna-Yoga Meditation Jnâna-Yoga The Path of Wisdom Jnâna as experienced by Ramana Maharshi Yoga As It Is Today Looking at the Yoga Tree and Its Many Branches Short Summary of the Course The Yoga Sâdhana Pravritti - The Outgoing Path and Nivritti - The Path of Return Finishing Meditating on a Poem Ârati Pûjâ - The Ritual of Light   Copyright © 2006, Beyond The Âsana. Emil Wendel