RESIDENTIAL COURSE: Living the Bhagavad Gita
"The Bhagavad Gita is a spiritual map that can guide us along the spiritual path, so that we can learn to act in the world without emotional involvement".
The Bhagavad Gita, literally “Song of God”, is a poem in verse, written about 4000 years ago, and is the most beloved of the scriptures that India has transmitted to us. It tells us about a battlefield and, this battle, in the splendid commentary that Paramhansa Yogananda offers of this song, is nothing but an allegory of the internal conflict between the materialistic instincts of man and his intense desire to achieve union with the Divine.
This course will accompany us towards the profound understanding of the teachings contained in this poem. Come happens to Prince Arjuna, even in our life crises and doubts, anxieties and worries sabotage our actions, our Thoughts, our heart but, between its pages, you can find the answers to all the questions and the infinite whys of existence.
Editions
Choose a specific edition for more informationDescription
Topics covered in this course:
• Brief introduction to the Mahabharata and the Battle of Kuruskshetra as an allegory of spiritual life
• The Inner Soldiers of Light - how to recognize and train them
• The Inner Soldiers of Ignorance - how to recognize and fight against their strategies
• The great hero Arjuna, his relationship with Lord Krishna and their inner meaning
• The nature of the soul, the characteristics of the realized person and how to develop them
• Specific practices to use in daily life
Your teachers:
Nayaswami Uma (Anne Macfarlane) is a Kriyacharya, Counselor and Raja Yoga Teacher. An astute counselor and teacher, Uma offers a number of classes on Raja Yoga at the Ananda Assisi center.
A student and teacher of yogic philosophy and spiritual science for 40 years, Uma lived for many years at Ananda Village in California, where served for a time as secretary for Swami Kriyananda.
She has taught at Ananda communities in the United States, as well in India and many parts of Europe. A native of the England, she brings wonderful wit and charming warmth to her classes as well as obvious depth of experience. She is currently serving in our Assisi, Italy retreat.
Nayaswami Bhajana MacDow is a native of Austria and is married to Nayaswami Kabir. She first came to Ananda in 1999 and moved to Ananda Assisi that year. Since then, Bhajana has resided in Ananda communities in Europe, India and the U.S. Since 2002, she has shared the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, in Italy, India, Austria, the United Arab Republic, and currently in the United States.
She received her Ananda Yoga Teacher diploma in 2003. Having studied extensively with Gyandev, the founder of Ananda Yoga, she was authorized by him to create an Ananda Yoga Teacher Training program in India and to certify teachers there.
During her periods of residence at Ananda Assisi she is on the teaching staff for courses and activities in yoga, pranayama, chakras, and she also assists in the Raja Yoga Teacher Training and Life Therapy programs.
With enthusiasm, inspiration and deep love for Yogananda she shares his precious teachings on a wide variety of spiritual topics, guides silent retreats, and sometimes participates in co-leading Ananda pilgrimages to India and Italy.
Dear friends, we will do our best, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide a translation for everything in your program. We apologize for any inconvenience!
The total price of your all-inclusive stay, which includes course, board and lodging, is:
650 euros (130 euros per day)* in a single room,
500 euros (100 euros per day)* in a double room,
450 euros (90 euros per day)* in a 3- to 5-bed dormitory.
* Price of membership card not included €. 18,00
Credits immagine corso: https://www.yogamagazine.it
Sunday
17:30-19:30 Spiritual Practices
19:30 Dinner
20:30 Orientation
Monday-Thursday
7:00-8:45 Morning Spiritual Practices
8:45 Breakfast in silence
11:00-13:30 Morning lesson
13:30 Lunch
16:15-17:30 Ananda Yoga
17:45-19:30 Energization and meditation or lesson in the techniques
19:30 Dinner in silence
20:30-22:00 Evening activities
Friday
7:00-8:45 Morning Spiritual Practices
8:45 Breakfast in silence
11:00-13:30 Morning lesson
13:30 Lunch
*Every Thursday from 6:30-8:30 we have a long meditation, with a break to enter at 7:30 and the Purification Ceremony at 8:30.
Services
650 euros (130 euros per day)* in a single room,
500 euros (100 euros per day)* in a double room,
450 euros (90 euros per day)* in a 3- to 5-bed dormitory.
* Price of membership card not included €. 18,00
We will offer you:
● Full board from the evening of arrival to lunch on the day of departure
● All meditations and guided sadhana
● Ananda Yoga classes
● The course and materials (if any)
● The essentials for your practice: meditation cushions, yoga mats, Aum-board
● Kirtan and other evening programs
Accommodation: information and prices
Cost table
Attention: During the Covid-19 period the prices below are no longer applicable. The correct all-inclusive price for each course can be found on its individual page.
| Single room with bathroom | € 72.00 |
| Single without bathroom | € 61.00 |
| Double room with bathroom | € 56.00 |
| Double without bathroom | € 48.00 |
| Triple room with bathroom | € 48.00 |
| Triple without bathroom | € 41.00 |
| Dormitory (4-5 beds) | € 36.00 |
Note: To the price of lodging and food, you have to add the price of the seminar, that includes all activities: Energization Exercises Lessons, yoga and meditation and evening activities (on most evenings).
Payments can be made in cash, by Eurocheck, credit card (MasterCard and Visa), Bancomat. We can’t accept cash over 1000.00 euros.
Opportunity
Next time you come to Ananda, sign up for the program Yoga in Action to get a taste of community service and receive a discount on the cost of the course. You can choose the option Yoga in Action for any course where this program is available and you can continue with this option as long as you wish. Your service project might change each day.
When we learn to serve with the right attitude, this is a spiritual practice and is called Karma Yoga. The daily practice of Karma Yoga is a joyful and practical spiritual discipline that will benefit every aspect of your life.
At Ananda, there are two levels of the Yoga in Action option:
Yoga in Action Level 1
75€/course of 5 days
With Level 1, you will serve for a period of one and a half hours. This experience gives you a chance to contribute to the beautiful atmosphere of Ananda.
Yoga in Action Level 2
35€/course of 5 days
Yoga in Action Level 2 is only available if you have had prior experience of the Yoga in Action Level 1 option, or any of the Community Living Programs. With Level 2, you will serve for a period of three hours, split into two periods of daily service.
How to Register for This Program
In the page of the course you want to participate to, you will find, if available, the special price of the course with Yoga in action level 1 and 2. When you sign-up on the website or call or write us to book the course, just indicate that you wish to participate to the Yoga in Action Level 1 or 2 program. It’s that easy. Once you arrive at Ananda you will need also to complete a Yoga in Action Form and return it to our reception office.
How to book
You may make your reservation directly here on the website or by phone (+39 0742 813620) or email (info@ananda.it). Your booking needs to be confirmed by our reception office. For courses held online, there is no need to indicate the details of your stay (date of arrival, departure…).
For courses held at our center in Assisi, please indicate your arrival and departure dates and times, the program you wish to attend, your preferred accommodation, your address, phone and email. If you need to modify your reservation, please inform us at least one week in advance.
Our reception office is open from:
Monday to Saturday 9:30-1:30pm, 2:30-5:30pm
Sunday 9:30-11:30am, 2:30-5:30pm
For on-site courses, the programmes start on the evening of the day indicated.
If you cannot arrive during office hours, please let us know in advance.
Please contact us to check what translations are available. Courses, both on-site and online, may be cancelled if there are fewer than five participants.
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