Subjects

Students can choose their optional subjects among more than 65 started by the CSB Academy:

Context and Sources of Vedic literature

The millenary culture of India is based on the Vedas and represents the most ancient wisdom of humanity. This knowledge, through the ages ever prestigious and fresh, and still in our day of great topical interest, is vehicle of values and patterns to be applied with success in individual and social life. The Vedas are not merely religious texts, but also vast bodies of symbols, doctrines and existential proposals, representing the peak of ancient and modern thought. This subject offers a clear and exhaustive synthesis of the whole of Vedic literature, presenting through its main guidelines a worldview giving value to the inner quest and the harmony between the human being and the universe.

Introduction to Indian Psychological Thought
India and the West

In the past, the subject matter of psychology was studied primarily by philosophers, in the East as well as in the West; however, whereas Western psychology is a product of Western philosophy and science, Indian psychology derives from Indian philosophy and introspective experience.
The subject matter of Indian psychology is the real identity of the Self, pure consciousness, the principal attribute of every form of life and very end of any expression of thought. The main object of our study is first of all to highlight the differences and similarities between the two psychological systems, through a brief comparison between the contributions offered by Western philosophers, starting from Plato down to our modern times, and those introduced by the major Schools of the ancient Vedic tradition.

Bhagavad-Gita Philosophy and Psychology

The conclusive teaching of the Bhagavad-Gita is bhakti, the pathway bringing each individual to rediscover the eternal loving relationship that unites him to the Supreme Being.
This path goes through the complete reintegration of the human being within the socio-cosmic order, giving him the opportunity to attain all of his earthly targets, while at the same time rediscovering his own divine nature. The Bhagavad-Gita proposes a dynamic balance between the opposites, action and non-action, obtainable through a superior knowledge which allows human beings to achieve a high sense of their duty, in a spirit of renunciation of the ephemeral. Such attitude is far from both an illusory adherence to immanence, as well as from an escape towards an abstract transcendence, which denies earthly values and despises matter. The Bhagavad-Gita on the contrary, urges people to act in a full yet detached way, effi ciently yet without motivations for power and possession; actions are to be offered with joyful devotion, in a religious way and as a sacrifice to God.

Samkhya Philosophy and Psychology

Samkhya asserts the plurality of individual consciences (purusha), but concedes to the unity in diversity, explaining that the difference of life condition between lower and higher organisms, is entirely due to the degree of development of their consciousness, and to their threefold nature or guna (sattvik, rajasik or tamasik). Samkhya claims the independent existence of matter, but states its non-consciousness, and declares that all life is the combined product of Consciousness (purusha) and matter (prakriti).

Yoga Psychology

This is a systematic study of Patanjali’s School of Yoga, whose doctrine is centered on the celebrated Yogasutras, a famous ancient collection of aphorisms on Yoga, most probably the first treatise on scientific psychology. Yoga offers various types and degrees of instruments, which favour psychic and spiritual evolution and make the intellect able to grasp concepts, forms and emotions otherwise inaccessible. Among the most important and conclusive practices for the re-elaboration and sublimation of psychological contents, are concentration (dharana) and meditation (dhyana), leading, when properly executed, to the direct perception of reality, both physical and metaphysical (samadhi). Among the various forms of meditation suggested by the rishis - the sages, the seers and chanters of Vedic revelation, messengers of the Divine - the devoted abandonment to God (Ishvara-pranidhana) appears as the ideal internal inclination for the achievement of the highest success in Yoga.

Upanishads Philosophy and Psychology

The culture of ancient India finds one of its most meaningful expressions in the philosophical and psychological thought of the Upanishads, works of indisputable relevance in the multimillenary Vedic literature. The Upanishads combine the depth of philosophical speculation with a symbolic and fluent language, capable of granting everyone access to the physical and metaphysical knowledge of Vedic texts. Upanishadic literature offers the opportunity to take off on a journey of knowledge inside and outside oneself: it enquires the different dimensions of reality and identifies integrations, connections and correspondences, providing in-depth explanations on the different states of consciousness for the being and on the human personality in its various components.

Vedanta Philosophy and Psychology

Among the six astika Darshanas, Vedanta is certainly the best known, studied and commented; not by chance, it constitutes the basis for the great majority of Hindu Schools of thought. The term Vedanta means ‘conclusion of the Vedas’ and proves that this work, specifically dealing with the nature of supreme Brahman, contains the distillate of all speculation of Indian sapiential literature. In the Philosophy Course we shall analyze the main sutras with the commentary drawn from one of the main theologians of Vedantic personalistic School; while in the Psychology Course the major elements of Vedanta Philosophy will be interpreted psychologically according to two of the main Schools: Shankara’s Advaita-Vedanta and Ramanuja’s Vishishta-Advaita.

Buddhism Psychology

India at the times of Buddha was the site of speculations on topics such as the nature and origin of the soul and the universe, the nature of virtue and its results, the existence of other worlds. These uninhibited speculations, led within an environment of great intellectual freedom, resulted in the formulation of the most diverse religious, philosophical and psychological doctrines. Buddha chose to follow a different path: refusing any sort of metaphysical speculation, he engaged in the solution of problems which we would today call psychological. Buddha aimed at the deep understanding of conscious processes as a whole, and at the discovery of methods to control their interplay, in order to avoid the onset of painful experiences.
His foremost methods were meditation on the four noble truths and knowledge of the ephemeral nature of the phenomenal world.

Psychology and Spirituality

Monotheism in Vedic-vaishnava Tradition
An in-depth study of the Vaishnava model of Thought, which is rich in symbols and ethical values. It is aimed at the understanding of its concrete and effi cient influence on the harmonious development of human personality, the integration of consciousness, the reconciliation of the opposites and the harmonization of unconscious elements with the “I” and the self. The study of this subject is propaedeutical for a correct and beneficial approach to the culture of ancient India, because it explains its basic socio-spiritual structure and discredits some clichés, such as those regarding polytheism and castes.

Life Cycle Psychology

The death phenomenon is an unavoidable fact in our life. It is usually perceived as the end of everything, the dissolution and disappearance of our being, and is considered with a range of sentiments including resignation, drama and tragedy. Yet, paradoxically enough, death does not exist as an entity but just as a concept. In fact it is an abstraction. Only life is real, eternal and unchanging. In a journey through profound consciousness, the person approaching this stage of life can face it while perceiving one’s own identity as different from the body, and discovering ahead a new phase of his eternal existence, entirely to be constructively planned.

The function of Willpower

Willpower is very important and many know this to be a fact, especially those who lack it. But through what methods is it possible to develop such precious faculty? Are there different kinds of will? How can we distinguish them? How can our willpower win over our deep and unconscious tendencies? The text offers an enquiry into the above and similar questions, providing ples, answers and connections to the Western culture, on the basis of traditional Indian Psychology.

Wellbeing Leadership Psychology
Knowledge, Conduct, Management of human resources

Even the less perspicacious are today starting to guess that we are perhaps paying for an illusoryas well as dangerous and unbearable wellbeing. The work that does not satisfy inwardly is pathologicalin itself and neither holidays nor entertainments can be the remedy. They only hide the symptoms and postpone the inevitable final burn-out, in the leaders also. The productivity does not require efforts when strategy and action are enlightened by ethical foundations and a superior knowledge, when the leader motivates others on such a level where reliability and credibility are experienced in the everyday life. The real Well-being Leadership should allow to live and act in the well-being, as well as to produce it.

Sound and the Psyche

This Course analyzes a dimension which is generally little known: the dimension of sound, a dimension situated much above the normal perception and understanding of the world we live in, a reality which according to the great traditions and the latest scientific discoveries, is at the very basis of the generation of the universe. In the Vedic world, sound and the capacity to listen occupy a prominent and privileged position: knowledge was in fact transmitted orally and it is not by chance that Sacred Texts are named Shruti (what has been heard). The psyche is extremely easily influenced, and the strongest influence which can affect it is sound vibrations, more than shape and colours. Through sound we can make degrading or uplifting experiences, the sound can be therapy or nourish the schizophrenia and the typical neurosis of the present time. When the sound vibration belongs to the transcendental dimension, it becomes a means for purification, generates inner harmony and lead us back to that elevated realm.

Ayurveda and the Mind

Ayurveda, the ancient “Science of Life”, with its ways of interpreting life and consciousness, offers holistic principles which are extremely topical, as they embrace a whole vision of body, mind and spirit.
This Science considers the physical body as the crystallization of mental tendencies deeply rooted in the unconscious; this means, that is considers the mind as a depository of all the impressions, stored up throughout countless experiences. Ayurveda acknowledges the existence of our real self, the immortal nature of every living being, which is perceivable beyond the mind-body complex. On this basis, it provides a real solution to the different health problems, a solution which can’t set aside the research for a communion with the universe and the Divine within us. This research can succeed only after a solid change in one’s life style, starting from the way we think to the performance of our actions.

Ayurveda, the Science of Self Healing

Ayurveda is a vital Science for medical-metaphysical healing, which teaches that the living being is a microcosm, a universe in itself. Its existence is inseparable from the totality of the cosmic manifestation.
Health and “disease” are therefore interpreted in a holistic way, taking into consideration the intrinsic relation existing between the individual and the Cosmic Consciousness, between energy and matter.
Rebalancing all the energies in the body, the processes of physical deterioration and disease in general can be reduced or even disappear. The capacity of the individual to self-healing is fundamental in Ayurvedic science and this capacity, potentially present in each one of us, can be reactivated through the practices taught by Ayurveda.

Ayurveda and Pancakarma

The human body is characterized by the presence of a natural healing intelligence. Nonetheless, when the improper use of mind and senses brings about a psychophysical unbalance, which causes the formation of toxic impurities, ama, then this natural capacity of the body is inhibited. As a remedy to this situation, Ayurveda offers the gift of panchakarma, the “science of rejuvenation” in five therapeutic practices. In this process the body is purified from the degrading influences of external substances and put in a position to naturally exercise its intrinsic rejuvenating functions.

Psychology and Therapies

The aim of this course is to allow all to appreciate the fundamental elements of Bhaktivedantic psychology. This is a depth psychology, dealing with the superior phenomena of consciousness, a fascinating subject of vital importance and requiring an open mind, freedom from prejudice and attention from those who approach it.
The course is based on the teachings of the Vedas and tackles themes on behaviour, thought, feeling, imagination, impulses.
There is an evaluation of the psychological laws and the disciplines presiding over the development of the superior faculties of the psyche, such as determination, clairvoyance and wisdom, to resist the negative tendencies of society and live with joy and consistence one’s ethical choices.
The text also includes extracts from scientific articles which confirm how modern medicine and psychology are approaching ancient Indian knowledge, and which back up the value and effi cacy of traditional techniques and disciplines such as meditation and yoga.

Karma and Reincarnation

Does an individual come from nothing? What does the direction of his life from the beginning depend upon? Is it a fortuitous event or a hereditary stock of thoughts, desires and actions that is bearing fruit? A journey through human existence in the light of Vedic culture, that has elaborated and explained the phenomenon of transmigration in a rigorous and scientific manner.

Life Death and Immortality in the Civilization of the Vedas

In the Western culture, life, death and immortality are considered as three separate phenomena, distant one from the other, and are often subject of not very scientific interpretations, which are to say the least disputable. The ancient Indian culture gives a precise classification of these phenomena and presents them in terms of continuity. This course is an elaboration on these three important and interacting facts connected to each individual, with the aim of understanding the nature of the self and the world.

The journey of the Soul after Death

What happens to the vital principle, atman, once it is out of the body? What is death? What is the transition? Are there specific stages on the path that the disincarnated soul goes through before reaching the next incarnation? How much do the states of consciousness we have at the moment of leaving the body influence our future conditions? On the basis of authoritative texts of the Indovedic tradition, this course offers these and other answers to one of the most pressing questions that man enquires about: the afterlife.

Yoga and Holistic Health

What does Yoga mean? How can our health be restored on the different anthropological levels: from the physical level up to the mental one, in order to reach the dimension of the soul? We can gain precious suggestions from the most ancient study on human nature, by the sage Patanjali, teaching how to recover harmony and well-being by using simple and natural methods that lead us to a greater consciousness of ourselves and the universe.

Thought, Action and Destiny

Is it possible to build our destiny and to plan our future? The forces of desire and thought have this power. “Man is nothing but desire: as he wishes, so he becomes”, state the Upanishads and all the Indovedic psychological sciences. We are the cause, remote or recent, of our own lives, of our social belonging and our relationships. Everything that happens with us has its cause, we are where we decided to be. Our future is being crystallized and manifested on a subtle level. That’s why in our present we are able to modify the dynamics that are shaping it, through the guidance of the energy of thought.

Freedom from Solitude and Suffering

Solitude represents perhaps the worst disease of our epoch, as well as the greatest paradox because, at least formally, we find ourselves in a historical period where we are submerged with communication.
From solitude and existential uneasiness comes the deep suffering that devastates man and destroys joy of life. This is a sociological and psychological analysis of certain dynamics in order to explore their rootcause and the ways to get out.

Sociology and Anthropology

Vedic social thought constitutes the basis for the evolution of ancient and modern Indian civilization.
This course introduces the conceptual stands on which to analyze society and man according to Indovedic tradition: topics of study are social organization and spiritual organization (varna and ashrama), individuals and family, community and State, sacrifice and rituals, religion and spirituality.
Indeed, a well-rounded and structured social organization is considered of paramount importance for the harmonious development of personality and for the evolution towards a relationship with God, going beyond the individual aims (purusharta), through the paths of action (karma), knowledge (jnana) and devotion (bhakti).

Pedagogy
The educational ideal in Traditional India

By studying the Indovedic pedagogic model, the everlasting effi cacy of educational ideals from ancient India emerges very clearly, together with Indian remarkable contribution towards the development of the noblest values in people and society. This subject takes into account the education of the individual since its childhood, when the young enters the Gurukula, the school-house of the Guru, and ends when he is a grown up person, with a complete training which enables him to carry out all his domestic and social duties, at the same time progressing spiritually. Other elements analyzed are the role of the teacher, the function of discipline in study and personal life, the contribution given by parents and society.

From Eros to Love

As we know, the need to receive and to give love is intrinsic to the nature of each living being.
However, the meaning given nowadays to the term “love” requires an in-depth analysis of the social and cultural changes that we are going through. A stimulating psychological and cultural journey to return to the pure source of the true sentiment.

Karmic Affinities and Family Relations

Man is a social being and relations are the salt of life. However, it is costly to build, develop and maintain them. Are there reasons for individuals to decide and share one part of their path? Is it possible to find basic formulae for well living and well sharing? How much can individual karma influence our family and social choices?

Betrayal Resentment Forgiveness

The phenomenon of betrayal has always been present in our society in every historical period. The Bible, the Puranas, the sapiential books of all great Traditions: they all talk about it. It is a topic of great relevance to everybody’s life, because nobody can affi rm to have never betrayed or never been betrayed. Who is the betrayer? Who is the betrayed? Is it ourselves or a social mask? Profoundly questioning ourselves, we will be able to see things from a perspective thanks to which we can avoid the dangerous traps of resentment and revenge, and take the opportunity for growth, understanding and forgiveness, realizing the nature of true love.

Vedic and Puranic Cosmogony

Vedic wisdom is expressed through the substantial continuity among the various planes of existence, and through the large amount of interplay between micro- and macrocosm. In conformity with the Indovedic tradition, our course introduces subjects such as the principle and purpose of the living being and the creation, the genesis and structure of the cosmos and the laws that govern it: the doctrine of karma, the three gunas, the dynamics of transmigration, time and space as paradigms of the creation, the concepts of death, immortality and liberation.

Hindovedic Mythology and Symbolism

Vedic mythology describes in extremely vivid terms certain mental visions obtained through the deep absorption which is the feature of every mystic experience. For the Vedic seers, the act of knowing had an astonishing concreteness: their mind began to talk about itself, but instead of operating through concepts, it dealt with mythical entities. This explains the profusion of images which remain impenetrable to those who do not know that the waters of the bright ocean, flowing above the celestial vault, are the same as those waving into the ocean of the heart, i.e. the waters of kama (desire), and the burning waters of the psyche. The psychological myth of ancient India was thus born, and the Vedas reveal a mythological form which is the highest representation that has been passed on to us since antiquity.

Ethics and Aesthetics

Dharma, order and function of every being, is the attitude allowing the comprehension and the harmonization of the diverse levels of every person and every experience. According to the Indovedic texts, it is precisely this order which allows the vision of reality and the communication of the truth. Inspiration is the essential constituent of the artistic experience, and its ultimate source lies in a positive relationship between the individual self and the Divine. The authentic aim of every artistic experience is not mere enjoyment of aesthetical beauty: it must rise above the emotional condition to reach the Divine vision.
This contact with the realm of transcendence is possible also through art: art as Yoga.

Introduction to Vastu
Philosophy and Psychology of Indovedic Architecture

The ancient texts of Vastu, transcripts of an ancient oral tradition, have been passed down to us through an uninterrupted chain of sage-seers (rishis). The science of Vastu, applied to the planning of a town or a dwelling, a palace or a temple, is a sacrificial act and therefore connected to the original knowledge of the Vedas. In an ideal journey through the history and the sacred sites of Hinduism, architecture in its varied expressions will be studied as explicit manifestation of Yoga, whose main purpose is that of upholding the ascent of the human being to the spiritual plane.

The Universe in Architecture

The traditional sciences of India come together in a unified wisdom meant to free the individual from a pathological condition of suffering, solitude, uneasiness. The specific knowledge of Vastu Architecture, Ayurveda, Jyotisha Astrology and Yoga Psychology operates a sacred and foundational connection between micro- and macrocosmo, between the individual consciousness and the cosmic one, between dwelling and the universe.
The classical rules of Vastu can be translated in terms accessible to the scientific understanding and measurements, such as electromagnetism, gravity, light, cosmic radiation. “Vibrations, waves, sound and light” constitute the four parameters of Vastu to evaluate the nature and state of health of a dwelling, qualities which can make it healthy or contaminated.

Karma and Architecture: a practical application of Vastu

The planetary configuration at the moment of birth manifests the qualities (gunas) and the experiences (karma) of the individual and defines his position in the “net” of cosmic energy, characterizing one’s preferences and choices.
In the Vastu analysis the house appears as a book open on the personality of those who reside in it, as it represents symmetrically, in praises and lacks, one’s astral and energetic characteristics. In this course we shall specifically ine: the planimetric form of the land and the house, the alignment to the cardinal points, the direction of the front door, the disposition of the dwelling functions in the body of the house in relation to the planetary directions, the presence of an energetic centre of gravity and the permeability to light and air.

History of Indian Civilization

The prehistoric civilization of the Indus valley, the Magadha Princedom, the Maurya Dynasty, the Gupta, the Vijayanagar and the Moghul empires: these are some of the elements structuring the political and cultural framework for the development of the ancient and medieval history of the Indian subcontinent. Issue of major importance to the international research community on India, is the Aryan invasion theory; thanks to recent discoveries in philology, archaeology and science, the protohistory of this area unravels as a civilization characterized by urbanism, agriculture, trade and writing.

Hindovedic Archaeology

This study analyzes the main archaeological sites and monuments of ancient and medieval India: Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, the best known sites among the many settlements witnessing the precious and world-renowned culture of the Indus valley; Dvaraka: town celebrated in the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata-Purana, founded by Krishna, the highest authority of Vedic literature, now site of excavation by an international team, excellent ple of underwater dig; Pataliputra: fortress and palace of the wide Maurya empire; the caves of Ellora: 34 Brahminical, Buddhist and Jainist sanctuaries witnessing the tolerant policy of ancient India; Hampi: the biggest Indian archaeological site, once the capital of the Vijayanagar empire, the latest of the large Hindu kingdoms of southern India; Mahabalipuram: striking temple site of the Tamil royal capital between the 6th and the 8th century.

Hindovedic Art History

Indian art represents the unbroken quest for shaping the Divine form according to principles unchanging throughout the centuries, yet conveyed via different styles. Topics of study will be: the Indus civilization, whose artists worked with full knowledge of the three-dimensional perspective and a sharp vision of the anatomical structure of nature; the Maurya civilization, with its plentiful production laying the foundations for Hindu and Buddhist iconography; the Gupta civilization, whose formal expression reached the highest aesthetical ideals, balancing outline and decoration. The artistic expression of the Indian medieval civilization moves towards the complete representation of the religious experience, through the symbolic trails of the temple, and through the divine image, offering itself as repository for ritual devotional acts and as support for meditation.

Epic literature: Mahabharata

According to the Indovedic tradition, the Mahabharata is the widest and most ancient epic ever known in human history. Written in classical Sanskrit, it verily constitutes a literary monument of the Indovedic civilization. Covering the history (Itihasa) of the ancient Bharata dinasty, the Mahabharata collects gripping and instructive episodes describing peaks and abysses of the human existence, painting in a vivid way noble and mean sides of the human personality which make up the whole anthropological sphere. This course comprises a survey of the complete work (18 books or parvas) and an analysis of the main characters and episodes.

Epic literature: Ramayana

This work, written in classical Sanskrit, is equivalent to Homer’s epics as for value, fame and length. Ramayana’s influence on Indian life and culture has always been profound, and still is in the present day. Together with Mahabharata, it makes up the Indian epic, Itihasa. Ramayana describes the life and terrestrial adventures of Rama, who according to the Indovedic tradition is an avatar of God, Vishnu-Krishna, playing the role of the ideal king, personification of Dharma. Banished because of his stepmother, Rama lives as a hermit in the forest, together with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshman, engaging in adventures which will lead to his victory over the demon Ravana. This course analyses the historical-literary context of the work, the main characters and episodes, and includes readings from the text.

Mystic literature

This course is a study of the most important texts of prehistoric and historic Indian mysticism.
Attention will be focused on the mystic current of medieval and ancient bhakti and on its most representative works and exponents, such as the Alvars, Ramanuja, Caitanya, Kabir and other great interpreters of Bengali, Tamil and Hindi devotional literature.

Traditional Indian Fables: Pancatantra

This work boasts about 200 versions and a translation in more than 50 languages; it has inspired numerous collections of fables, from the One Thousand and One Nights to the tales by La Fontaine. The Pancatantra duly captures the pedagogic aim of traditional Indian literature through the pleasing and immediate language of the fable. Apparently meant for children, but a substantial incentive also to adults, the ancient tales of Pancatantra are put side by side to stories by authors more familiar to the Western public, and through a fresh and direct language convey the fundamentals of philosophy, psychology and sociology of classical India, making them accessible to the most heterogeneous public.

Puranic Literature

The Puranas are ancient works collecting an extremely rich heritage of mythical and historical traditions, religious conceptions and doctrinal teachings.
Next to the mythical element, in the Puranas we find cosmogonies and theogonies, descriptions of the four eras or Yugas, of the celestial, terrestrial and infernal worlds; legends of past sovereigns and patriarchs, treatises on the svadharma of the different social classes, lists of dynasties with proved historical value.
Among the Puranas, the Bhagavata Purana, in the academic world considered the most important and in its own Tradition presented as the natural commentary to the Vedanta Sutra, is rich in fascinating stories with immense pedagogical, psychological and spiritual value. This stories are told by the great sage Shukadeva to the dying emperor of the world, Parikshit Maharaja, and allow to acquire the fundamental notions on the reality around us and precious suggestions to develop our human potential.

Elements of Sanskrit Language

Sanskrit is a charming language, with a compelling capability to convey concepts and meanings in their subtlest shades. For its structural and expressive perfection (it literally means ‘perfect’), it has always been studied with great interest by glottologists, philologists and linguists. As a matter of fact, Sanskrit constitutes the basis for every study in these fields. Students will learn the basic elements for writing and reading classical Sanskrit. An outline of Vedic Sanskrit will also be given, with readings from original texts.

Elements of Tamil classical language

This course focuses on the basic elements concerning the handwriting, phonetics and morphology of classical Tamil. Every language is the fruit and the expression of the civilization where it develops, and the vehicle for its thought and values. The analysis of selected passages of this ancient Indian language will help students to understand and appreciate the world beneath it.

Six Darshanas Philosophy
Perspectives in Indian Classical thought

The goal of philosophy’s is the knowledge of truth; in Indian literature this means vision or darshana. Darshanas are perspectives on the world and on reality, which do not exclude one another but mutually integrate. All six classical Darshanas (astika) accept the authority of the Vedas and are usually studied in couples. They deal respectively with Logic and Physics (Nyaya and Vaisheshika), Metaphysics and Psychology (Samkhya and Yoga), Liturgy and Theology (Purva Mimansa and Uttara Mimamsa or Vedanta). The course considers all six schools with a particular deepening on Yoga and Vedanta.

Vaishnava Philosophy
The Four Sampradayas and Caitanya’s School

Ramanuja’s Vishishtadvaita, Nimabarka’s theory of Svabhavika-bhedabheda, Madhva’s Dvaita and Vallabha’s Shuddadvaita are four different philosophic conceptions which, moving from what the Vedantasutras explain on Brahman, find their place between Shankara’s Advaita vedanta and Caitanya’s Acintya-bhedabheda-Tattva. Such doctrines are the essence of Vaishnava philosophy. The course deepens the main concepts of each School, reaching the most meaningful theistic postulates of Indian philosophic tradition.

The 26 Qualities of the Spiritual Searcher

In order to embark upon any kind of journey it necessary to be properly equipped, so as to make the journey itself as comfortable as possible and also to have a minimum guarantee for the final attainment of the desired destination. Things are not different for the journey which has the realization of the self as its goal, but in this case the equipment is very special: the spiritual researcher does not venture in the exploration of the external world, but the inner world, and in order to proceed with certainty and success, he needs to develop all his noblest and highest qualities, and can thus regain his original splendor on the fascinating path to self-realization.

The Nectar of Devotion

The Nectar of Devotion is a summary of the work Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, written by Rupa Gosvami about five hundred years ago. It enunciates the principles of devotional service (Bhakti), or God worship. This relation is manifest in diverse spiritual modes or “tastes” (rasas), according to which the devotee experiences and expresses various loving feelings for the Divine. Here love is meant as an intrinsic characteristic of every living being and is defined amrita, immortal, as it is without beginning and without end; it also confers immortality. The course introduces the most important philosophical concepts of Vaishnava Theology, connected to the diverse functions of bhakti and to the theory of rasas.
It is a fundamental work to understand the teachings of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the perfect preacher of Vaishnava Bhakti.

Upadeshamrita
The Eleven Teachings by Rupa Gosvami

This work is a real jewel made up of eleven teachings (upadesha) situated beyond time and space, and therefore defined “amrita”. Rupa Gosvami offers the most profound and esoteric teaching which ,when fully comprehended, allows for the realization of the fundamental principles of Vaishnava Theology, those principles which can guide the human being to the ultimate goal of existence, the development of pure love for God.

The Science of Bhakti

The path of Bhakti can be pursued in two ways: one is through sadhana bhakti, devotional service performed following defined rules, the other is through ragatmika bhakti, spontaneous devotional service.
The pursuit of the second path comes only when the spiritualist has been purified by going along the path of sadhana (discipline), which allows him to gradually be freed from conditionings and material identifications. In this course, following a scientific approach, we discuss the various ways of seva and the corresponding psychological implications.

Tattva Sandarbha

A treatise on Truth. Foundations of Vaishnava Theology.
Tattva Sandarbha, compiled by Jiva Gosvami five hundred years ago, is the first of six books written by the same author (collectively known as Shad Sandarbha), which indicate the foundations of Vaishnava Theology. In particular this text deals with the principles of Truth (Tattva) exposed by the great Masters of Vaishnava School, for whom Jiva Gosvami is one of the main spreaders. It is an essential work in order to deeply understand the Culture beneath the Vedic-vaishnava spiritual tradition.

Narada Bhakti Sutras

Narada Muni’s Sutras on Bhakti are a small gem in the Indovedic scene and in Vaishnava Culture in particular. In this text, Bhakti is defined as “loving faith”. Love is the most intimate essence of every living being, born to give and receive love. Here love has nothing to do with what we can experiment in the material dimension; it transcends every connection to matter, as it has its origin and destination on the Divine plane. The psychological commentary makes this ancient writing topical and useful to reinterpret the concept of the feelings of love and devotion.

Ishopanishad

Ishopanishad is part of that category of the Upanishads with a personalistic connotation. It describes Brahman as the perfect and complete Person, from whom infinite entities emanate, which are complete in themselves. The One becomes many and yet remains complete in itself. Everything belongs to Him, and represents His energy. Through the typical and fascinating language of the Upanishads, the text guides the reader to the most intimate comprehension of the cosmic Reality and of the close connection between the individual being and the Supreme Person.

Harinama Cintamani
Meditation on the Divine name

This text was written in the 19th century by a great scholar and Master of Vaishnava Culture. His name is Bhaktivinoda Thakura. The text describes a dialogue between Shri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu and one of His most intimate followers, Shrila Haridas Thakura, known as the Acarya of the Holy Name (Nama Acarya), due to his attachment to the meditation practice on the Divine Names. The chanting of the Mahamantra is here considered as the fundamental spiritual practice to dismantle negative unconscious contents and operate a process of inner purification to access superior levels of consciousness. In order for this practice to succeed, it must be executed with attention and following the proper rules of ethical behaviour.