Kaivalyadhama

Workshop – Insights into Indian Philosophy and Psychology with special reference to Samkhya and Yoga

Come June and seekers are in for a treat on Indian Philosophy. Dr. N Ganesh Rao, veteran yoga expert will conduct an exclusive workshop on Indian Philosophy and Psychology at the Kaivalyadhama, Lonavala . The one week workshop will delve deeper into two significant philosophies which have intrigued yoga enthusiasts time and again i.e Samkhya and Yogadarshan. Here is telling you why you must attend this unique workshop.

The proposed Workshop intends to cater to two groups of people:

  1. Yoga Students, Teachers and Enthusiasts.

With the rising popularity of Yoga, more and more people are taking to the practice of Yoga for reasons of health, healing and happiness. Most of them are not from the field of philosophy. Yoga being a philosophy, without understanding the philosophical foundations of Yoga, practice of Yoga is very superficial and impoverished. Genuine enthusiasts, students and teachers who wish to go deeper into the field of Yoga, find it daunting and time-consuming, beyond themselves, to understand the roots and contents of Yogic philosophy on their own. Yoga Philosophy or Yoga darsana is one of the six astika darsanas, accepting the authority of Vedas. The metaphysical foundations of Yoga are steeped in Samkhya darsana, another one of the six astika darsanas. Understanding these two darsanas is a must to add quality and authenticity to one’s practices of Yoga. Incidentally, Yoga and Samkhya together represent total Psychology – a complete study of human mind and its functioning – psychology par excellence.

  1. People belonging to various walks of life, professionals and lay persons, hold tremendous fascination for Indian philosophy. Their curiosity is always aroused whenever a mention is made of Indian philosophy and are actually craving to understand Indian philosophy but do not know how to cater to their interest given the immensity and complexity of Indian Philosophy. Where to begin and how to begin studying Indian Philosophy? This question seems like a barrier, which cannot be surpassed. The workshop is ideally suited for such individuals because it will provide a bird’s eye view of the entire Indian Philosophy with special insights into Yoga and Samkhya philosophies. Also, several other related topics (Mantra and its significance, AUM and Gayatri, their significance and chanting, Indian Culture & its Salient Features, etc.) will be philosophically discussed.

Further, the Workshop also provides an opportunity of every day practicing Yoga in the ‘Classical’ manner along with the unique relaxation and rejuvenation technique of Yoga Nidra.

All in all, the workshop will be an actual experience of satsang in a calm, peaceful and conducive ashrama-like environment.