theory course
Basics of
Tantra & Yoga
Philosophy and Practice
Tantra & Yoga
Philosophy and Practice
Theoretical base and extension of Kriya Raja Yoga course with Max online. Major ideas, concepts and practical approaches in various schools of Tantra and Yoga of the Indian Subcontinent and beyond. Their development and usage from historical times to nowadays. Practical philosophy with open and secret techniques.
There were two major streams of thought and practice, being developed since prehistoric times in India - Vedic and Tantric.
Vedic, highly ritualistic tradition was mostly attributed to Arian tribes and the higher caste of Brahmins and is based on authorities of sacred Vedas.
Tantra, a spiritual path and practice was mostly developed by indigenous non-Aryans of India. Later both traditions has blended and produced the Upanishads, Puranas, the Bhagavat Gita, Sankhya, Vedanta and various Vedic, Tantric and Yogic scriptures.
Vedic, highly ritualistic tradition was mostly attributed to Arian tribes and the higher caste of Brahmins and is based on authorities of sacred Vedas.
Tantra, a spiritual path and practice was mostly developed by indigenous non-Aryans of India. Later both traditions has blended and produced the Upanishads, Puranas, the Bhagavat Gita, Sankhya, Vedanta and various Vedic, Tantric and Yogic scriptures.
Lesson-1
History and Schools of Indian Philosophy
There are 6 main orthodox (astika) schools of Indian philosophy and 2 main unorthodox (nastika) schools
6 orthodox systems are:
Other type of spiritual literature such as Upanishads, Yogic and other scriptures are called Smriti - "that which has been remembered" and is more freestyle and may change over time. The well known smritis include Bhagavad Gita, various Puranas, the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
There are 4 Vedas:
The Vedas are among the oldest sacred texts on Earth. Rigveda Samhita for example was composed in the north-west of Indian Subcontinent between 1500 and 1200 BC.
The Vedas were orally transmitted since their composition for several millennia. Usually from father to son or from guru to shishya (disciple).
The correct tradition or "sampradaya" has a great importance. It has the authority to clarify and provide direction in the application of the knowledge. In case of Mantras proper articulation and Sanskrit pronunciation is of great importance. Chanting in a group, supporting sounds by special mudras (hand sacred gestures), strong memory culture were always considered crucial and were a part of Vedic Brahmin education. Mantras are considered as primordial rhythms of creation, preceding the forms to which they refer.
The Sanskrit word Veda - "knowledge, wisdom" comes from the root VID - to know, to see. These 4 are called Samhitas - collection of Mantras. They contain 72,000 mantras - same number as Nadis - subtle energy channels in the body.
These Samhitas contain invocations to deities like Indra, Surya, Agni. For example, famous Gayatri Mantra from Ridveda - Mantra of Sun-God or rather Goddess.
Vedic Sanskrit texts also include Brahmanas - prose texts commenting and explaining rituals connected to these mantras.
There are also Aranyakas - forest texts, composed by people who meditated in the woods. They contain a lot of symbolic meanings.
Also included in the Vedic corpus are older Upanishads - such as Chandogya, Katha, Kena Upanishads - largely philosophical texts, often in a form of dialogue.
After the end of the Vedic period many additional Upanishads were composed, for example by the famous Indian sage and scholar Adi Shankara.
Among 6 orthodox schools of Indian Philosophy 3 are more relevant these days: Vedanta, Sankhya and Yoga. Over the centuries they have also experienced various mutual influences and are very much interrelated and interlinked nowadays. We will explore some theories and techniques of these systems further in our course.
Among them - Sankhya and Yoga are mostly connected and influenced by Tantra philosophy and practice.
6 orthodox systems are:
- Vedanta
- Mimamsa
- Sankhya
- Yoga
- Nyaya
- Vaisheshika
- Jainism
- Buddhism
Other type of spiritual literature such as Upanishads, Yogic and other scriptures are called Smriti - "that which has been remembered" and is more freestyle and may change over time. The well known smritis include Bhagavad Gita, various Puranas, the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
There are 4 Vedas:
- Rig-Veda - mostly of reciting hymns;
- Yajur-Veda - mostly of performing rituals and sacrifices;
- Sama-Veda - mostly of chanting songs and hymns;
- Atharva-Veda - mostly of rituals, philosophical speculations and magical formulas.
The Vedas are among the oldest sacred texts on Earth. Rigveda Samhita for example was composed in the north-west of Indian Subcontinent between 1500 and 1200 BC.
The Vedas were orally transmitted since their composition for several millennia. Usually from father to son or from guru to shishya (disciple).
The correct tradition or "sampradaya" has a great importance. It has the authority to clarify and provide direction in the application of the knowledge. In case of Mantras proper articulation and Sanskrit pronunciation is of great importance. Chanting in a group, supporting sounds by special mudras (hand sacred gestures), strong memory culture were always considered crucial and were a part of Vedic Brahmin education. Mantras are considered as primordial rhythms of creation, preceding the forms to which they refer.
The Sanskrit word Veda - "knowledge, wisdom" comes from the root VID - to know, to see. These 4 are called Samhitas - collection of Mantras. They contain 72,000 mantras - same number as Nadis - subtle energy channels in the body.
These Samhitas contain invocations to deities like Indra, Surya, Agni. For example, famous Gayatri Mantra from Ridveda - Mantra of Sun-God or rather Goddess.
Vedic Sanskrit texts also include Brahmanas - prose texts commenting and explaining rituals connected to these mantras.
There are also Aranyakas - forest texts, composed by people who meditated in the woods. They contain a lot of symbolic meanings.
Also included in the Vedic corpus are older Upanishads - such as Chandogya, Katha, Kena Upanishads - largely philosophical texts, often in a form of dialogue.
After the end of the Vedic period many additional Upanishads were composed, for example by the famous Indian sage and scholar Adi Shankara.
Among 6 orthodox schools of Indian Philosophy 3 are more relevant these days: Vedanta, Sankhya and Yoga. Over the centuries they have also experienced various mutual influences and are very much interrelated and interlinked nowadays. We will explore some theories and techniques of these systems further in our course.
Among them - Sankhya and Yoga are mostly connected and influenced by Tantra philosophy and practice.
Vedas are considered to be revelations of sacred mantras and knowledge heard by ancient Sages and Rishis in a deep and intense meditation.
Speaking about unorthodox schools of Indian Philosophy, one can notice that they are younger than the original orthodox systems.
In a way they were a reformist answer to a highly complex, ritualised and nondemocratic, caste brahmanic Vedic systems.
Jainism and Buddhism has appeared approximately in the 5th century BC and are connected to the historical persons of Mahavira (Jain Tradition) and Gautama Buddha (Buddhism). They are believed to be contemporaries and living in the same period.
What these unorthodox philosophies have in common, is first of all that they reject the authority of Vedas. But at the same time these both systems share many concepts of Vedic traditions. Such concepts as Karma, Rebirth, Samsara and Moksha.
Jainism strongly believes in individual nature of soul and personal responsibility for one's liberation. Jain philosophy states that Samsara (the World) is full of Himsa (violence). Jainism strongly emphasises Asceticism and Ahimsa (non-violence). According to Jains, one should direct all his/her efforts in the direction of Right Perception, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. All this is the right path towards liberation.
Buddhism is better known around the world thanks to its spread to many eastern countries besides India. It is a system of thought that started with the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama - the Buddha, the awakened one. Buddhism rejected the Vedic concepts of Brahaman - Ultimate Reality and Atman - individual soul, self.
Strong accent is on ethics - Dharma - duties and values, as well as on Impermanence of all material things, including body. Buddhism has strong accent on Ahimsa - non-violence. It also rejects eternal Soul and is talking about Non-Self.
After the death of Buddha, several competing systems arose and tried to systematise Buddhist philosophy.
Nowadays exist 2 major streams or Wheels: Hinayana - small vehicle (or Theravada Buddhism) and Mahayana - great vehicle.
When Buddhism has almost disappeared in India, some of its schools continued to develop in other regions like China, Tibet, Japan. Widely known is the school of Vajrayana of Tibetan Buddhism with its unique tantric elements.
In a way they were a reformist answer to a highly complex, ritualised and nondemocratic, caste brahmanic Vedic systems.
Jainism and Buddhism has appeared approximately in the 5th century BC and are connected to the historical persons of Mahavira (Jain Tradition) and Gautama Buddha (Buddhism). They are believed to be contemporaries and living in the same period.
What these unorthodox philosophies have in common, is first of all that they reject the authority of Vedas. But at the same time these both systems share many concepts of Vedic traditions. Such concepts as Karma, Rebirth, Samsara and Moksha.
Jainism strongly believes in individual nature of soul and personal responsibility for one's liberation. Jain philosophy states that Samsara (the World) is full of Himsa (violence). Jainism strongly emphasises Asceticism and Ahimsa (non-violence). According to Jains, one should direct all his/her efforts in the direction of Right Perception, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. All this is the right path towards liberation.
Buddhism is better known around the world thanks to its spread to many eastern countries besides India. It is a system of thought that started with the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama - the Buddha, the awakened one. Buddhism rejected the Vedic concepts of Brahaman - Ultimate Reality and Atman - individual soul, self.
Strong accent is on ethics - Dharma - duties and values, as well as on Impermanence of all material things, including body. Buddhism has strong accent on Ahimsa - non-violence. It also rejects eternal Soul and is talking about Non-Self.
After the death of Buddha, several competing systems arose and tried to systematise Buddhist philosophy.
Nowadays exist 2 major streams or Wheels: Hinayana - small vehicle (or Theravada Buddhism) and Mahayana - great vehicle.
When Buddhism has almost disappeared in India, some of its schools continued to develop in other regions like China, Tibet, Japan. Widely known is the school of Vajrayana of Tibetan Buddhism with its unique tantric elements.