Amrtabindu Upanishad

Course Duration: 

Course Duration: 32 weeks (September 2024- June 2025)

Course Description:

The Amritabindu Upanishad is a concise yet profound text that addresses the essence of spiritual wisdom and the nature of the mind. This course offers an in-depth exploration of the Upanishad through the illuminating commentary of Swami Tejomayananda, blending classical teachings with practical insights relevant for modern spiritual seekers.

The course will guide participants through the key verses of the Amritabindu Upanishad, which expound on the importance of mind control, the purification of thoughts, and the journey from intellectual understanding to experiential realization.

Participants will explore how to transcend the limitations of the mind, align with the truth of the Self, and ultimately experience the bliss of oneness with the divine. The course is designed for intermediate students with a foundational knowledge of Vedanta and is structured into 32 sessions, held weekly over the course of a year. Students will be part of a discussion group with whom they will interact weekly during class.

Seeker/Student profile (for whom this course is most suitable):

This intermediate-level course is designed for students who already have a foundational understanding of Vedanta and are ready to deepen their study of spiritual concepts. The ideal candidate for this course would have the following characteristics:

• Prior Study: Students should have completed an introductory course in Vedanta (FVC, Self Unfoldment, etc.) and have a basic understanding of key concepts such as Atman (Self), Brahman (Ultimate Reality), the nature of the mind.
• Scriptural Familiarity: Familiarity with key texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, Tattva Bodha, and other introductory Upanishads is recommended.
• Experience: Students should have a consistent meditation practice, ideally incorporating techniques such as japa, and dhyana, experience in spiritual study groups or participation in Vedanta-related workshops or retreats.

Weekly Commitment:

Class takes place on zoom every Tuesday from 8:45pm-10pm ET (holidays will be announced in class in advance)

1. This course requires a commitment to regular weekly attendance, active listening and reflection.
2. We highly recommend a minimum of 1 hours of self-study/reflection per week in addition to the above attendance requirement.
3. Participation in group discussion during class and in our online chat forum is highly recommended for a deeper understanding of the text.
4. Students should be able to allocate a minimum of 2.5 hours each week for reading, contemplation, journaling, meditation practice and class attendance.

Learning Objectives (key outcomes that you can achieve by the end of the course):

The primary learning objective of this course is to deepen the students’ understanding and experiential knowledge of key Vedantic principles as elucidated in the Amritabindu Upanishad, with a particular emphasis on the nature of the mind, the process of purification, and the attainment of self-realization through meditation

• The mind’s role as both an obstacle and a tool in the pursuit of liberation.
• Practical techniques for mind purification and meditation as explained by Swami Tejomayananda.
• How to apply the principles of non-duality (Advaita) in daily life.
• The transformative power of focused contemplation and disciplined study.

Requirements:

• Each student is required to acquire a hard copy of the Amritabindu Upanishad text by Swami Tejomayananda prior to class commencement:
  • Chinmaya Publications USA
  • Chinmaya Publications Canada
  • Chinmaya Publications India
  • e-books are also available on Kindle, google books
• Each student is required to reflect on the Reflection Assignment of the Week (RAW) given  and share their insights on atleast 2 of the RAWs per month on our websight