1. After experiencing universities in India, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand, I have chosen VU to study Hinduism, and I am very grateful for that choice.
Above all, What I value the most in this course and what surprised me is that the professors themselves are putting a lot of effort into growing their spirituality rather than just researching knowledge.
These efforts truly make them treat students heartfully.
The lecturers have a belief that the course itself is a journey and life learning process for both students and themselves rather than achieving knowledge or certification.
As a student with many shortcomings, I was able to trust and rely on.
I believe that this course is suitable for anyone who wants to live a better life and wants to know themselves better.
In fact, our education in Korea is full of knowledge. However, instruction on understanding ourselves and having a proper worldview is lacking. This course will be the foundation to develop an understanding of what happiness is and how to live life fruitfully.
As a process of developing one's personality and learning knowledge together, I would like to confidently recommend a new trip to VU, the Hindu department.
2. Research with Hindu Worldviews
As a junior PhD scholar beginning my research journey in the field of Hindu Spirituality, this course enabled me to understand the academic terminology and what it means for my research. As such, it helped me form my own researcher positioning - e.g., reflect about my worldview and decide implications for the used methodology. Nowadays, there are more valid research paradigms than positivism and academic rigour is an imperative for all of them. This course can enable you to figure out which is your approach to quality research. Along with the definitions and reflections, it introduces the integrative paradigm as a way of seeing and doing research which I find especially valuable for research aiming for a social impact.
If you seek to understand terms such as research paradigm, ontology, epistemology, qualitative vs. quantitative research, worldview, etc. and learn about the integrative perspective, this course is for you!
3. What makes this program special and successful for me-
Post Graduate Diploma student- Integrative Spiritual Care
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Students receive a structured overview of various traditions and schools based on Hindu philosophy and worldview.
The program offers tools for an inclusive and integrative perspective on issues, without excluding any viewpoints or individuals.
Students are encouraged to think critically and creatively about how Hindu concepts can be made applicable for people. The aim is to provide personalized guidance for each individual—no dogmatic or one-size-fits-all approach.
Students are trained to support others in reconnecting with their own intuition and inner source, where all knowledge already resides. From there, individuals can shape their own personal journey. The Hindu spiritual caregiver plays a supportive, not directive, role in this process.
The students’ own spiritual development is an integral part of the program and receives significant attention. Embodied knowing is central.
Students receive personal attention from the mentors; the contact with mentors is accessible and approachable.
The program is delivered by an exceptionally knowledgeable, dedicated, and passionate team of internationally renowned scholars, experts, and teachers.
If you want to give your personal spiritual development a boost and further develop your ability to apply Hindu ethics for a diverse range of people—don’t miss this opportunity and sign up now!
4. Hinduism is not a religion or belief system, but a way of life as a search for the truth. The truth is different for everyone and depends on the perception of the truth. In the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta, the concept of "truth" has been deeply dissected. The courses I follow under the chair of Hindu, Department of Religion and Theology, VU provide direction in understanding and experiencing this immense and inexhaustible knowledge from the Hindu lens. Form and content are arranged in such a way that they remain captivating. The way of looking at knowledge takes you back to the heart of ancient literature. How these still apply today.