Discover the open architecture of Hinduism
The curriculum incorporates selected Hindu texts, spiritual traditions and lived practices to build an adequate foundation to make sense of Hinduism from one’s own disciplinary background of application: theory, research and/or practice.
The course begins by establishing the essentials for understanding Hindu texts, including Sanskrit language, Hindu epistemology, and methods of hermeneutical inquiry, to prepare researchers for exploring spiritual transformation within Hindu worldviews. It then delves into categories of texts significant in Hinduism, such as Śruti (revelation texts) and Smṛti (non-revelation texts), examining themes drawn from scriptures like the Vedas, Vedāngas, Itihāsa (the Mahābhārata and Rāmāyana), texts related to the four puruṣārtha (human life goals), Purānas (religious epics), Kāvya (poetical literature), Darśanas (philosophies), as well as other Śāstras and Samhitas covering diverse aspects like politics, medicine, ethics, culture, arts, and society. This exploration aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how Hindu texts and traditions facilitate spiritual transformation.
Embrace the richness of diverse Hindu philosophical traditions and their profound implications for spiritual living. These traditions enjoy their distinct presence and at the same time, also take part in issues of inter-philosophical and/or multi-philosophical interest among them. The course introduces the Hindu philosophical systems (Darśana). It provides a background for reflection upon the philosophical unity that underlies all of them in theory as well as practice. This course delves into the interconnectedness of various Darśanas (Hindu philosophies), examining their distinct presence while also exploring their collective contribution to a holistic worldview. It comprises themes based on selected content from six major Vedic Darśanas: Sāṃkhya-Yoga, Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika and Mīmāṃsā-Vedānta. Additionally, engage in discussions on contemporary issues, reflecting on how these philosophies inform personal spiritual practice and foster self-awareness.
Thinkers, researchers and policy makers, all have highlighted the human mindset as the major factor behind many of the top global risks and challenges that we are facing or will face in future. That makes it imperative to study the human mind and the nature of connection it shares with the world. That precisely falls in the domain of spirituality. The course consists of foundational concepts of spirituality, mind and self in general, and in particular from Hindu Psychology in Vedānta, Upaniṣads and Śrīmadbhagavadgītā. This is followed by examining its implications on connectedness with the world around, viewed under different categories: the living and the non-living; nature and the artificial and so on. Finally deliberating on Hindu beliefs and practices towards sustainability and its potential implications to contemporary challenges such as sustainable development goals (UN-SDGs), Fourth industrial revolution and Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity (VUCA) challenges. The participants will reflect upon alternative approaches and new paradigms for businesses as well as society at both levels: Micro (dealing with issues like work/life balance, work relationships, the way we view our business objectives) as well as macro (relationships with other businesses, society, nature and other stakeholders). The course intends to support participants in developing self-awareness, discover their potential towards achieving (and sustaining) success in their personal and professional life as well as understanding the potential of spirituality in the context of society aiming for sustainable well being for all.
Yoga has always held a central position in the origins of Hindu spiritual wisdom and material knowledge, both of which emerged from the quest of self realisation and/or search for meaning in everything. The current age, often referred to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, creates several possibilities and challenges which require us to rethink who we are as human beings and the meaning of human life. Yoga could be the gateway to yet another spiritual adventure for self realisation and meaning in the 21st century.
The course positions Yoga as the praxeology of integrative spirituality anchored in Hinduism. This course provides the foundation to realise the potential of yoga as a philosophy and practice through theory covering its main concepts. The course blends the theoretical content on Yoga’s origins and its philosophy with practical content with current research, illustrations and practices in the classroom. The course encourages participants to analyse the yoga concepts, and apply them in the context of self, society and leadership. The course will help them reflect on their own practice of self-awareness in chosen personal and professional scenarios like coping with VUCA context, ethical decision making, intuitive thinking, entrepreneurial creativity.
This course delves into the emergence, evolution, and contemporary significance of the Hindu worldview within the backdrop of the technological era. The course provides a foundational understanding of contemporary debates within the Hindu context, examining the relevance of Hindu concepts to present-day issues spanning existential inquiries and ethical considerations such as human rights, equality, sexuality, war and peace, euthanasia, and abortion. Additionally, the course explores the interpretation of life's experiences, the significance of festivals and pilgrimages, and the roles of agents within Hinduism. Emphasizing the demands and opportunities presented by the digital age, it examines how digital methods can be harnessed for inquiry, practice, and belief, fostering an integrative and holistic worldview. It covers the defining narratives of the dynamic balance between maintaining social order through public Hindu rituals and practices, and private devotion or renunciation, towards the pursuit of individual spiritual enlightenment or the quest for ultimate truth.