12 Psychology Lessons from the Gita

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Admission Criteria

The course is open to anyone who wishes to understand the aspects of how the Bhagavad Gita has said the same things that many aspects of Modern Psychology expound. The course can done by any individual who wishes to blend the ideas from the Indian Knowledge System and Modern Psychology to understand self, others, and our relationships to things around us.

Course content

Module 1: Shraddha & Self Awareness
Trust and faith in ourselves is the key to perform any Sadhana to our best extent. There is no greater victory in the life of a human being than victory over the mind. He / She who has controlled the gusts of passion that arise within and the violent actions that proceed therefrom is the real hero.
In this module, we use an important psychology tool to understand our mind and find ways to conquer it.
Module 2: Our ahamkara’s need to control/make the most of time
One of the ways to test our ahamkara is to see how much we are able to free ourselves from the oppressive pressure of time. The constant craze for going faster and faster throws us more and more into the consciousness of time; and curiously enough, when we are oppressed by time, we make many mistakes.
In this module, we explore possible ways to free ourselves from the bondage of time.
Module 3: Our Samskaras & how we are obliged to act
Eating, exercising, and all activities that keep the body healthy for serving others can be considered sacraments.
In this module, we explore how action is better than inaction. We also dive deep into the psychological implications when our body is overfed / overstimulated or under-exercised.
Module 4: Becoming free from dukkha
Pain often accompanies the development of detachment. In every relationship, the cultivation of detachment is painful, because we must go against our self-will, opinions, and pleasures.
In this module, we explore how even in our most intimate personal relationships often there is this taint of trying to bend others to our will, of expecting others to conform to our image of what they should be. We experientially explore ways to go beyond our need to control others.
Module 5: Trishna (thirst for selfish actions) & its effect on our psyche
Driven by the motive for personal profit, our samkaras and vaasanas continually push us to work for money, power, and prestige. Our preoccupation with results makes us tense and deprives us of peace, causing anxiety to take a toll on our nervous system repeatedly.
In this module, we figure out ways to become aware of our samskaras. We have been so conditioned to search for happiness in sense-pleasure that defying these urges appears to be a denial of life itself.
Module 6: Building ekagratha (one-pointed focus) - A tapas
People whose attention wanders easily are subject to one of the greatest sources of suffering – boredom. The capacity to give our undivided attention is one of the essential ingredients of the learning process. Unfortunately, most of us cannot give our attention with complete freedom.
In this module, we figure out the process to build ekagratha. We find experiential ways to discipline the mind.
Module 7: Importance of Equanimity (Samathva) & Tranquility
Dvandva, the ‘pairs of opposites’ – happiness and sorrow, good and bad, pleasure and pain, and all the rest – are the very texture of Maya. Self-will thrives on these dualities, especially likes and dislikes. In the language of the Gita, Samatvam yoga ucyate: “Yoga is evenness of mind.”
In this module, we experientially understand how our mind loves the binary concept of approaching life and we dive deep with the help of psychological tools to go beyond the dualities of mind.
Module 8: Svadharma & its role on mental wellbeing

Svadharma is the action determined by one's nature, spiritual temperament and essential character. It is the natural instinct in all of us that stimulates us to act at a subconscious level, without thinking. When we go against our Svadharma, it plays a role in our mental and emotional wellbeing.
In this module, we explore different paths (across religions) - like the eightfold path, Pondichery Mother’s suggestions, etc that guide us in getting back to our Svadharama. We also notice how our psyche improves when we do this simple sadhana on a consistent basis.

Module 9: Increase your Willpower Quotient
Bhagavad Gita repeatedly emphasizes on two major ingredients to increase our WQ - Willpower Quotient. We are so poorly educated in the art of living that we prefer temporary satisfaction, even though it may lead to permanent loss.
In this module, we would be exploring how to strengthen our Willpower Quotient regularly with a powerful psychological tool. The transformation that we go through as we build our WQ would cause mindblowing shifts in our lives.
Module 10: Becoming our true self - Abhyasa
Whatever we think about most, whatever we labor for most, whatever we desire most, that will be the content of our consciousness at the time of death. When we think about something constantly, it sinks deep into our consciousness, and when the time for death comes we will be able to think of nothing else.
In this module, we explore Dr. Carl Jung’s teachings on deep consciousness and why most people live in constant fear. We explore ways to drop this fear with a powerful tool.
Module 11: Neuroplasticity & Value of Kshama
As the Compassionate Buddha said more than two thousand years ago, “Hatred will never cease by hatred at any time. Hatred ceases only through love. This is an eternal law.”
It is the nonviolent person who cannot be frightened; the violent person can always be threatened with greater violence. Competition has so distorted our vision that we are defensive towards even our dear ones.
In this module, we experientially learn what lasting joy is when we go beyond competition.
Module 12: Dhrasta - Living authentically
Meister Eckhart summarizes the truth of the Atman beautifully when he points out that the seed of God is latent in all of us. Sadly, one of the unfortunate trends of our modern civilization is described by that learned phrase, Cogito ergo sum: “I think, therefore I am.”
In this module, we see how to find lasting fulfilment in all that we do. We also explore a deep technique from psychology to live as the true Self.
Course Duration: 18 Sep 2024 to 27 Nov 2024

Once a week session on Zoom.

Wed from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.* 

Course Starts from 18 Sept 2024