Guru's Grace
Traditional Teachings without the Trappings
Why is the student-teacher relationship so crucial to Indian Wisdom Traditions?
How you successfully study/teach traditional Indian Wisdom Teachings in the West?
How do you steer clear of the trappings of tradition while still respecting it?
There are so many teachers out there claiming to offer authentic Indian Wisdom, whether in yoga, philosophy, or spirituality. Are they qualified to do so? How do students know what to look for and what to look out for? How do they navigate issues of cultural appropriation while answering the call to learn and teach ancient Indian wisdom?
What elements of the traditional ancient Indian student-teacher relationship (paramparā) must we maintain to receive wisdom teachings? What do we need to modify in our modern times?
This course teaches serious Indian wisdom students to engage tradition and traditional teachings while simultaneously steering clear of the trappings of tradition and skillfully navigating issues of cultural appropriation.
Study with renowned teacher Dr. Raj Balkaran who has received advanced academic training and advanced spiritual training. Learn from his vast experience with a variety of healthy student-teacher relationships and from apprenticing with his own master to teaching a variety of students.
Learn how to recognize and make the most of authentic teachers while also learning how to spot pretenders and engage tradition in a grounded manner.
***This course counts as 12 hours of Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Credit***
Classes include
- Academic content
- Live storytelling
- Esoteric wisdom teachings
- Examples and case studies
- Personal experiences
Learning Outcomes
- The traditional Indian vision of student-teacher relationships.
- The imperative of Guru’s Grace for certain levels of transmission.
- The virtues, and pitfalls, of being in a traditional student-teacher relationship.
- Modifications required to make this relationship work in our modern world.
- Different kinds of student-teacher relationships.
- Insights on how to make the most of authentic teachers.
- Tips on spotting and steering clear of toxic teachers.
- Tools for successfully navigating issues of cultural appropriation.
- Tools for learning and teaching Indian wisdom in a grounded way.
Course Outline
Lifetime Access to Videos
Module 1
Traditional Transmission
Module 2
Modern Trappings
Module 3
Toxic Teachers
Module 4
Teachings without Trappings
Week I
Traditional Transmission
What does a qualified teacher look like? A proper student?
Learn what traditional student-teacher transmission looks like and
why it is the bedrock of Indian wisdom traditions.
We will look at verses from the Guru Gītā (you'll have access to Dr. Balkaran's new translation of the text).
Week 2
Modern Trappings
Can the traditional student-teacher relationship function in the modern Western world?
Learn the reasons why it breaks down and what to watch for.
Week 3
Toxic Teachers
What warning signs are there that a teacher may be inauthentic or toxic?
How does one detox from such a path once sucked in?
Learn strategies for protecting yourself from such situations.
Week 4
Teachings without Trappings
What are the different types of Indian wisdom teachers?
How do you go about finding one that suits your needs?
Learn to share teachings yourself in a respectful and appropriate manner while
successfully navigating issues of cultural appropriation.
Course Instructor
Dr. Raj Balkaran is an expert in Indian traditions. Skilled at applying ancient Indian teachings to modern life, he dovetails academic training, live storytelling, and life wisdom to nourish his students’ hearts and minds alike.
He is also an avid spiritual practitioner and initiate into ancient Indian wisdom practices, which he has been engaged in for nearly two decades. He has literally done thousands of hours of mantra practice.
He has extensive experience teaching academics, continuing studies learners, and practitioners alike, and is a seasoned online educator who also teaches at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, Yogic Studies, and Embodied Philosophy.
See https://rajbalkaran.com for more information.
Questions about this course?
Contact him directly at [email protected].
