How does the Western vision of God differ from the Indian vision of the Goddess? Why is this important for personal, cultural and global growth? How can we integrate sacred masculine and sacred feminine to bring balance to self and world?
This online course is for students looking to spot the unconscious underpinnings of Western civilization, born of the masculine mythology of ancient Israel.
This (often unconscious) cultural conditioning impacts our relationship to everything from women, to empathy, to nurturance, to respect for the planet itself.
We compare the Ancient Israelite desert discourse of God to water goddesses of the Ancient Near East. We then look to the Great Goddess of Ancient India as an important counter narrative, so needed in these times.
Ultimately, we aim at balancing masculine and feminine in self, community, culture - and especially to foster an ecologically sound global consciousness.
This course will help you:
- Decode the masculine mythology underpinning western civilization with an eye-opening close reading of Genesis and Exodus
- Learn about water goddesses of the Ancient Near East and how they relate to the God’s desert discourse
- Learn the mechanics of feminine power outlined in the ancient Indian Sanskrit text “Greatness of the Goddess”
- Compare structurally opposed storyworlds of God the Father vs God the Mother
- Cultivate an appreciation for the feminine principle, manifest in all people, especially women, creatives, intuitives, in ecology, creativity, nurturance, the inner life
- Learn to integrate masculine and feminine to bring balance to self, community, world
This 4-part on-demand online course is taught by scholar of Indian mythology and The Stories Behind the Poses author Dr. Raj Balkaran.
Course Structure
Module 1: Decoding the Desert Discourse
Module 2: Faces of Fertility
Module 3: The Greatness of the Goddess
Module 4: Bringing Balance
6+ Hours of Video Lessons
Valuable for the simply curious, longtime yogis, expert practitioners and everyone in between
Downloadable Notes
Easily follow along with and refer back to the class slides
Access Anytime, Anywhere
Whether day or night, wherever you are, you have forever access to this on-demand course
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Applications
Learn mantra and other techniques to apply teachings to your life
Join The Indian Wisdom School
Become a part of our community and gain access to exclusive events and lessons
Yoga Alliance Credit
This course counts as 12 hours of YA Continuing Education Credit
"I first came across Dr. Balkaran through his work with the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and have since taken a number of courses with him, all of which have been fabulous. Dr. Balkaran has a gift for synthesizing complex information and teaches with a storytelling style that supports comprehension."
Natalie Rousseau
Yoga Educator
"Dr. Balkaran is a teacher who understands the needs and quests of today’s spiritual seekers and practitioners and his School is a unique and a much-awaited opportunity for any interested-minded students to access the complex realm of the Indian philosophy and mythology explained in an approachable and engaging manner."
Aijan Kenenbaeva
Yoga Practitioner and Hinduism Student
"As a graduate student in the blossoming field of Yoga Studies, I cannot express the proper gratitude for Dr. Raj and his method of mystical swagger. He has tremendously assisted my personal understanding of inherently foreign concepts embedded within Indian wisdom and myth."
Dustin Nicholas Holmes
Naropa University, Wisdom Traditions
M.A. Yoga Studies
"I have greatly enjoyed taking Dr. Balkaran’s online classes! His style of presenting content is a rich synthesis of rigorous academic scholarship and his own experiential insights which add depth, humor and clarity to the often misconstrued concepts of Indian mythology."
Srinalini Sankar
French Teacher and Lifelong Student
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Raj Balkaran is the founder of The Indian Wisdom School, scholar, and author, including for the popular book this course is based on, The Stories Behind the Poses. He teaches a number of courses through the Indian Wisdom School, the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, Yogic Studies, and Embodied Philosophy. He also hosts the New Books in Indian Religions podcast.
Before becoming a scholar, Dr. Balkaran was initiated into Indian Wisdom Traditions by multiple lineal teachers and apprenticed with a renowned Indian spiritual master for twelve years. For the past two decades, he has been immersed in daily spiritual practice and study, cultivating a deep understanding of these traditions.
