Edwin Bryant – Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali 8-Module: This extensive 8-module course, led by renowned scholar Edwin Bryant, provides a deep exploration of the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali, a foundational text in classical yoga philosophy. Participants will study each of the 195 sūtras in detail, examining their historical context, philosophical significance, and practical applications. The course covers key concepts such as the nature of consciousness, the path to enlightenment, and techniques for meditation and self-discipline. Through lectures, discussions, and practical exercises, students will gain a thorough understanding of Patañjali’s teachings and how they can be applied to enhance their personal and spiritual practice.

This 8-Module course will undertake a close reading of yoga as presented in the traditional Hindu sourcebook on the subject, the 3rd century Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali, where it is defined as “the stilling of all states of mind” (i.e. meditative practices).

The Yoga Sūtras is the classical text on meditative practice accepted as authoritative by all the orthodox Hindu schools, and our reading of it will be informed by the primary commentaries that have elaborated on the source text over the centuries prior to the colonial period. We will thus read the most important sections of the Yoga Sūtras of Patanjali yoga and engage it through pre-modern perspectives. In other words, we will encounter what yoga has meant in Indian traditions for two millennia prior to being transplanted to the West.

Archive: https://archive.ph/wip/94KxJ