Why is the student-teacher relationship so crucial to Indian Wisdom Traditions?
How you successfully study/teach traditional Indian Wisdom Teachings in the West?Â
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 (paramparÄ) 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.
This course will help you:
- Learn the history and importance of the teacher-student relationship in Indian wisdom traditions
- Understand what to look for in Indian wisdom teachers
- Gain insight into navigating issues of cultural appropriation
- Honor tradition by learning from a member of an ancient Indian living wisdom lineage
Learning Outcomes:
- The traditional Indian vision of student-teacher relationships.
- The imperative of Guruâs 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.
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: Traditional Transmission
Module 2: Modern Trappings
Module 3: Toxic Teachers
Module 4: Teachings without Trappings
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."Â
Natalie Rousseau
Yoga Educator
"Dr. Balkaran is a teacher who understands the needs and quests of todayâs 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. Balkaranâs 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.
