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Course Material
Post Graduate Programme in Management
2012-14
Self-Transformation: Indian Approaches
Faculty: C. Manohar Reddy
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
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COURSE OUTLINE
TITLE:
SELF-TRANSFORMATION: INDIAN APPROACHES
FACULTY: C. Manohar Reddy
OBJECTIVES:
This course is aimed at
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familiarising the participants with the world views and philosophies of life that
underlay the traditions of Hindu, Buddhist and Jaina thought;
helping them to examine their own world views and philosophies of life;
familiarising them with the different approaches to self-transformation suggested
by these ancient Indian traditions;
helping them to become familiar with the different traditional Indian practices and
techniques for self-transformation and;
encouraging them to take the initial steps towards self-transformation
COURSE CONTENTS:
Module - I
Introduction to the course; Meaning and purpose of life and the importance of
personal philosophy of life
Module - II
The Hindu world View:
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The true nature of the self and the world: Atman and Brahman
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The five sheaths (Pancha Koshas)
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Dharma: The cosmic moral order
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Doctrine of Karma and the cycle of births and deaths
The meaning and purposes of human life: The Purushardhas
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Importance of self-realisation and liberation
The four states of consciousness
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Module - III
Methods and Approches to self-transformation:
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Different paths for achieving self-transformation and liberation Bhakti, Jnana, Raja and Karma yogas
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The special message of The Song Celestial (Bhagavadgita):
The path of action (Karma Yoga)
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Asthanga yoga of Patanjali
Module IV
Practical steps and techniques of self-transformation
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Transforming the negative thought patterns and reprogramming the mind
Understanding the mind and the states of consciousness
Preliminary steps towards self-transformation
Preparing body and breath: Asana and Pranayama
Preliminary steps in meditation
Dhyana: Practices for concentration and meditation
Japayoga, Ajapa-Japa, Antar mouna, Inner visualisation and Yoga Nidra
Samatha and Vipassana: Training for concentration, awareness and equanimity
Module V
Buddhist and Jaina world-views:
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The nature of reality: Impermanence and egoless-ness
The four noble truths
Buddhist doctrine of rebirth
The dependent origination
The Buddha's noble eight-fold path
Atomic theory of Jainas
Jiva and Ajiva
The nature of self
Bondage and liberation
Module VI
Presentations by groups and review/reflections
COURSE CREDITS: 3
20 sessions (90 minutes each)
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TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODOLOGY
Teaching methodology will be a combination of lecture-cum-discussions based on
assigned readings/ / presentations, meditation and other practice exercises.
Participants will be encouraged to examine their world-view and philosophy of life
through specific assignments and undertake the practice of pranayama and meditation.
EVALUATION
Course evaluation will be based on:
Surprise Quizzes
30%
Take home assignments and book review
35%
Group Presentations
15%
End Term Viva-voce Examination
20%
ATTENDANCE POLICY: If a student’s attendance falls below 75%, his/her grade will be
reduced by10%.
PRE-REQUISITES:
NONE
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Morgan Kenneth, The Religion of Hindus
2. Swami Bhaskarananda, The Essentials of Hinduism
3. Hiriyanna M, The Essentials of Indian Philosophy
4. Hiriyanna M, Outlines of Indian Philosophy
5. Swami Abhedananda, Self Knowledge
6. Buddhist Missionary Society, Gems of Buddhist Wisdom
7. William Hart, Art of living
8. Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Meditations from the Tantras
9. Dharmananda K, Treasure of Dhamma
10. Thera Piyadassi, The Buddha’s ancient path
11. Krishna Sivaraman, Hindu Spirituality
12. Swami Rama, Path of fire and light-I
13. Mahathera Piyadassi, The Spectrum of Buddhism
14. Swami Rama, Path of fire and light-II
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PGP 2012 -14, Term - V
Self-Transformation: Indian Approaches
Detailed Course Schedule
Session-1
Topic: Course introduction and setting the expectations
Session- 2
Topic: Meaning and Purpose of life; Philosophy of life - Three fundamental questions
Pre-read: (Sessions 1 & 2)
1.The Purpose of Life
2. The search
3. Happiness
4.Editor’s Introduction
Sessions- 3 & 4
Topic: Indian philosophy and world view - The big picture
Topic: Distinction between Science and Philosophy and recap of all the previous ideas
Pre-read
1. The Creation Hymn from Rig Veda
2. History of Hinduism; God Realization; the Doctrine of Karma; Creation; Moksha
3.The Role of Man in Hinduism
Sessions- 5 & 6
Topic: Some traditional Indian practices and approaches to Self-Transformation:
Pranayama and other practices
- Guest Lecture by Sridhar Deshmukh:
Pre-read:
1.Yoga and Science- A comparative approach;
2.The First steps toward self-transformation; Preparing Body and Breath
3. Pranayama
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Session- 7
Topic: Meditation
Pre-read:
1.Just Say Om
2. What is Meditation
3.Why Meditation
Group Presentation: Meditation
Session- 8
Topic: The Essence of the Teachings of Upanishads
Pre-read:
1.’Vedic Religion and Philosophy’- from The Essentials of the Indian Philosophy
2.Knowledge of the Self
3. Search after the Self
Group Presentation: The Essence of the Teachings of Upanishads
Session - 9
Topic: Bhagavad Gita: Some Insights
Pre-read (Sessions 9 & 10)
1.Bhagavad Gita
Session -10
Topic: Essential Teachings of Bhagavad Gita
Group Presentation: The Essence of the Teachings of Bhagavad Gita
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Session-11
Topic: Four Paths to Liberation
Pre-read:
1.The Four Yogas
2.Who am I?
Group Presentation: Four Paths to Liberation- Jnana, Bhakti, Karma and Raja Yoga
Session-12 (Oct 18, 2012)
Topic: Asthanga Yoga
Pre-read:
1.Yoga: The Royal Path to Freedom
2.Yoga: The science of Religion
Group Presentation: Asthanga Yoga
Session 13 (Oct 19, 2012)
Topic: Yoga Nidra and other techniques for the inner mastery-I
Pre-read:
1.Yoga Nidra
2.Antar Mauna
Group Presentation: Yoga Nidra and other techniques for inner mastery
Session 14
Topic: Other techniques for inner mastery- II
Pre-read
1.Inner Visualization
2.Japa Yoga
Session-15
Topic: Teachings of The Buddha: Theravada Buddhism
Pre-read:
1.Early Buddhism
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2.The Noble Doctrine: The Uniqueness of Dhamma
3.The Three-fold Division of the Eight-Fold Noble Path
Group Presentation: Teachings of The Buddha: Theravada Buddhism
Session- 16
Topic: Vipassana Meditation
Pre-read
1.’The Day One Discourse’ to ‘Day Eleven Discourse’ from The Discourse Summaries
Group Presentation: Vipassana Meditation
Session-17
Topic: Teachings of The Buddha: Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism
Pre-read:
1.Meditation
Group Presentation: Teachings of The Buddha: Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism
Session-18
Topic: The Essence of Jainism and Materialism
Pre-read:
1.The Jaina Spirit and Spirituality
2.Materilism
Group Presentation: The Essence of Jainism
Session-19
Topic: ‘Learning from the course’: Brief presentations by the groups
Session- 20
Topic: Review and Reflections
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