Hindu Scholars

The Philosophy of the Yoga Sutra with Karen O'Brien-Kop This course takes an in-depth look at the philosophy underpinning the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali. Over 5 lectures Karen explains the historical and cultural background in which the text was compiled. Each chapter and section of the Yoga Sutra is explained in detail, unpacking the deeper meaning of the sutras. This is a very clear and highly informative look at this popular and influential text. Session 1: Overview & historical background Session 2: First chapter — Samadhi Session 3: Second chapter — The practice of yoga Session 4: Third chapter — Extraordinary powers or siddhis Session 5: Fourth chapter — The goal of yoga practice, kaivalya Dr. Karen O'Brien-Kop is Lecturer in Asian Religions and Ethics at the University of Roehampton. She was formerly Senior Teaching Fellow in the Department of Religions and Philosophies at SOAS University of London.

In this 5 lecture series, Dr. James Mallinson takes a deeper look at the Hatha Yoga lineage. He covers many areas from the texts to the practitioners, the philosophies to the practices. James is one of the world's foremost experts on Hatha Yoga. His work has uncovered some of the most recent findings in the Hatha Yoga story making a major contribution to the interpretation of Yoga in the modern world. This series is a fascinating look at the connections which led the ancient world of Yoga into the modern forms of practice today. Session 1: Prehistory of Hatha Yoga Session 2: Hatha Yoga textual traditions pre-15th century Session 3: Hatha Yoga textual traditions post-15th century Session 4: Practices of Hatha Yoga Session 5: Practitioners and purpose of Hatha Yoga In addition to his textual studies, Dr. Mallinson's work on the history of yoga is informed by the several years he has spent living with traditional yogis in India.

Over 4 sessions Ruth will explore the roles women have made in the history of ancient and modern yoga practice. Session 1 — Ruth discusses themes such as power, control and purity, types of female practitioners and their relation to modern practitioners. Session 2: Ruth discusses the role of gendered polarities in the traditions and the metaphysics of gender. Session 3: In this session Ruth explores the gendered yogic body. Session 4 : In this session Ruth discusses the issues of women in globalized modern yoga

Over five lectures, Gavin Flood, professor of Hindu Studies and Comparative Religion in the Theology and Religion Faculty at Campion Hall at Oxford University, gives an overview of the history, theory and practice of Tantra. He explores aspects from the Śaiva Siddhānta tradition to the Non-Saiddhāntika, to Buddhist Tantra. He gives an overview of the many developments in thought, cosmologies and the varied and fascinating practices that have emerged over the centuries. Session 1 - Tantra in history, an overview Session 2 - The Śaiva Siddhānta Tradition, rituals, cosmology, initiation and liberation Session 3 - The Non-Saiddhāntika traditions including the path of purity and the path of power Session 4 - Tantric Śaiva views of the self, the porous self & the gnostic self, Tantric meditation Session 5 - Buddhist Tantra — Vajrayāna and the influence of Śaivism