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© THE ANCIENT COURSE

INDIAN HISTORY, CLASSICAL PRACTICES OF MEDITATION AND MILENARY CULTURES OF ANCIENT YOGA

AND SAMKHYA PHILOSOPHY

1 MONTH ONLINE COURSE

https://www.fincaelefante.org/

The Ancient Course seeks to put in a wider perspective three of the main classical areas of Indian thought related to the evolution of consciousness: the Samkhya philosophical system, the physical practices of ancient yoga, and the classical meditation techniques to approach the mind from its subtle forces of energy. In few words, the course will deeply elaborate the following zones of classical Indian culture:

HISTORY Through informative tables and schemes, the course approaches the history of yoga, meditation and the fact of evolution of consciousness as a human principle. Chronological explanation of India’s ancient literature alongside its main associated classical schools of thought, will also be part of this section. SAMKHYA In the Samkhya system, for the first time in the history of the world, the complete independence and freedom of the human mind, its full confidence in its own powers, were exhibited. It is definitely a notable attempt in the realm of pure philosophy. Specifically, in this course, the scheme about evolution of consciousness as the main objective of the human experience, will be detaily explained. YOGA The ancient sages of India had a good working knowledge of what may be called the science of metaphysics, and were quite familiar with the powers of the mind. They tell us that we can acquire the power of seeing and knowing without the help of the outer senses, and can become independent of the activity which we exercise through the physical senses and the brain. The yoga helps us to reach a higher level of consciousness, through a transformation of the psychic organism, which enables it to get beyond the limits set to ordinary human experience. In this course we will be delving into the ancient physical practices of yoga specially directed towards experiencing the classical tenets of Samkhya philosophy. MEDITATION Both, Samkhya and the ancient practices of meditation allow us to come into contact with a much more subtle internal dimension to accelerate the evolutionary processes of consciousness, which is why we are here. Various meditation techniques have been proposed thousands of years ago for such purposes.

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YOGA SUTRAS Emphasis will be put on the topic of meditation seen from the Yoga Sutra’s perspective. An essential part of ancient yoga reserved for the knowledge of the mind and the transcendence of the soul. THEORY AND PRACTICE There will be theoretical sessions aimed at analyzing the main concepts of Samkhya philosophy, ancient yoga and classical meditation. There will also be practical sessions to experience from the body-mind structure itself all the that is covered in the theoretical sessions. COURSE PROGRAM

THE ANCIENT COURSE (ONLINE)

SESSION GUIDED BY SCHEDULE

Samkhya Theory Finca Elefante Thursday 7:00PM-8:30PM

History of Classical Meditation & Ancient Yoga

Finca Elefante Friday 7:00PM-8:30PM

Meditation in Yoga Sutras Finca Elefante Saturday 7:00PM-8:30PM

Classical Meditation & Ancient Yoga (Practice)

Finca Elefante Sunday 8:00AM-10:00AM 6:00PM-8:00PM

Weekly Session for Questions & Answers

Finca Elefante Sunday 3:00PM-4:30PM

* All schedules according to Costa Rica time. * Beginning November 5th and finishing November 29th 2020. * Participants must attend virtually all sessions to obtain the certificate. * Sessions will not be recorded. TOPICS PER SESSION

Samkhya Theory

• History of ancient India according to classical schools of thought. • History of Samkhya philosophy. • Samkhya and Yoga as a spiritual system. • The scheme of evolution and involution of consciousness. • The concepts of Gunas and Bhavas.

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History of Classical Meditation and Ancient Yoga

• The concept of Bhavas for an ancient yoga perspective. • Ancient yoga as a physical preparation for meditation (purification of the body-

mind structure, diet and exercise) • Scientific approach of classical meditation (classical concepts of anatomy and

psychology such as energy fields, cellular intelligence, emotions, thought, sensations, mental noise, being, silence...)

• History and general aspects of classical meditation. • History and contribution of The Yoga Institute.

Meditation in Yoga Sutras

• History of Yoga Sutras and Patanjali. • Modifications of the mind (vritis) and the concepts of abhyasa and vairagya. • The obstacles of yoga and meditation under the classical psychology of Yoga. • Techniques for meditation in the Yoga Sutras.

Classical Meditation and Ancient Yoga (Practice)

• Ancient breathing exercises or pranayamas. • Bhavas (ancient psychological attitudes) during postures (asanas) as an

emotional basis for meditation (cultural and meditative asanas) • Anitya bhavana meditation; nispanda bhavana meditation. • Body-mind purification during asana and meditation practice (nadis and inner

centres of energy) • How to design an ancient yoga and classical meditation personal practice

according to one’s own physical and psychological needs.

Weekly Session for Q&A

Meant for questions, comments, doubts or any similar consultations from participants regarding the topics of the week. There will also be review questions for the participants.

COURSE CERTIFICATION Participants who successfully finish the course will receive a certificate of completion granted by Finca Elefante Atenas Costa Rica as a center recolonized by The Yoga institute Mumbai India. The certificate will also have the endorsement of The International Yoga Alliance as a course under the YACEP category (Yoga Alliance Continual Education Provider), which means that those who are already members of The Yoga Alliance, can officially use the hours of this course as a report of their personal training within the association.

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COURSE TEACHERS Antonio has more than 20 years' experience in classical meditation, ancient yoga and eastern philosophy. For many years he lived, studied and worked in India, a country he visited for the first time in 2004 when he entered the ancient practices of yoga and meditation. At that time, he studied classical-ancestral yoga in Tamil Nadu with T.K.V. Desikachar (son of the legendary T. Krishnamacharya), and traditional Hatha Yoga at the Vijnana Kala Vedi School of Traditional Indian Arts in Kerala, in a program sponsored by UNESCO.

In 2011 he moved to the city of Mumbai to study classical philosophy of yoga at The Yoga Institute, the oldest yoga school in the world, where he later worked as a teacher and coordinator of international academic programs. There he lived for many years with the Yogendra Family, founding lineage of The Yoga Institute, whose origins go back to the sage Sri Madhavadasji of 1798. In 2014 he began a journey through the states of Punjab, Kashmir and Uttarakhand in northern India to investigate about ancient meditation techniques in mountains and deserts between the Indian-Pakistan border. His last years in Asia took him to Nepal, where he delved into ancestral meditative practices of remote villages in the Himalayas. Also, from Nepal he went on photographic trips to Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia. Later, the twists of life took Antonio to work for a few months at the Costa Rican Embassy in New Delhi, only to discover that that was simply not his place, and finally settles in Costa Rica in 2017. Note: this program has been updated for the course to be held on November 2020.