Are we born from a universal intelligence, which gives birth to and is intertwined with the entire creation, as we know it? And if so, are we in our essence an indistinguishable part of this divine intelligence, much like a drop of water is distinct from and yet a part of the ocean?
Join Yogiraj Alan Finger, founder of ISHTA yoga for a course exploring Tantra philosophy and what it has to offer modern day man. Like modern science, Tantra cosmology seeks to understand the origin of life, and asks the same fundamental questions: Why are we here? How did the universe come about and where are we going.
According to the Big Bang theory of science, the universe comes from a primordial initial condition of nothing, or no thing. Thousands of years ago in India, the ancient Indian rishis, or sages, went into deep meditative states of consciousness in which they perceived a similar cosmology, described in both Vedanta and Tantra philosophy.
Fundamental to Tantric cosmology is the notion of an underlying unity between material cosmos (macrocosm), and the individual (microcosm), between cosmic and human levels of existence, Brahman and Atman.
Brahman is viewed as the universal intelligence, which gives birth to and is intertwined with creation, like a universal ocean of primordial intelligence. Atman, the individual self, is like a drop of water in that ocean. It is distinct from and yet a part of the ocean, and at the same time contains everything that the ocean has in it.
In this framework, the force that caused that drop to emerge is karma. Every individual has their own individual karma, which is part of the universal karma – the force that made us all be here. As such we’re all part of the universal force of intelligence playing out our own individual roles within the greater scheme of the cosmic design.
Inherent in Tantra is the belief that our essential nature is divine, perfect as it is, part of the universal consciousness, and filled with bliss. The practice of Tantra increases our awareness of this state of total liberation and gives us many tools to achieve the understanding of our true selves, and fulfill our role within the grand cosmic design.
Some of the Questions Alan Discusses Include:
- What practical insights does the ancient philosophy of Tantra have to teach us modern beings?
- What is the real meaning of the concept of karma, and does it mean that we have no free will?
- What are the implications for human life of conceiving us as part of a universal force of intelligence within the greater scheme of the cosmic design?
- If our essential nature is divine perfection, how can yogic practices help us increase our awareness of our deepest nature?
- Which are the tools that yoga and the Tantric practices offer to achieve a deeper understanding of our true selves?
THIs Course Also Includes:
- Recordings of All Webinar Sessions: It’s generally acknowledged that many people only retain 10-20 percent of what they learn in a workshop. You will get access to the recordings of both webinar sessions (both MP3 – downloadable and MP4 – streaming online), enabling you to go back and listen to the workshop as many times as you like.
- Transcripts of Both Sessions: Ever wanted to refer to a certain part of a course? Even the best note takers miss a point every so often. With the transcripts of the sessions, you can go back and refer to particularly important passages or clarify sections you were in doubt about.
This course qualifies for 2 CEs with Yoga Alliance.
