Draṣṭā // Course

Principles of Sanātana Dharma

This course provides a big picture overview and context for those willing to learn about Sanātana Dharma. Traversing Vedas, Upaniṣadas, Darśanas and Dharma, it provides the learner with a bearing in the exploration of Vedic wisdom.

20 Apr - 04 May 2024 Completed
About the Course Takeaways and Audience Know your Instructor

Overview

Sanātana Dharma is a uniquely holistic and universal approach to well-being that is based on the insights and teachings of the great ṛṣis, ācāryas and gurus who have emerged from the Bhāratīya civilization. The ethos is based on several texts, with the core nucleus enshrined in the revealed knowledge of the Vedas, the message of which has been adapted across several languages and cultures as per changing times by the ācāryas. 

Learning the founding principles of these eternal laws or Sanātana Dharma, is helpful for seekers who may have already started, or are about to embark, on the path towards the ultimate answer to the greatest question- Who am I? This kernel of Self-Realization is the gift of Sanātana Dharma to the world, which is plagued by several burning issues, such as mental health, environmental issues, political turmoil based on identity obfuscation, among others.

Intent

The learning content is based entirely on sources from the guru paramparā and dhārmika scholars. The key learning outcomes of the course are to provide a holistic comprehension of the core principles, set the context for seekers at any stage of their journey of seeking and how they can contribute to the fostering of dharma in everyday living.

Structure

It progresses by beginning with the core nucleus, ergo - the Vedas; Subsequently, the core texts of Sanātana Dharma which manifest themselves in various languages and cultures across Bhārata, carrying the same message, are elaborated.

Contents

Day 1

Context Setting, Misconceptions and Origin of the Vedas :

Day 2

Structure of the Vedas, Core texts and adaptations across Bhārata :

Day 3

Upaniṣadas, Vedic Terminologies and sādhanā catuṣṭaya :

Day 4

Bhāratīya Darśanas, Core Principles :

Day 5

Varṇāśrama, Women and Bhārata's Educational Heritage :

Day 6

Sanātana Dharma in context, Īśvaraḥ :

Day 7

Vedānta- Schools of Thought, Brief Summary, Comparison :

Day 8

Dharma and Svādhyāya Guide :

Key Takeaways

Overview of the core nucleus - the Vedas

Misconceptions and the reasons for their prevalence

Vedānta

Summaries of the interpretations of Vedic wisdom by the greatest ācāryas of Bhārata.

Darśanas

Brief overviews of the Nāstika and Āstika branches of Sanātana Dharma

Dispelling Misconceptions

Varṇāśrama Dharma - varṇa vs 'caste'

Dharma

The ten steps everyone can follow for a Dhārmika future.

Who is this course for?

  • The course is targeted at seekers across all stages. For beginners, it will provide the context and roadmap on where and how to begin. For advanced seekers, it will give nuggets of wisdom that are not commonly found anywhere. The primary focus, however, are those with an intermediate level of understanding and the intention to get a coherent narrative of the story of Sanātana Dharma.

Know your Instructor

SN Sudharsan

SN Sudharsan

SN Sudharsan is a researcher of Indian Knowledge Traditions, focusing on Dharma, Bhāratīya Darśana, Advaita Vedānta, Varkari Sampradāya and Saṃskṛta. He has pursued in-depth research and studies in these areas, having completed 33+ programs over the past 5 years, from Chinmaya International Foundation and IIT-R.

SN Sudharsan is the author of an English novel as well as 4 English language translations and commentaries on Sant Sri Jnaneshwar Maharaj's literature. He is a self-learned polyglot with near-native proficiency across six languages - Tamil, Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu and English, advanced levels in Sanskrit in addition to 5 more foreign languages.

He is a learning professional with 20+ years of experience across the academia, startup, and corporate sectors. His educational background is in linguistics, TESOL, law, and computer science engineering. He's also an accomplished singer and a former AIR artist, having won and performed in several national-level concerts, and stage programs.

SN Sudharsan lives in Chennai and is researching the history and future of Indian sociolinguistics in the context of Sanātana Dharma, to apply and crystalize it for the modern world through courses, writings, and talks.

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Starts at ₹500 per month.