A Practical Approach to Bhakti Yoga

A RATIONAL APPROACH TO BHAKTI YOGA
4-hour workshop for all levels of yoga teachers and practitioners

Part 1: Demystifying the Gita
The first half of the workshop addresses basic concepts found in the essential Bhakti yoga text Bhagavad Gita. Among the candidates for discussion:

Ahimsa: How to reconcile yoga teachings with a text that ends with war?
Karma: Why do bad things happen to good people?
Reincarnation: Is there real evidence that consciousness survives death of the body?
Sex: Are joys of flesh life-enhancing or spirit-depleting?
Yoga: How can we keep the satisfaction going long after leaving the studio?
Gurus: Are spiritual teachers necessary for spiritual progress?
Detachment: Where is the line separating a yogic attitude from indifference?
Krishna: Is the speaker of the Gita a metaphor? A teacher? The Supreme Being?
Evil: Theodicy asks, “How do we justify evil if the creation is good?”
Dharma: What to do when “the right thing” conflicts with necessity?

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Part 2: Everyday Bhakti Yoga
The second half of the workshop is a practical exploration of daily spiritual practices. Topics include:

Sadhana: Simple things to do each day to sustain calm and foster good judgement
Mantra: The yoga of sound is easy, refreshing, and has instant effect
Prasadam: The critical importance in yoga of wise choices of food and diet
Journaling: Practical tips for keeping a spiritual journal
Friends: Sangha, good company, is at the heart of bhakti practice
Seva: The medically proven salutary effects of serving others

Recommended reading: Gita Wisdom: An Introduction to India’s Essential Yoga Text

The presenter: For the past 40 years Joshua M. Greene (Yogesvara) has taught Bhakti on the undergraduate and graduate levels and at yoga studios internationally.