Date: 09/23/2018
Inspired by divine revelations, Sri Aurobindo synthesized various yoga traditions, naming his formulation “Integral Yoga.” In the process of writing, Sri Aurobindo would silence his mind, allowing himself to become an instrument of the higher divine force and scribing the divinely-inspired writings as they flowed through him. Given this process as well as Sri Aurobindo’s training in Victorian English, his writing can be difficult to follow and comprehend. His disciple, Dr. Haridas Chaudhuri, who presented Integral Yoga in a lucid manner without simplifying his ideas, beautifully filled this gap. In addition, Dr. Chaudhuri made his own unique contributions to Integral Yoga, adapting it for western audiences. Based on Dr. Chaudhuri’s book Integral Yoga, this talk outlines some of his renditions on Integral Yoga and celebrates his profound contributions to what has come to be known as “The San Francisco Renaissance.” This is a continuation of talks given in June and August this year. Specifically, we will be focusing on the topic “The Synthesis of Yogas.”
Kundan Singh, PhD, is a scholar-practitioner of Integral Yoga and a professor who teaches Transpersonal Psychology, Integral Psychology ad Philosophy, Cultural and Cross-Cultural Psychology, Hinduism, and Buddhism. The intersection of postmodern and postcolonial thoughts, including postmodern philosophy of science, with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Integral psychology and philosophy of Sri Aurobindo is a motivational area of academic interest for him.
Date: 09/30/2018
In celebration of Gandhi Ji’s birthday, Sur Laya Sangam will offer hymns and verses which were sung in his ashrams and prayer gatherings during his lifetime. Additional hymns will also be shared in the spirit of the Mahatma. Gandhi Ji’s efforts during the freedom struggle in India were not only to bring about outer freedom but also to fuel the inner liberation of the soul. The music he engaged is imbued with the principles of Satyagraha. It provided inspiration and strength to those aspiring for peace and still holds universal relevance for our times. Texts and translations will be provided for all.
The Sur Laya Sangam singers have been guided in music by the late Sri Karunamayee for many years and are dedicated to sustaining India’s rich tradition of spiritual music. They aspire to touch the depths of life through their singing and to share its intrinsic bliss, harmony and peace with all.
Date: 10/07/2018
Date: 10/14/2018
Chassidism, the impassioned ethical-mystical movement which swept Eastern Europe in the eighteenth century seems to be the embodiment of the Jewish past. Those who stumble upon Chassidic neighborhoods to find men sporting caftans, long beards and payis (earlocks), women in head scarfs, shaytlech (wigs) and modest dress, and people speaking Yiddish everywhere, feel they have discovered the lost world of their grandparents. In fact, the Chassidic community is experiencing a population explosion and is very much part of the contemporary Jewish landscape.
This Power Point glossary of terms, supplemented with DVD documentary film, will be a wonderful opportunity to gain insights into the lifestyle and practices of this ultra-Orthodox sub-culture, which vehemently opposes the onslaught of modernity.
Educator, writer, and Yiddish translator, Ken Blady was born in Paris, France, and grew up in Chassidic Brooklyn where he attended yeshivas and rabbinical seminary. A San Francisco Bay Area resident since 1972, Ken has a BA in History from the UC Berkeley and an MA in Clinical Counseling from California State University East Bay. He is the author of “The Jewish Boxers’ Hall of Fame,” “Jewish Communities in Exotic Places,” and translator of five works from Yiddish. A popular lecturer on a variety of Jewish themes, Ken has been featured on a number of radio and TV talk shows and educational programs, including The Voice of Israel and The History Channel.
