Summary Description

This is a new pilot course being introduced in 2025 involving the study of Adi Shankaracharya’s philosophical treatise known as Viveka Chudamani (crest-jewel of discernment or discrimination).

Course Entry Prerequisites
A desire to study Sanskrit through this work and then be able to translate and understand other Sanskrit scriptures independently. Learn the difference between the real and the ephemeral in this world.

Duration and Timings

• One-year duration (may be extended to cover the whole treatise properly). Starts from June
• 1 session per week (attendance required)
• Thursdays 8.00pm to 9.00pm (UK times, Zoom-based)
• NB: Sessions will be recorded

Course Content
The text discusses key concepts such as viveka (discrimination) between real (unchanging, eternal) and unreal (changing, temporal), Atman and Prakriti, the oneness of Atman and Brahman and the Self, the knowledge as the central task of spiritual life and for Moksha (liberation) from the mundane existence.

Course Outcomes
For the benefit of those who are not well versed in Sanskrit, but wish to learn Sanskrit, the first half of the session will be dedicated to learning to separate the combined words into individual words, explaining the meanings of each word and then meanings of the whole verse. The main aim of selecting this treatise is to learn Sanskrit and not to go into the philosophical details of the work.

In the middle part of the session, revision of the verses from the previous session will be carried out. Aspirants will be encouraged to take an active part in revising the verses.

The final part will consist in determining the etymology of words (how each word has been derived).

All students will be encouraged to take periodic assessments during the course, leading to a Certificate of Achievement from Sanskrut Bhakti at the end of the year. Currently, there is no plan to hold any formal annual examinaions.

Course Requirements
Students will need to be committed and ensure that they have the time to attend all classes, if possible. There will be some requirement for self-study and homework.

The medium of instruction is English

All course communication related to Sanskrut Bhakti is via email and WhatsApp using Internet-links to course resources. Hence, students must be capable of using these.

Course Costs
There is no Course Fee. All Sanskrut Bhakti teaching and administration is on a purely voluntary basis. Students may make a voluntary contribution to Sanskrut Bhakti to cover their essential administration costs e.g. Zoom, Google Drive etc. Details will be provided at the start of the course.

Course Registration
Please ensure that you satisfy the entry requirements for this course before registering.

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