Mahabharata

Mahabharata

Date: Sunday 21st November 2021 ~ Sunday 19th December 2021 

Time: 9:30AM - 11:30AM BST

Location: Online and onsite at Nitai Room, Goshala Classrooms, New Gokul Farm, Bhaktivedanta Manor, Dharam Marg, Hilfield Lane, Watford, WD25 8HE

Description of course

A vast, riveting epic from the days of yore that holds powerful meaning for humanity on many levels. Shaping philosophies, histories and cultures of nations for millennia; it's one of the most sophisticated and captivating historical literatures in the world.

Simultaneously, it's an enchanting story of war, intrigue, devotion and ultimately love; Full of Gods, Demons, Sages and Kings and everything in between. It's a story that can only ever be described in superlative terms.

And yet there's more, for it also contains one of the most intimate studies of the human psyche infused with the most insightful analysis of society and the ethics that govern it; The divine conversation that is the Bhagavad Gita

This immortal epic gives us access to the most profound and comprehensive spiritual wisdom and metaphysical understandings known to man and the personality behind the wisdom; Krishna.

At School of Bhakti we heartfully ask you to join us for the Mahabharata series. This will be a 5 part seminar looking at key incidents from the lives of some of the most pivotal characters of the Mahabharata who acted as catalysts for Krishna to eventually speak the Bhagavad Gita.

We'll look at the principles that we can extract from their experiences, learn from and apply throughout our lives.

Session 1 of the seminar will look at:

The backdrop, narrative and key sub narratives of the Mahabharata and how it all led to the Bhagavad Gita being spoken.

Session 2, 3 and 4 will be looking at:

Key personalities such as Bhisma, Draupadi, Karna, Duryodhana and Arjuna etc.

How their actions lead to Krishna speaking the Bhagavad Gita.

What principles can we derive from their actions and experiences?

How can those principles enhance our lives materially as well as spiritually?

How those principles connect us with Krishna so we experience a deeper sense of happiness?

Session 5 will look at:

Contemporary issues that come out in the seminar that resonate with modern issues in society.

For example spirituality, leadership, relationships, narcissism, casteism, identity politics, transformative education, nature versus nurture and gender dynamics etc

What the Mahabharata has to say about those topics?

This Mahabharata series serves as an excellent complement and precursor to the flagship Gita Life course that is conducted at School of Bhakti.

There will be more Mahabharata series courses to come in the future looking at other themes, characters and topics.

Description of teacher

Coming from a Hindu Bengali family in South London, Niskincana has often grappled with notions of identity, morality, in-depth vedic knowledge and its relevance to modern social discourse.However, overriding all these areas of enquiry, was the question of our nature of existence. What is our true identity? Where are we coming from? Where are we going? These were the questions that really preoccupied Niskincana’s interests.

After many years of seeking avenues to real happiness, he finally came across the teachings of Śrilā Prabhupāda , the founder of the Hare Krishna movement.Having served as a monk for the last ten years at the Bhaktivedanta Manor temple, Niskincana has seen how the Krishna conscious way of living can truly benefit people in all facets of existence from the social and the political to the emotional, psychological and, of course, the spiritual level.

Through the School of Bhakti, Niskincana’s focus is to build up and bring the magic of Krishna conscious education into people’s lives in a contemporary and relevant manner. He is also an avid amateur stage actor and loves entertaining people with Krishna conscious drama