Ananda Brings Another Edition of its Vedanta Master Class Retreats

Be your own Witness – Learnings from the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4

• Ananda in the Himalayas brings back its series of Vedanta classes for spiritual awakening and wellbeing.
• Vedanta Master Class will be conducted by Gaurav Gurgurte, senior disciple of Swami A. Parthasarathy, founder of Vedanta Academy.
• The 7-day Retreat from October 7th-13th, 2023 will have daily sessions from the Gita.
• To attend this series, book your stay at Ananda during the mentioned dates.
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From Doing to Being: Vedanta Master Class Retreat at Ananda
This series, held at the holistic wellness retreat Ananda in the Himalayas, is a week-long commitment to discovering the true Self and realising your spiritual potential through the study of the Bhagavad Gita.
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The Bhagavad Gita is an ancient scripture considered a profound manual for life and living and offering practical and sublime wisdom applicable to all, irrespective of background. Ananda creates an ideal atmosphere to imbibe the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, with this seven-day series beginning with the traditional chanting of the chapter’s verses, followed by explanations and its practical application to life.
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These classes help address the critical spiritual issues being faced by humanity today.
Today, in a world that considers material gain a necessity over spiritual awareness, many individuals are disconnected from their true nature and are unaware of their spiritual potential. This lack of self-awareness leads to confusion, dissatisfaction, and a search for fulfilment in external, usually material, pursuits. The mind becomes fragmented and unable to find lasting contentment due to mental restlessness and a lack of inner peace. Moral and ethical challenges lead to a perpetuation of biases, eventually hindering social progress and collective well-being. This is further exacerbated by the plight of the modern world, which is filled with distractions, constant stimulation, demands of a fast-paced lifestyle.
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The need of the hour is to be self-aware, establish a higher sense of purpose, and create fulfilment, contentment and inner peace, all while being in the dynamic, modern world we inhabit today.

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The practical solutions to this path lie in the eternal teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.‍

The Bhagavad Gita explains that the path to spiritual enlightenment involves key elements: selfless action, seeking the eternal Self within, knowledge, and surrendering to a higher consciousness. The importance of performing one’s duty selflessly without attachment to the results is emphasised, with the concept of “selfless action” or “Karma Yoga” being explained as a means to attain spiritual liberation.

One must act in the world, contribute to society, and fulfil their duties, but this must be done without being driven by personal desire or attachment to the fruit of the actions taken. Once a person is no longer drawn involuntarily into the world in pursuit of fleeting pleasures, they are available to search for the Self within and should continue one’s work with the spirit of sacrifice.

The sessions at the Vedanta Retreat at Ananda‍

This retreat focuses on insights from a key portion of the Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 4, uniquely interpreted by Swami A. Parthasarathy describes the entire range of actions in a human being and tells us how to direct all of them towards spiritual development.

Each session is guided by the Vedanta scholar with chanting of each verse from the Gita accompanied with the interpretation and insights from the verse. This is done in a manner that remains relevant and applicable to individuals from diverse backgrounds and beliefs. Gradually, through these teachings, introspection and discussions with other participants, the retreat leads to an awakening, a higher awareness, personal growth and a sense of harmony.

Vedanta at Ananda
Derived from the Vedas, Vedanta is the ancient Indian philosophy which answers the fundamental questions of life. It serves as a guide to the pursuit of happiness through logical and systematic exposition of eternal truths. Its philosophy provides insights into the nature of existence, the self, and the ultimate reality. At Ananda, daily interactive Vedanta talks and teachings have been conducted for over two decades. With this series, Ananda delves deeper into the Vedanta philosophy through the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.

To attend these classes, book a stay at Ananda during 7 th to 13 th October, 2023 (arriving October 7th morning and departing on October 14th).