Nestled in the beautiful foothills of the Kootenay Bay region of British Columbia, is Yasodhara Ashram, founded by Swami Sivananda Radha, a disciple of Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh. In 1975, Swami Radha asked Swami Venkatesananda to come and deliver talks on the five classical forms of yoga: Hatha, Karma, Bhakti, Raja and Jnana. He respectfully accepted, and devoted roughly one hundred hours discussing and answering questions on each of these five, relating their relationship to the journey of discovery that they have the potential to illumine, providing insights on how these five in combination share a united purpose in developing a healthier more fully developed, non-fragmented, and therefore in the process, more whole. (Swami Venkatesananda would often point out that 'whole' and 'holy' are synonymous.) "
Seen in this light, the five so-called branches of yoga function less like branches and more like five major tree roots, all nourishing the same tree, neither independent nor separate, with each one of these five nourishing not only the aspects where we recognize our own skills, but also nourishing aspects that are as yet undeveloped.
There is much to learn in the discussions of these five yogas. Beyond that knowledge, however, there is much more for us to discover. When these five are both synthesized and assimilated, what begins as merely a wish to know oneself is then able to manifest as as true realization, bringing to fulfillment the promise of what yoga has to offer.
1. April 14th Morning Session: Introduction to the Talks on Yoga.
1-Part 1 - 18:35 - MP3 (08.52 MB) (1am-1)
1-Part 2 - 26:56 - MP3 (15.42 MB) (1am-2)
2. April 14th Afternoon Session (Questions and Answer Session)
Part 1 - 14:58 - MP3 (6.85MB) (1pm-1)
Part 2 - 19:39 - MP3 (9:00MB) (1pm-2)
Part 3 - 12:35 - MP3 (5.77MB) (1pm-3)
Part 4 - 09:38 - MP3 (4.42MB) (1pm-4)
3. April 15th Morning Session: The Non-Haphazard Flow of Chit-Shakti
Consciousness and energy “Chit-Shakti” are not two different things: “the substance and its nature cannot be separated, just as God and its nature cannot be separated.” Venkatesa leads us into the mystery of the "apparent individuality" - the notion of the “I” and “I” and the notion of the Jiva, the individualized soul, with a discussion of prana and the kundalini (spiral) energy and its beginning point (bindu): the “kama” or “desire to know” resulting in a movement of energy in consciousness. While this movement is capable of returning to or finding its source (a circle), it commonly “misses” its starting point (spirals out and away) creating or super-imposing in its path the notion of “my mind” and “the world.” Here Venkatesananda explains that the entire Hatha yoga “practice” lies in reversing this movement of energy, so that instead of haphazard erratic movement, the energy is “gathered in” until eventually the polarization of consciousness and energy is overcome and ... the "Source" is realized for once and for all.
Part 1 - 25:28 - MP3 (10.25MB) (2am-1)
Part 2 - 22:23 - MP3 (11.66MB) (2am-2)
4. April 15th Afternoon Q&A Session: The Bindu, The Circle and the Spiral - The Kundalini Spiral.
This Q& A (this particular disc) begins with a question the kundalini energy. This allows Swami Venkatesananda to continue his discussion of the spiraling of the kundalini energy discussed in the previous talk. Here you find a fascinating description of both sides (the macrocosmic and microcosmic) of the spiraling of energy in consciousness.
Part 1 - 21:50 (10.00MB) (2pm-1)
Part 2 - 24:20 (11.87MB) (2pm-2)
5. April 16th Morning Session: Prana
Just as Chitshakti and its movement back its source can be regarded as central to all of yoga, "prana," can be regarded as central to concept of Hatha Yoga. And just as energy cannot be grasped except by how "acts" through its many vehicles, prana cannot be known except by its functions. Swami Venkatesananda attempts to provide teachers and students with this often neglected overview of prana, and introduces us to the various functions of prana: "prana, apana, sumana, udana, and vynaya.
Prana Part 1 MP3 (24:24) (3am-1)
Prana Part 2 MP3 (21:17) (3am-2)
Prana Part 3 MP3 (10:44) (3am-3)
6. April 16th Afternoon Session: Prana Q&A How do we gain prana and lose prana?
Here Swami Venkatesa discusses the effects of the ego and non-ego centered activity. Various other aspects on this topic are discussed: the effect of the emotions on prana, the effect of self-knowledge, sex and what is known as “Tantra.” Hopefully, that last bit wasn't necessary to add in order to get your attention.
Prana Q&A Part 1 MP3 (23:21) (3pm-1)
Prana Q&A Part 2 MP3 (29:04) (3pm-2)
7. Hatha Yoga April 17th 1975 Purificatory Practices
Swami Venkatesananda continues his discussion of the problem of "forgetfulness" explaining that identification with the physical world happens immediately upon losing (or forgetting) our true identity. He points out that main Hatha yoga texts, The Hatha Yoga Pradipika are meant to prepare students for meditation. It is towards that end that The Hatha Yoga Pradipaika, mentions certain " purificatory practices." And likewise, the Gheranda Samhita, which discusses the Sat-Kriyas, asana, mudra, pratyahara, pranayama, dhyana, and samadhi. These are all meant for the purpose of regaining one's true identity, not merely as physical culture or physical betterment.
Purificatory Practice Part 1 MP3 (30.36) 28.0 MB
Purificatory Practice Part 2 MP3 (18.14) 16.6 MB
Continuing on the same track, Swami Venkatesananda continues with the six purificatory practices, dhauti, vasti, neti, tratakam, nauli and kapalabhati, for those in pursuit of the practice of pranayama.
8. Hatha Yoga April 17th 1975 Afternoon Q&A Purificatory Practices
Afternoon Q&A MP3 (45:39) (4pm-1)
Afternoon Q&A MP3 (09:57) (4pm-2)
9. Hatha Yoga April 18th 1975 Asanas
Asanas Part 1 MP3 (46:04) 31MB (5am-1)
Asanas Part 2 MP3 (14:19) 10MB (5am-2)
10. Hatha Yoga April 18th 1975 Q&A
Q&A Part 1 MP3 (47:34) 32.6MB (5pm-1)
Q&A Part 2 MP3 (14:59) 10.3MB (5pm-2)
11. Hatha Yoga April 21st 1975 Intro to Mudras & Pranayama
Mudras-Pranayama Part 1 MP3 (31:56) 22.1MB (6am-1)
Mudras-Pranayama Part 2 MP3 (29:38) 20.3MB (6am-2)
12. Hatha Yoga April 21st 1975 Afternoon Discussion Plus Q&A
Q&A Part 1 MP3 (31:58) 21.9MB (6pm-1)
Q&A Part 2 MP3 (24:13) 16.6MB (6pm-2)
13. Part 1 Hatha Yoga April 22nd 1975 Pranyama Continued
Pranayama Part 1 MP3 (22.35) 15.5MB (7am-1)
Pranayama Part 2 MP3 (28:48) 19.8MB (7am-2)
14. Hatha Yoga April 22nd 1975 Afternoon Discussion Plus Q&A
Q&A Part 1 MP3 (31:53) 21.9MB (7pm-1)
Q&A Part 2 MP3 (05:31) 03.8MB (7pm-2)
15. Hatha Yoga April 23rd 1975 Movement of Kundalini - Nadis & Chakras
Kundalini Part 1 MP3 (32.05) 22.0MB (8am-1)
Kundalini Part 2 MP3 (31:27) 21.6MB (8am-2)
16. Hatha Yoga April 23rd 1975 Afternoon Discussion Plus Q&A
Q&A Part 1 MP3 (32.03) 22.0MB (8pm-1)
Q&A Part 2 MP3 (01:20) 00.9MB (8pm-2)
17. Hatha Yoga April 24 1975 Mudras - Bhandas - Nadishuddi Bhutashuddi
Part 1 MP3 (32.05) 22.0MB (9am-1)
Part 1 MP3 (32.05) 16.7MB (9am-2)
18. Hatha Yoga April 24 1975 Afternoon Discussion Plus Q&A
Q&A Part 1 MP3 (31.48) 21.8MB (9pm-1)
Q&A Part 2 MP3 (21.41) 14.9MB (9pm-2)
19. Hatha Yoga April 25 1975 Nadanusandana - Contemplation of the Sound
This "contemplation of the sound" or what has been described as the culmination of the Hatha yoga practices can only be understaken if the nadis are pure, for then, and only then can the nada be "heard." Swami Venkatesananda makes it clear that pranayama is the starting point for these purifcatory practices, but indulges us by reading a description from The Gheranda Samhita of the three forms of meditation that can be said to be the final "steps" on the traditional path of Hatha Yoga.
Final Talk Part 1 MP3 (18:57) 15MB(10am-1)
Final Talk Part 2 MP3 (21.58) 13MB (10am-2)
(Part 2 above concludes the last Hatha talk. For the concluding Hatha discussion, see disc 20.)
20. Hatha Yoga April 25 1975 Concluding Discussion
Bringing us back to the discussion of the movement of energy in consciousness, Swami Venkatesananda reminds us that the life force is indivisible, and cosmic, and forever non-individualized. Many topics re-emerge in this final discussion, including a few new ones that will be explored further in the Karma, Bhakti, Raja and Jnana talks of this same series of talks given at Yasodhara in 1975. Yoga Vasistha devotees will be interested to know that the facinating topic of "accidental coincidence" or Kakitalaya Nyana is also mentioned.
Final Q&A Part 1 MP3 (24:30) 17MB (10pm-1)
Final Q&A Part 2 MP3 (28:50) 20MB (10pm-2)
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