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In keeping with changing conditions, please note that weekly Saturday and Tuesday classes are livestreamed online at AVC BayArea Youtube channel.   See  detailed instructions below.

Quick Links for Classes

    • To see Menu selections on Phones, turn phone to landscape mode or turn ON Desktop site.
    • Latest Class videos  click here.  
    • Video Playlists  click here
    • Index of AVC Talks  click here.
    • For notification of Live Youtube streaming, click this link  AVC BayArea YouTube channel and click “subscribe” on the right hand side. 
    • For assistance, contact raj.paripatyadar@gmail.com,
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Announcing the start of a comprehensive online course of Vedanta based on Mandukya Karika. (Starting Sept 30th)

Sat 8.30-10.00 am – Mandukya Upanisad with Karika.  (NEW COURSE Starting on Sept 30th, Intro on Sept 23)

Class  Videos, Class  Texts, Class Transcripts
Register by sending email to vijaykapoor@gmail.com (give your background)

All classes of the course will be live streamed online on the AVC YouTube channel, and also available for later viewing. Classes will be held on Saturdays, from 8:30 to 10 AM, PST. We will have a course introduction live on YouTube on Sat, Sept 23. The first class will commence on Sat, Sept 30.
As many of you know, Arsha Vidya Center conducted classes on this topic 5 years ago. I consider them as one step toward deeper understanding. This time, we will do a more detailed and advanced inquiry. My own recent studies have yielded increased clarity, with the help of transcribed discourses from Swami Akhandanandaji.

These detailed discourses are based on Adi Sankara’s bhasya, 4 volumes.  Coincidentally, just last month, a long awaited 4-volume set of discourses in English on the Karika by Pujya Swami Dayanandaji was released during Saylorsburg ashram’s 37th anniversary. This is a seminal work, comparable to Pujya Swamiji’s well known work on the Bhagavad Gita Home Study course. I feel very inspired by the insights provided by these Mahatmas, and wish to share them in live sessions with advanced students, something that I have been wanting to do for more than a year.
First, Mandukya itself is considered to be an advanced Upanisad. It starts by stating OM, the unique name of Isvara, as the essence of the entire experience of everyone at all times. It goes on to explain this in merely 12 mantras. Even so, this remains merely a promise, not yet a reality for students. The Karika is a great step in fulfilling that promise.
The Karika itself is a unique offering. In the vast literature of Advaita Vedanta, there is only one Karika. so highly regarded is this work by Sri Gaudapadacarya – the parama guru – guru’s guru – of Adi Sankara. There are many Bhasyas by Adi Sankara on various Upanisads and other texts; there are multiple Vartikas, many Tikas and prakarana granthas – but there is only one Karika. Karika means an independent, authoritative work in verse form – 215 of them by a revered guru. Sri Gaudapadacarya is widely regarded to be the clear upholder and clarifier of the Advaita Sampradaya. He presents the unfolding of OM in 4 chapters, called prakarnas. The first one, called Agama Prakarna is simply to elucidate the teaching of the Mandukya Upanisad. The other 3 are devoted to remove any doubts in the minds of seekers. For those of you who may not want to commit to the entire course, you can pause after the first prakarna.
I wish to complete all 4 Prakarnas. This is why I view these classes as a course, of the entire Advaita Vedantic teaching, not merely of one Upanisad. Because this is how Sri Gaudapadacarys envisions it, and this is how our Mahatma acaryas unfold it. It is comprehensive, similar to the vastness of Bhagavad Gita. Additionally, if you are a Sanskrit student, you will particularly enjoy our going over the Adi Sankara Bhasya, and explaining both word and sentence meanings -similar to the short series we recently did on the Bhagavad Gita based on Swami Sankaranandaji’s commentary.
Even though all interested students are welcome, this course is squarely aimed at the experienced student, already familiar with several years of study of our basic scriptures, including principal Upanisads, Bhagavad Gita and hopefully the Brahma Sutras. For that reason, I prefer all committed students to ‘register’ for this course. You may register by sending an email to vijaykapoor@gmail.com, even if you have been attending regular classes. If you have not attended any classes with me, I would appreciate a brief background about yourself. The reason is that in a comprehensive course like this, there should be a connection, a bond, between the teacher and student; we will be in touch through email or a WhatsApp that we will set up just for the course. I also plan to hold zoom sessions once every 2 months, to foster more in-depth Q&A.
I will discuss your access to texts later; the first few classes do not require a text. For those who register, we have a special offer. Swami Dayanandaji’s 4 volume text on Mandukya Karika was just released. It retails for $50. AVC will share its cost with you. The ashram bookstore will ship it directly to you; for $25, plus shipping. If your mother tonque is Hindi, in addition to Swamiji’s book, I encourage you to also get Swami Akhanandaji’s Hindi commentary, also in 4 volumes, which will be good to follow along as the classes are viewed. We would need to get these books from India – the 20 copies we ordered have all been accounted for. Please mention that in your registration email to me.

I very much look forward to starting this course, both for your benefit as well as my own continued review.Harih OM. Vijay

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Tuesday 8.00pm to 9.30pm – Shiva Sankalpa Sukta (Sept 19th onwards)

Class Videos,   Class Texts

The importance of the hymn Shiva Sankalpa Sukta is revealed by its presence in several Upanisads. It is also called an Upanisad by itself. We will follow the version with 6 verses from the Shukla Yajurveda. One can find several talks on it by different Swamis, Swami Pratyagbodhanandaji, Swami Tejomayanandaji among others. There is a text in Hindi by Swami Akhandanandaji in 108 pages, which I found to be clearly revealing and insightful. I intend to take a short set of classes (10-12?) based on this text. The 6 verses have Vedic svaras (intonations) that make it convenient to commit to memory and chant often to steady the mind. (We will chant online to practice)
There are two files on our gdrive from where you can print the verses. One has the 6 verses in Devanagari with English sentence meaning. The second has svaras, but without meaning. Also, I found a version on the internet that has given word meanings as well. Go to the link mahadeo.foundation/a-garland-of-prayers/shiva-sankalpam-sukta/ If there are other references to it from the net, please share.
I hope you can join me as we explore the beautiful thoughts revealed as we discuss them in a class. Harih Om. Vijay

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Here is how you can attend the live class:  
Click on the link to go to   AVCBayarea – Live classes channel on Youtube for  “Live streams” page   > click on the “live” class video that may be running -> make your presence known on Chat window using the chat text space below the Chat window.
Index of all AVC Talks,  click here.
Subscribe to the AVC BayArea channel so you can receive notifications on when a class has started by  clicking on “Subscribe” button or the “bell” icon at home page.
​​Guru Dakshina for Vijayji’s classes can be given here
 Guru Dakshina Alternatively: use Zelle to transfer money by email to “AVCbayarea@gmail.com”

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Swamini Svatmavidyananda  Bay Area Visit,  Sept 4th, 

A) Sept 4th, AVC Talk, 7pm to 8.30pm -completed
Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RANxO6kgmPk
​Title: Self-Knowledge in Day to Day Life
This  addressed the connections between self-knowledge and everyday life. How does the person of self-knowledge (jñānī) negotiate the everyday world? How does one who has kicked duality in the face due to the complete assimilation of the knowledge that one is non-separate from Brahman, the cause of the Universe, continue to live in that duality?

B) Sept 8th, Google Talk 11am to noon -completed
Topic: Women and the Hindu Tradition
audio recording

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Swami Sachidananda visited Aug 18-20

Topic: Ashtavakra Gita Ch 12 V1-8 completed.
Recorded video talks can be accessed  at  Playlist

Sanskrit Classes and Resources
Knowing sanskrit is beneficial in deeper understanding, assimilating and remembering  of Vedanta teachings.  There are several resources for learning.
Kumud Singhal has taught Sanskrit in the local Bay Area for several years. See this page for the extensive details, about learning the language, and various resources  available. She has published some excellent and enjoyable books.

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Self Study Satsang Groups
Participating in self study satsang groups is a good way to  stay immersed in the Vedanta language.  Groups can be formed per your experiences or locations.
a) Swami Parmarthatnanda has suggested a sylable of classes to study in a particular order  See this chart.  The PDFs of the Upanisads are located here.
You may download an Android App called “Sastraprakasika” and purchase the digital audios, either for self study or group study.
b) Contact Kumar Padmini to enquire about joining a BGita study group.

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Children’s Classes and Resources
a) AVBG is offering children’s classes at 8 levels, Register Now
The Arsha Vidya Bala-gurukulam (AVBG) Vedic Heritage program for 2022-23 is greatly appreciated by all. The program attracted hundreds of students from far and wide, all of whom graduated under the guidance of highly dedicated and experienced teachers. I am pleased to announce that registration for 2023-24 has started.The link is https://balagurukulam.arshavidya.org/.  Registration is required by August 15th to avoid disappointment
There are eight levels for children between 6th and 17th years. You or your friends with children in this age group can benefit from this opportunity if they are interested in the Vedic Heritage program.
From: Suddhatma Chaitanya and the BalaGurukulam Team

b) Kumud Singhal has taught children on Hinduism, Culture and Tradition for several years. See this page for extensive details. She has published  several very popular, colorful and enjoyable books (available on Amazon) on Hindu Culture and learning Hindi for children.  These are highly recommended.

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AIM for Seva – Fulfilling and Beneficial Seva opportunities for AVC students
Transforming Rural India, One Child at a Time
Danam – Giving is twice blessed, it blesses the one who gives and the one who receives 
Be a Contributor not just a Consumer 

Learn all about the great contributions and postive  change affected by our local  aimforsevabayarea.org  efforts.
Be a part of the Seva Movement and donate , select the  ” AVC Legacy Science lab, Roorkee” or the “FSHs sponsored by Bay Area”.
See this wonderful  video clip for a short presentation.  For volunteering in our local activities, please send email to aimforsevaba@gmail.com with your interests. Several programs are underway throughout the year.

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AVG Arsha Vidya Gurukulam  newsletters and online Talks

See AVG/AVP USA links as below for classes in English:
Schedule of events.  Live broadcast and archived courses link ; Course audio recordings can be purchased at this new AVP media site,
Digital book store   Arshavidya India newsletters

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Pujya Swami Dayananda
Please see this page for more details about Pujya Swamiji, founder of Arsha Vidya and AIM for Seva organisations,  and his Audio / Video recordings

Why Study Vedanta – Swami Dayananda 
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Arsha Vidya Swamis followed by Bay Area students

Swami Viditatmananda


Please see this page for more info and Audio / Video recordings
Tribute to Swamiji by Vijay Kapoorji: Swami Viditatmananda as Mahatma
Swamiji’s Video Talks

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Swami Tattvavidananda


Please see this page for more info and Audio / Video recordings
A youtube channel for Videos Talks 
Atma bodha talks Nov 2022

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Swami Paramarthananda Discources

 

Please see this page for more info and Audio / Video recordings.  For more insights of his teachings, visit this page Current ongoing audio talks on new classes
Android App for other important talks: “sastraprakasika”

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Swamini  Svatmavidyananda

Please see this page for more info and Audio / Video recordings. 
Swaminiji’s Youtube channel  Playlists 
Living Vedanta Talk on Nov 27th, 2022 in Hayward

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Swami Paramatmananda

 
Swamiji is continuing to give virtual online talks via Whatsapp groups

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Chanting and mantras

Ten  Important Shanti Mantras from Upanishads

Other important Vedanta mantras  Here
Shiva Rudram Sri-Rudram-Text-Anuvakam-1-11-devanagari-transliteration-translation

Nirvana Shatkam chant with lyrics watch on youtube  Link
Audio chant Listen here  & Lyrics

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