Guest guest Posted November 26, 1998 Report Share Posted November 26, 1998 Hey, folks! I'm back with another question. I would like, beginning in the Fall or Winter of 1999, to apply for a Ph.D. in Religion from The Union Institute. This will not be a traditional program. It will consist of six 36-hour segments, each a somewhat compressed/accelerated version of traditional seminary, yeshiva, etc. programs in the given religion. With mentoring/consulting from clergy of various traditions, but mostly through self-paced study, I hope to work my way through a traditional seminary courseload. I ran into a bit of a problem when I wanted to do some Sanskrit religious scripture work, though, and it occured to me that I don't believe I have ever seen a "Hindu Seminary" of any kind. Someone told me that Benares University has a program such as this, but I can't find a Web site for them. I would really like just a summary of what the equivalent to a Hindu M.Div. would be at a "seminary", so I can know what I want to cover in my program. I recognize that most of the taught material is individualized and involves massive amount of meditation and prayer, and that any attempt on my part to achieve that in its totality would be flawed -- but I would like to do intensive work in the abstract aspects at least, and perhaps be introduced to some of the concrete elements via one or of the two local Gurus/Temples, in this way gaining perhaps a taste of what a comprehensive reading would be. If anyone could point me in the right direction to a "common body of knowledge for guided study", it would be appreciated. I would not be interested in a purely academic, non-sectarian program -- I'm interested in what believers would learn in a genuinely religious program. Even a reading list, or list of texts considered essential for study, would be helpful. Thanks for any assistance you may be able to give. Peace, Tom Head tlh http://www2.netdoor.com/~tlh "The Earth is degenerating these days. Bribery and corruption abound. Children no longer mind their parents, every man wants to write a book, and it is evident that the end of the world is fast approaching." -- anonymous clay tablet, c. 2800 BC "Being properly distracted for a moment is child's play; being rightly distracted for a lifetime is an art." -- Douglas Adams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 1998 Report Share Posted November 26, 1998 Tom, I plan to attend Union in another year. One of my professors graduated from there and specializes in Hindu religions. He told me it would be the best place to pursue my interests. Perhaps the way he learned Sanskrit would meet your needs. His name is Allen Richardson. arichard See you there in 2001! Tamra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 27, 1998 Report Share Posted November 27, 1998 Arsha Vidya Gurukulum in Saylorsburg, PA has traditional teaching going on all the time as far as I know. Also now and then there are specialprograms taught by visiting Swamis. To the best of my knowledge Sanskrit instruction is also available there. The founder, Shri Swami Dayananda Saraswati will be there from December 24 to Jan. 1 I believe. He'll be teaching and having satsangh. Alas, I do not believe this ashram is curently accredited to give degrees. Contact informaition -- AVP Gurukulum P.O. Box 1059 Saylorsburg, PA 18363 717-992-2339 http://www.arshavidya.org Swami Tadatmananda SwamiT Affiliated iwth it is an ashram in Coimbatore India. I am less acquainted with its program. I suspect that it has ongoing 2 1/2-3 year courses happening but I may be misinformed. This is an intensive program in which one would learn Sanskrit as well as one can and study Bhagavad Gita, major upanishads such as Isha, Kena, Katha, Mandukya, Mundaka and Taittiriya, and Brahma SUtras--all with the comentary (Sanskrit) of AdishaNkara, plus some introductory texts and usually either a purana or epic. I don't know if this course gives any degrees recognized by India. Both these places offer traditional programs in advaita vedanta. In terms of degree granting institutions, there is California Institute for Integral Studies. That school in San Francisoc offers a Master's and Ph.D. program in Eastern Phiosophy and Religion. One can specialize in Hinduism and the subspecialty Vedanta. I am not positive but I think that a fine teacher from Swami Dayananda's group of students, Carol Whitfield (aka Radha) is teaching there in that department. Tom Head <tlh advaitin <advaitin > Thursday, November 26, 1998 11:37 AM Common Body of Knowledge? >Tom Head <tlh > >Hey, folks! I'm back with another question. > >I would like, beginning in the Fall or Winter of 1999, to apply for a >Ph.D. in Religion from The Union Institute. This will not be a >traditional program. It will consist of six 36-hour segments, each a >somewhat compressed/accelerated version of traditional seminary, yeshiva, >etc. programs in the given religion. With mentoring/consulting from >clergy of various traditions, but mostly through self-paced study, I hope >to work my way through a traditional seminary courseload. > I ran into a bit of a problem when I wanted to do some Sanskrit >religious scripture work, though, and it occured to me that I don't >believe I have ever seen a "Hindu Seminary" of any kind. Someone told me >that Benares University has a program such as this, but I can't find a Web >site for them. I would really like just a summary of what the equivalent >to a Hindu M.Div. would be at a "seminary", so I can know what I want to >cover in my program. I recognize that most of the taught material is >individualized and involves massive amount of meditation and prayer, and >that any attempt on my part to achieve that in its totality would be >flawed -- but I would like to do intensive work in the abstract aspects at >least, and perhaps be introduced to some of the concrete elements via one >or of the two local Gurus/Temples, in this way gaining perhaps a taste of >what a comprehensive reading would be. > If anyone could point me in the right direction to a "common body >of knowledge for guided study", it would be appreciated. I would not be >interested in a purely academic, non-sectarian program -- I'm interested >in what believers would learn in a genuinely religious program. Even a >reading list, or list of texts considered essential for study, would be >helpful. Thanks for any assistance you may be able to give. > > > >Peace, > >Tom Head >tlh >http://www2.netdoor.com/~tlh > >"The Earth is degenerating these days. Bribery and corruption > abound. Children no longer mind their parents, every man wants > to write a book, and it is evident that the end of the world is > fast approaching." > -- anonymous clay tablet, c. 2800 BC > >"Being properly distracted for a moment is child's play; being > rightly distracted for a lifetime is an art." > -- Douglas Adams > > >------ >Help support ONElist, while generating interest in your product or >service. ONElist has a variety of advertising packages. Visit >/advert.html for more information. >------ >Discussion of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy, its true meaning, profundity, richness and beauty with the focus on the non-duality between mind and matter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 27, 1998 Report Share Posted November 27, 1998 Oh, dear. My efficient computer sent this before I was quite done with it. The website for the Califoria Institute of Integral studies can be found at http://www.ciis.edu There is a Master's program in Philosophy and Religion. The subspecialties are Asian and Comparative Studies, then Hindu Religion and Philosophy, and then Vedanta. Carol Whitfield is indeed listed on the faculty and it says, as follows, about her: Carol Whitfield has an M.A. in Sanskrit from the University of California, Berkeley (1982), a Ph.D. in Phenomenology of Religions from the Graduate Theological Union (1992), and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the San Francisco School of Psychology (1997). During the 1970s Carol lived a monastic life in India where she studied Advaita Vedanta and Sanskrit in a traditional gurukula setting under Swami Dayananda Sarasvati. Since her return from India, she has taught Vedanta extensively on both coasts and was one of the founders and the administrative manager of Sandeepany West, Institute for the Study of Vedanta and Sanskrit, located in Piercy, California, and later, of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Institute for the Study of Advaita Vedanta and Sanskrit, in Pennsylvania. One of her primary interests is the synthesis of Western psychology and Eastern spirituality. She is a psychotherapist with a Jungian-orientation. ****** This is not a "traditional" course of study, although Carol is quite spectacular, IMHO. She could be an ally at the school. I think you may have to go study somewhere like AVP or the ashram in Coimbatore and then come get a degree somewhere like CIIS. That is actually what Carol did. Aikya Param P.O. Box 4193 Berkeley, CA 94704-0193 Advaita Vedanta for Today (graphics) http://members.tripod.com/aikya/ Advaita Vedanta for Today (text version) http://members.xoom.com/aikya/aikya Aikya_Param <aikya advaitin <advaitin > Cc: Swami Tadatmanada Saraswati <SwamiT Friday, November 27, 1998 10:35 AM Re: Common Body of Knowledge? >"Aikya_Param" <aikya > >Arsha Vidya Gurukulum in Saylorsburg, PA has traditional teaching going on >all the time as far as I know. Also now and then there are specialprograms >taught by visiting Swamis. To the best of my knowledge Sanskrit instruction >is also available there. The founder, Shri Swami Dayananda Saraswati will >be there from December 24 to Jan. 1 I believe. He'll be teaching and having >satsangh. Alas, I do not believe this ashram is curently accredited to give >degrees. Contact informaition -- > AVP Gurukulum > P.O. Box 1059 > Saylorsburg, PA 18363 > 717-992-2339 > http://www.arshavidya.org > Swami Tadatmananda SwamiT > >Affiliated iwth it is an ashram in Coimbatore India. I am less acquainted >with its program. I suspect that it has ongoing 2 1/2-3 year courses >happening but I may be misinformed. This is an intensive program in which >one would learn Sanskrit as well as one can and study Bhagavad Gita, major >upanishads such as Isha, Kena, Katha, Mandukya, Mundaka and Taittiriya, and >Brahma SUtras--all with the comentary (Sanskrit) of AdishaNkara, plus some >introductory texts and usually either a purana or epic. I don't know if >this course gives any degrees recognized by India. > >Both these places offer traditional programs in advaita vedanta. > >In terms of degree granting institutions, there is California Institute for >Integral Studies. That school in San Francisoc offers a Master's and Ph.D. >program in Eastern Phiosophy and Religion. One can specialize in Hinduism >and the subspecialty Vedanta. I am not positive but I think that a fine >teacher from Swami Dayananda's group of students, Carol Whitfield (aka >Radha) is teaching there in that department. > >Tom Head <tlh >advaitin <advaitin > >Thursday, November 26, 1998 11:37 AM > Common Body of Knowledge? > > >>Tom Head <tlh >> >>Hey, folks! I'm back with another question. >> >>I would like, beginning in the Fall or Winter of 1999, to apply for a >>Ph.D. in Religion from The Union Institute. This will not be a >>traditional program. It will consist of six 36-hour segments, each a >>somewhat compressed/accelerated version of traditional seminary, yeshiva, >>etc. programs in the given religion. With mentoring/consulting from >>clergy of various traditions, but mostly through self-paced study, I hope >>to work my way through a traditional seminary courseload. >> I ran into a bit of a problem when I wanted to do some Sanskrit >>religious scripture work, though, and it occured to me that I don't >>believe I have ever seen a "Hindu Seminary" of any kind. Someone told me >>that Benares University has a program such as this, but I can't find a Web >>site for them. I would really like just a summary of what the equivalent >>to a Hindu M.Div. would be at a "seminary", so I can know what I want to >>cover in my program. I recognize that most of the taught material is >>individualized and involves massive amount of meditation and prayer, and >>that any attempt on my part to achieve that in its totality would be >>flawed -- but I would like to do intensive work in the abstract aspects at >>least, and perhaps be introduced to some of the concrete elements via one >>or of the two local Gurus/Temples, in this way gaining perhaps a taste of >>what a comprehensive reading would be. >> If anyone could point me in the right direction to a "common body >>of knowledge for guided study", it would be appreciated. I would not be >>interested in a purely academic, non-sectarian program -- I'm interested >>in what believers would learn in a genuinely religious program. Even a >>reading list, or list of texts considered essential for study, would be >>helpful. Thanks for any assistance you may be able to give. >> >> >> >>Peace, >> >>Tom Head >>tlh >>http://www2.netdoor.com/~tlh >> >>"The Earth is degenerating these days. Bribery and corruption >> abound. Children no longer mind their parents, every man wants >> to write a book, and it is evident that the end of the world is >> fast approaching." >> -- anonymous clay tablet, c. 2800 BC >> >>"Being properly distracted for a moment is child's play; being >> rightly distracted for a lifetime is an art." >> -- Douglas Adams >> >> >>------ >>Help support ONElist, while generating interest in your product or >>service. ONElist has a variety of advertising packages. Visit >>/advert.html for more information. >>------ >>Discussion of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy, its true meaning, >profundity, richness and beauty with the focus on the non-duality between >mind and matter > > > > >------ >Help support ONElist, while generating interest in your product or >service. ONElist has a variety of advertising packages. Visit >/advert.html for more information. >------ >Discussion of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy, its true meaning, profundity, richness and beauty with the focus on the non-duality between mind and matter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 3, 1998 Report Share Posted December 3, 1998 A list member had asked about degree-granting institutions where one could study advaita vedanta. I have discovered that the California Insitute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, CA now has a Master's and Doctoral program focusing on Philosophy and Religion, Hinduism and Vedanta. One of Swami Dayananda's disciples senior to me, Carol Whitfield (a.k.a. Radha) is on the faculty. Does anyone know anything about the Hindu University in Florida mentioned in the attached post from Swami Tadatmananda. I vaguely remember reading about it but (also vaguely) thought it was directed more to rituals. Aikya Param P.O. Box 4193 Berkeley, CA 94704-0193 Advaita Vedanta for Today (graphics) http://members.tripod.com/~aikya/ Advaita Vedanta for Today (text version) http://members.xoom.com/aikya/aikya Swami Tadatmananda <arsha Aikya_Param <aikya Tuesday, December 01, 1998 9:21 AM Re: Fw: Common Body of Knowledge? >Namaskar Aikya, >I believe there is a Hindu University in Florida somewhere, but do not >have more info. >-- >Swami Tadatmananda Saraswati >Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, www.arshavidya.org >Institute of Vedanta and Sanskrit 717-992-2339 ext 235 >POB 1059, Saylorsburg, PA 18353 USA FAX 717-992-7150 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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