Satsangam

Navarasa at the threshold of death and transcendence
2026-02-05
Thursday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 8:30 pm IST
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Exploring rasa in Daily LifeNavarasa at the threshold of death and transcendenceThis session brings rasa to life’s deepest threshold, and to the many smaller thresholds within daily life. Endings, losses, separation, ageing, and letting go. Through navarasa, participants will explore how fear and sorrow arise alongside love, devotion, courage, and wonder, each as a lived flavour with its own intelligence. Drawing from the Śaiva Tantric vision, the session reflects on how emotions can be held without denial or collapse, and gradually refined into insight. The movement of rasa toward śānta becomes a way to understand transcendence not as escape, but as steadiness and clarity within change. The session invites participants to see how living with rasa each day can prepare the mind for transition with depth, dignity, and peace.
Guest Instructor | Dr Shubham Kulkarni

Ayurvedic doctor & music therapist – End of life care & Mental health care specialist
Head of the Department, Gandharva Veda Music Therapy, MCPHI, Maharishi University, The Netherlands
Fellow of Naad, Raag, Ras & Consciousness based on Abhinavgupta’s philosophy
Trained classical vocalist, and disciple of Pandit Shounak Abhisheki ji
Clinical & Philosophical researcher focusing on insomnia, depression, pregnancy care, Shaivism, tantra , mental health & end of life care .
Clinical practice & Tutoring in more than six countries .

Register | Monthly ($35 USD)

Navarasa in suffering, illness, and emotional healing
2026-01-29
Thursday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 8:30 pm IST
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Exploring rasa in Daily LifeNavarasa in suffering, illness, and emotional healingThis session explores how rasa is present in everyday suffering. In stress, sickness, anxiety, grief, irritation, and emotional fatigue. Instead of pushing these states away, the session invites participants to recognise them as distinct rasas that colour the mind, shape behaviour, and affect the body. Drawing from Āyurveda and rasa theory, the session looks at how emotions move through digestion, sleep, breath, and energy, and how healing often begins with clear seeing. Through simple daily practices such as mindful listening, breath, rhythm, and small lifestyle shifts, participants will learn how rasa can become a practical guide for emotional balance and recovery.
Guest Instructor | Dr Shubham Kulkarni

Ayurvedic doctor & music therapist – End of life care & Mental health care specialist
Head of the Department, Gandharva Veda Music Therapy, MCPHI, Maharishi University, The Netherlands
Fellow of Naad, Raag, Ras & Consciousness based on Abhinavgupta’s philosophy
Trained classical vocalist, and disciple of Pandit Shounak Abhisheki ji
Clinical & Philosophical researcher focusing on insomnia, depression, pregnancy care, Shaivism, tantra , mental health & end of life care .
Clinical practice & Tutoring in more than six countries .

We welcome you to join us in heartfelt conversation on the context in which Indian wisdom traditions exist in Vedic Threads. For 35 USD/month you have access to two live 1.5-hour sessions/month with Dr. Ramkumar, Dr. Welch, Navneet Raman, world-class guest instructors, dedicated participants from all over the world, and more than 70 hours of content from previous sessions. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.
Register | Monthly ($35 USD)

Navarasa - An exploration through nāda, Āyurveda, and Abhinavagupta
2026-01-08
Thursday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 8:30 pm IST
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Exploring rasa in Daily LifeNavarasa – An exploration through nāda, Āyurveda, and AbhinavaguptaThis is the first session of Vedic Threads in the new format with Dr Ramkumar, Dr Claudia, and Navneet Raman, featuring guest instructor Dr Shubham Kulkarni. This session explores navarasa as a lived aesthetic and healing experience through nāda (music), Āyurveda, and the Śaiva – Tantric vision articulated by Abhinavagupta. Emotions are approached not as disturbances to be controlled, but as movements of consciousness that can be refined, balanced, and transformed. Drawing from aesthetics, Śaivism, and Tantra, the session reveals how rasa becomes a bridge between art, inner awareness, and human well being.
Guest Instructor | Dr Shubham Kulkarni

Ayurvedic doctor & music therapist – End of life care & Mental health care specialist
Head of the Department, Gandharva Veda Music Therapy, MCPHI, Maharishi University, The Netherlands
Fellow of Naad, Raag, Ras & Consciousness based on Abhinavgupta’s philosophy
Trained classical vocalist, and disciple of Pandit Shounak Abhisheki ji
Clinical & Philosophical researcher focusing on insomnia, depression, pregnancy care, Shaivism, tantra , mental health & end of life care .
Clinical practice & Tutoring in more than six countries .

As a gesture of gratitude, this session is OPEN to everyone and FREE to attend.Please fill the details below to receive the Zoom link and session updates.

KĀLA: The Power, Perception, and Politics of Time
2025-12-04
Thursday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 8:30 pm IST
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KĀLA: The Power, Perception, and Politics of Time
An exploration of how time is imagined, measured, and engineered—from the sacred cosmos to the modern marketplace.

The Sacred Timescape Stories of Kāla in Vedas, Purāṇas, Itihāsas
Panchānga: The five-element architecture of time
Cyclic vs linear time
Time as energy, destiny, auspiciousness

Register | Monthly ($35 USD)
Guest Instructor | Ajay Chaturvedi

Insights on Kullhad Economy and the Kullhad Economy Festival (KEF)
2025-11-06
Wednesday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 8:30 pm IST
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Insights on Kullhad Economy and the Kullhad Economy Festival (KEF)
Kullhad Economy and the Kullhad Economy Festival (KEF) are not just about clay cups — they are about Kāla, Time itself. Rooted in Dharmic design and glocal innovation, they celebrate a civilization that saw prosperity as rhythm — where dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa flowed in balance, not conflict. At KEF, the spirit of Bhārat breathes again — where lamps are lit not just on Amāvasyā but in enterprise itself. Artisans, thinkers, and seekers gather to realign wealth with worship, and production with purpose — reminding us that true growth is not in endless consumption, but in harmony with the cycles of Nature — the very heartbeat of Sanātana Dharma.
Register | Monthly ($35 USD)
Guest Instructor | Ajay Chaturvedi

The yoga of the Pashupatis, one of the oldest yogic lineages.
2025-10-01
Wednesday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 7:30 pm IST
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The yoga of the Pashupatis, one of the oldest yogic lineages.
The first yoga propounded by Lord Shiva was Pashupata, the original name describes the aim of yoga.
Pashu meaning: animal and pati: meaning master, it is the yoga in which one becomes aware of the relationship between one’s self and the divine in the form of slave and master.
The Pashupati’s are ascetics who live according to very strict principles, first described in the Pashupata Sutras, a treatise of yoga written in the second century BCE by Koundinya. A resurgence of the Pashupati’s took place in the first century CE, in Gujurat, India.
Nrtta or Pure dance, is the legacy of the Pashupata ascetics, whose practices prefigured those of the Naths. Through training in this art, the sadakha (aspirant) rediscovers the natural rhythmic currents hidden within the body that unlock the other practices and sow the seeds of spontaneity.
Yet the path that leads to that spontaneity and the state of sahajavastha (natural existence) is long and rigorous and varies from individual to individual.
Shadow Yoga adheres to the basic principles of training of this ancient tradition free from the corrupt and watered down practices of the modern age.
In this session, Emma will guide us in exploring the impact of karana on the mind and how it weaves into the greater fabric of yoga practice.
This won’t just be theoretical—we’ll experience these subtle yet powerful techniques firsthand.
Join us for an embodied exploration of karana and its transformative role on the mind & body.
Register | Monthly ($35 USD)
Guest Instructor | Emma Balnaves

Balancing Bhakti and Bonding: Kabir’s couplets (Dohe) for spiritual living
2025-09-04
Thursday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 7:30 pm IST
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Balancing Bhakti and Bonding: Kabir’s couplets (Dohe) for spiritual living
This discussion will explore how the 15th-century mystic-poet Kabir created a radically inclusive spiritual vision that embraces both the sacred and domestic spheres. Unlike the renunciation-focused spirituality of his era, Kabir championed the grihasth (householder) path as fertile ground for spiritual realization.
Key Discussion Points:

Kabir’s seamless integration of sagun (personal deity) and nirgun (formless God) devotion
His famous teaching “Maya me Ram base, Ram me maya nahi” – how the divine dwells in the world without being contaminated by it
Practical applications for modern practitioners juggling family, career, and spiritual growth
The psychology of integrated living: bringing awareness into everyday relationships and responsibilities
Why Kabir’s message of religious unity and authentic practice resonates powerfully in our current climate

Contemporary Relevance:
Kabir’s teachings address today’s challenges of religious polarization, spiritual materialism, and work-life balance. His emphasis on finding the sacred in simple, honest living offers practical wisdom for contemporary audiences seeking authenticity over elaborate spiritual performance.
The discussion will weave together Kabir’s original dohas with contemporary applications, exploring how adhyatma (spirituality) and grihasth (householding) can walk hand in hand, offering a path that is both profoundly human and quietly divine
Register | Monthly ($35 USD)
Guest Instructor | Shri Singh

Understanding Stotras - The wellspring of spiritual essence
2025-08-07
Thursday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 7:30 pm IST
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Understanding Stotras: The Wellspring of Spiritual Essence
What makes a Stotra more than just verse? In this richly textured session, Smt. Visalakshi Sankaran opens the gateway to understanding Stotras as vessels of distilled devotion and spiritual wisdom.
We often see puranas as a collection of stories, Stotras as prayers and mantras as meditative chants. Stotras and mantras are viewed as separate conduits to a higher plane of spirituality. Puranas are often, not always, viewed as disconnected ancient stories yet connected with the essence of Bharatiya culture. We have to look at these three as three integral connectors in the same path of Bhakti yoga, one more subtle than the other. This session explores some examples of how strotras become the connectors between the corpus of puranas and the subtle mantras.
Register | Monthly ($35 USD)Guest Instructor | Visalaskhi Sankaran

Naada for Shanti: Wisdom of Gandharva Veda
2025-07-03
Thursday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 7:30 pm IST
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Naada for Shanti: Wisdom of Gandharva Veda
Can music heal? Can sound realign the self with nature?
In this evocative session, Dr. Shubham Kulkarni unpacks the ancient Vedic tradition of Gandharva Veda, where music is not entertainment but medicine, meditation, and message.
Discover the ancient sonic science of Gandharva Veda, where music becomes medicine, meditation, and a medium for peace. This session explores how specific music influences the mind, body, and environment—creating balance and harmony from within. We’ll journey through the philosophical, clinical, social, environmental, and spiritual dimensions of this Vedic art, revealing its potential as a tool for healing and collective well-being.
In a world full of noise, let us return to the silence between the notes – where true peace begins.
Register | Monthly ($35 USD)

Rasa to Ānanda: A Satsaṅga on the Journey from Head to Heart
2025-06-05
Thursday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 7:30 pm IST
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An invitation into the conscious experience and celebration of joy—ānanda. What is ānanda? Why does it matter? How do we open ourselves to it? In this satsaṅga, we’ll explore the subtle 11-inch journey from the head to the heart—how it begins, what supports it, and what obstacles we can be mindful of along the way.
Register | Monthly ($35 USD)

How Prāṇāyāma affects mind for Sattvāvajaya
2025-05-01
May 1 2025
Thursday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 7:30 pm IST
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Robert Moses brings decades of dedicated practice in prāṇāyāma to our Vedic Threads sessions, offering us a practical exploration of how breath can quiet and balance the mind. In recent discussions, we’ve examined sattvāvajaya cikitsā—methods for restoring equilibrium to the mind and emotions—through an intellectual lens with Fred Smith. Now, Robert will help us embody this understanding, guiding us in the application of prāṇāyāma as a practical, accessible tool for mental steadiness and clarity. According to Caraka, sattvāvajaya treatment includes knowledge, special knowledge, restraint, memory, and concentration. Robert will illuminate how prāṇāyāma supports these qualities, providing us with an experiential dimension to complement our studies.
We welcome you to join us in heartfelt conversation on the context in which Indian wisdom traditions exist in Vedic Threads. For 35 USD/month you have access to two live 1.5-hour sessions/month with Drs. Ramkumar, Welch, world-class guest instructors, dedicated participants from all over the world, and more than 70 hours of content from previous sessions. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.
Register Now!

Interconnectedness of Indian Wisdom Traditions
2025-04-13 - 2025-04-16 | Sivananda Ashram Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas
You are warmly invited to join some of the Satsangam family (Emily Glaser, Kimberly Kubicke, Erin Casperson, Dr. Ramkumar & Dr. Claudia Welch as we head to beautiful Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in Nassau, Bahamas, to explore the cultural, spiritual, philosophical, scientific and artistic context in which Indian wisdom traditions like yoga and Ayurveda exist. While in the West it is common for students to quickly specialize in one or another of these traditions, in the East there was traditionally a foundational education in multiple disciplines, before honing in on one subject. Beginning to learn Eastern subjects in this traditionally Eastern way allows us to make new connections, gain insights, inspiration and depth in not only a subject we are studying but also into the interconnectedness of Indian knowledge traditions in general. This week we will explore aspects of Ayurveda, yoga, Jyotisha, Vedic administration, various concepts that relate to them all, and how they are interconnected.
We will all be fed vegetarian food, have daily yoga classes, learning sessions, satsangs, and time in the ocean and sun, all in the harmonious environment of an ashram that welcomes all religions, faiths, and humans.
Contact Sivananda Ashram for reservations and questions.

How Jyotish Empowers Self-Realization in Personal Art Forms
2025-04-03
Thursday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 7:30 pm IST
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Sudhir Pandey brings a unique perspective to our Vedic Threads session, exploring the intersection of art and Jyotish as transformative tools for self-realization. Everyday objects that hold personal meaning can take on deeper significance when infused with creative intent, much like how Vedic astrology reveals the hidden influences shaping our cosmic purpose. By interpreting interstellar charts, Jyotish helps us uncover our destiny, resolve karmic patterns, and gain profound insight into our life journey. This session will weave together astrology and artistic expression, offering a meditative and powerful approach to self-awareness, self-expression, and personal growth.
We welcome you to join us in heartfelt conversation on the context in which Indian wisdom traditions exist in Vedic Threads. For 35 USD/month you have access to two live 1.5-hour sessions/month with Drs. Ramkumar, Welch, world-class guest instructors, dedicated participants from all over the world, and more than 70 hours of content from previous sessions. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.

Vedānta in Daily Life
2025-03-06
Thursday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 8:30 pm IST
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Join us for a special Vedic Threads session with Prem Sadasivananda, a direct disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda and an esteemed scholar of Vedānta and Yoga philosophy, to discover how ancient wisdom can illuminate our modern lives. In this session, Prem will guide us in examining the fundamental Goal of Life, unveiling how our sense of Identification creates suffering and perpetuates the Illusion of Ownership. Drawing on timeless teachings, he will offer practical steps to recognize the oneness at our core and integrate these insights into everyday living. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or new to the spiritual path, this session promises profound understanding and transformative tools for personal growth.
We welcome you to join us in heartfelt conversation on the context in which Indian wisdom traditions exist in Vedic Threads. For 35 USD/month you have access to two live 1.5-hour sessions/month with Drs. Ramkumar, Welch, world-class guest instructors, dedicated participants from all over the world, and more than 70 hours of content from previous sessions. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.

Sattvāvajaya: Healing Trauma with Yoga and Ayurveda
2025-02-06
Thursday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 8:30 pm IST
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Following Anjali Deva’s exploration of trauma in the previous Vedic Threads session, her father, Arun Deva will present sattvāvajaya, a therapeutic approach rooted in the integration of yoga and Ayurveda, to heal and balance the mind. This session will focus on practical methods for restoring mental clarity and emotional well-being, providing tools to address the impact of saṃskāra, vāsanā, and prajñāparādha on our lives. Participants will learn how to cultivate sattva—purity and balance—through specific treatments and practices.
We welcome you to join us in heartfelt conversation on the context in which Indian wisdom traditions exist in Vedic Threads. For 35 USD/month you have access to two live 1.5-hour sessions/month with Drs. Ramkumar, Welch, world-class guest instructors, dedicated participants from all over the world, and more than 70 hours of content from previous sessions. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.

Understanding Trauma Through Saṃskāra, Vāsanā, and Prajñāparādha
2025-01-02
Thursday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 8:30 pm IST
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In this session, Anjali Deva will explore trauma through the lens of Indian knowledge systems, offering a profound understanding of how past impressions (saṃskāra), latent tendencies (vāsanā), and mistakes of the intellect (prajñāparādha) shape our emotional and mental experiences. By delving into these Sanskrit concepts, Anjali will guide participants in recognizing how trauma manifests and how it can be addressed holistically within the framework of Indian wisdom traditions.
We welcome you to join us in heartfelt conversation on the context in which Indian wisdom traditions exist in Vedic Threads. For 35 USD/month you have access to two live 1.5-hour sessions/month with Drs. Ramkumar, Welch, world-class guest instructors, dedicated participants from all over the world, and more than 70 hours of content from previous sessions. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.

Abhinavagupta & Lal Ded (Lalleshvari): Mystic Poets in Daily Life
2024-11-21
SPECIAL TIME: Thur 8pm ET/ Friday November 22 at 6:30am IST/12pm Sydney time.
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Abhinavagupta was a living example of the value of the study of multiple disciplines, as he studied the schools of philosophy and art of his time under the guidance of as many as fifteen (or more) teachers and gurus. He authored seminal works on poetry and drama as well as extraordinarily profound and influential philosophical works.
Lal Ded was a mystic poet in the Kashmir Shaivism tradition and are said to be the earliest compositions in the Kashmiri language.
Rose Baudin shares her love of these two luminaries and how their works and spirits have influenced her life and yoga practice of over 50 years.
We welcome you to join us in heartfelt conversation on the context in which Indian wisdom traditions exist in Vedic Threads. For 35 USD/month you have access to two live 1.5-hour sessions/month with Drs. Ramkumar, Welch, world-class guest instructors, dedicated participants from all over the world, and more than 70 hours of content from previous sessions. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.

Dharma within Sanātana Dharma: Eternal Duty in Service and Life
2024-11-07
Thursday, 10:00am ET (New York Time) / 8:30 pm IST
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In this session, we welcome Hanuman Dass, founder of Go Dharmic, a non-profit organization engaged in humanitarian and environmental initiatives. We will explore the concept of dharma within Sanātana Dharma, focusing on its role as a guiding principle for ethical conduct and service. Go Dharmic’s activities, such as establishing school libraries and computer labs in India and Nepal, distributing meals globally, and environmental conservation efforts like planting mangroves in the Sundarbans, provide practical contexts for discussing how dharma influences personal and communal responsibilities. This discussion aims to enhance understanding of dharma’s impact on individual actions and societal welfare.
Key Points:

Defining dharma as a cosmic law and personal duty.
The role of dharma in guiding ethical and moral choices.
Discussion of real-world applications of dharma in service and community support, illustrated by Go Dharmic’s projects.
The relationship between individual actions and the broader community under the framework of Sanātana Dharma.

Background: Hanuman Dass has led Go Dharmic for 13 years, focusing on education, poverty alleviation, and environmental conservation. His work has been recognized with several awards, including the Points of Light Award and the CharityTimes CEO of the Year. This session is designed for those interested in the practical applications of ancient wisdom in modern contexts, providing a clear view of how traditional concepts like dharma can guide contemporary life and service.
We welcome you to join us in heartfelt conversation on the context in which Indian wisdom traditions exist in Vedic Threads. For 35 USD/month you have access to two live 1.5-hour sessions/month with Drs. Ramkumar, Welch, world-class guest instructors, dedicated participants from all over the world, and more than 70 hours of content from previous sessions. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.

Death & Dying
2024-10-19 - 2024-11-23
This thought-provoking course, co-taught by Drs. Shubham Kulkarni, Robert Svoboda & Claudia Welch invites participants to delve into the universal and inevitable process of death through a unique blend of Ayurveda, mental health insights, and end-of-life care practices. Designed for those who are either fascinated by or fearful of death, the course offers a rich exploration of the emotional and spiritual dimensions associated with dying and the care of those at the end of life.
Who Should Enroll?

Individuals eager to understand death from multiple perspectives, including the medical, emotional, and spiritual.
Those interested in the practical and clinical aspects of end-of-life care, as well as the philosophical and ethical considerations.
Participants looking for a compassionate approach to managing their fears and curiosity about death, guided by experienced instructors versed in Indian wisdom traditions.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the philosophical perspectives on death and dying within Indian knowledge and spiritual traditions, contrasting them as appropriate with perspectives from other traditions
Explore the concept of karma and how it influences the process of dying and the afterlife.
Learn about the stages of death and the journey of the soul as described in classical texts including the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads.
Analyze the practical, ethical and moral considerations in end-of-life care.
Investigate the practices of ancestor worship and the importance of honoring the departed.
Develop skills for providing compassionate support to those who are dying and their families.
Comprehend the foundational principles of Ayurveda and how they relate to end-of-life care.
Identify the signs and symptoms of impending death (ariṣṭa lakṣaṇa) according to Ayurvedic texts.
Understand the significance and interpretation of ariṣṭa lakṣaṇa in clinical practice and care planning.
Explore the emotional spectrum experienced by individuals at the end of life from both Ayurvedic and psychological perspectives.
Learn techniques for managing emotional distress, anxiety, and fear in dying patients using Ayurvedic practices.
Develop comprehensive care plans that integrate Ayurvedic treatments,dietary and lifestyle modifications.
Develop effective communication strategies for discussing end-of-life issues with patients and their families.
Emphasise the importance of self-care based on Ayurveda to prevent burnout and maintain emotional resilience for caregivers of The Dying.
Role of Music as a therapy in end-of-life care & after death.
What is happening in life vs. death, from the perspective of sāṅkhya philosophy
Explore what one might do to prepare to die & prepare for the passing of loved ones
Describe the relationship of the four āśramas and death
Explore the role ahaṅkāra may play in the death process
Be able to describe the relationship between attachment and ahaṅkāra
Explore how one might support another to prepare for their death
Consider how you might support the family of someone dying
What different forms of grief might look like and the process of being present with this

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, if you have assimilated the material, you will be able to:

Engage deeply with the philosophical and spiritual dimensions of death and dying
Understand some models of the journey of the soul
Understand the implications of karma on the dying process
Appreciate the rituals and practices associated with death, and know how to perform a simple post-death ritual
Have techniques to turn to to manage the overwhelming emotions that can accompany death
Transform personal fears of death into opportunities for spiritual growth and liberation.
Articulate & use core Ayurvedic principles in end-of-life care
Use music as a companion dealing with death
Know better how to live your life, because of its implications in death.

Registration and details for Death & Dying

The Role Of Paramparā & Dṛṣṭi In Education
2024-08-01
Learning and living within a paramparā (tradition), leads one to develop a certain worldview or vision of reality (dṛṣṭi), which informs our role and actions in the world. For two thousand years, India saw great prosperity in part due to the prevalent individual and collective dṛṣṭi of that time. The colonial regime changed the underlying dṛṣṭi of her education system which resulted in her impoverishment at various levels. Dr. Anuradha Choudry joins us in Vedic Threads, Satsangam’s membership-based course, to explore the role of paramparā (tradition) & dṛṣṭi (perspective, worldview, vision) in ancient vs. modern education, to consider what has been lost, and what we might wish to restore.

We welcome you to join us in heartfelt conversation on the context in which Indian wisdom traditions exist in Vedic Threads. For 35 USD/month you have access to two live 1.5-hour sessions/month with Drs. Ramkumar, Welch, world-class guest instructors, dedicated participants from all over the world, and more than 45 hours of content from previous sessions. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.

2024-07-11 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
We welcome you to join us in heartfelt conversation on the context in which Indian wisdom traditions exist in Vedic Threads, Satsangam’s membership-based course. For 35 USD/month you have access to two live 1.5-hour sessions/month with Drs. Ramkumar, Welch, world-class guest instructors, dedicated participants from all over the world, and more than 45 hours of content from previous sessions. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.

Vāstu Śāstra Introduction
2024-07-04 - 2024-07-18
There is a saying in Hindi that there are three things every human requires: food (roti), clothing (kapra) and shelter (makan). Where we live our lives has a great impact on our physical and mental wellbeing. The study of shelter is an art (kalā) that combines knowledge of architecture and geomancy and is called in Sanskrit: sthāpatyaveda or vāstu śāstra. Radhasharandas Rajesh Shinde ji will join Drs. Claudia Welch & Ramkumar and the Vedic Threads community to introduce us to these arts and help us consider how to apply some of this ancient knowledge in our modern lives.
We welcome you to join us in heartfelt conversation on the context in which Indian wisdom traditions exist in Vedic Threads, Satsangam’s membership-based course. For 35 USD/month you have access to two live 1.5-hour sessions/month with Drs. Ramkumar, Welch, world-class guest instructors, dedicated participants from all over the world, and more than 45 hours of content from previous sessions. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.

Hitāyu & Sukhāyu: Psychology of Wellbeing & Happiness
2024-06-20 | Satsangam
Dr. Mala Kapadia, Director, Interdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Anaadi Foundation, Palani, Tamil Nadu, Bharat joins Drs. Ramkumar & Claudia Welch–and Satsangam’s Vedic Threads community to discuss how the pandemic era has created, unveiled and exacerbated mental health concerns that persist. It has been a strong wake-up call to humanity. In the post-Covid, “new normal”, we are prompted to evaluate the strength of our health, happiness and immunity, and question how we are living and what indeed is and supports these things.

Ayurveda, the science of life, provides insights to help us explore these things.
It describes four possible conditions of life — āyu: hita (healthy wellbeing), sukha (happy) ahita (diseased) and duḥkha (unhappy). Ayurveda teaches us how to create hita āyu, as only then can sukha āyu be experienced. Once we understand these principles, we can apply them to collective, global health as well as individual health.

We welcome you to join us in heartfelt conversation on these themes, in our twice-monthly Vedic Threads membership-based course. For 35 USD/month you have access to two live 1.5-hour sessions/month with Drs. Ramkumar, Welch, world-class guest instructors, dedicated participants from all over the world, and more than 45 hours of content from previous sessions. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.

Kathā Cikitsā: The Healing Power of Storytelling
2024-05-03 - 2024-05-06 | Satsangam
Join Satsangam’s team, including Drs. Robert Svoboda, Fred Smith Ramkumar, Claudia Welch, Scott Blossom, Kimberly Kubicke and the rest of the satsangam team and friends, in Taos, New Mexico to delve into the therapeutic dimensions of storytelling. The retreat is designed for those who cherish stories, as well as for anyone seeking to understand how to construct or choose stories that act as the right medicine in varied situations.
Throughout this engaging healing retreat, participants will explore how various principles of Ayurveda apply to storytelling, and how to identify the therapeutic potential of narratives. We will explore how to discern whether a story is stabilizing (bṛṃhaṇa) or activating (laṅghana); how it can be tailored to pacify vāta, pitta, or kapha imbalances; how it relates to sattva, rajas and tamas and other traditional concepts, like the five vāyus. Participants will leave with an enhanced ability to determine the healing properties of stories, recognize those suitable for specific individuals, and enrich their therapeutic toolbox with new, meaningful stories. This is an invitation to immerse in the profound legacy of the Indian tradition of storytelling (Kathā Paramparā) and discover the potent blend of storytelling and Ayurveda as a tool for healing and connection.
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Saṅkalpa: the Role of Intent in Medicine and Life
2024-05-02 - 2024-05-16 | Satsangam
These two 1.5 hour live, online sessions (May 2 & 16) are part of Satsangam’s Vedic Threads’ ongoing membership-based course with Drs. Ramkumar & Welch. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.

These May sessions are dedicated to the concept of saṅkalpa.

Saṅkalpa translates as, “intention” or, “determination”. Ayurveda physician Dr. Vignesh Devraj ji plans to join the Vedic Threads community for the first May session to explore the role of saṅkalpa in medicine—from the patient’s experience as well as the doctor’s. This can relate to the way a practitioner and the patient approaches the doctor/patient relationship; the roles of medicine, the doctor, the patient, hope, compliance; what is whose responsibility, and to the outcome itself. Some of these insights are likely to apply to life in general as well as to medicine.

We welcome you to join us in heartfelt conversation on these themes, in our twice-monthly Vedic Threads membership-based course. For 35 USD/month or 365 USD/ year you have access to two live 1.5-hour sessions/month with Drs. Ramkumar, Welch, world-class guest instructors, dedicated participants from all over the world, and more than 45 hours of content from previous sessions.

Animal, Plant and Agricultural Ayurveda
2024-04-04 - 2024-04-18 | Satsangam
These two 1.5 hour live, online sessions (April 04 & 18, 2024) are part of Satsangam’s Vedic Threads’ ongoing membership-based course with Drs. Ramkumar & Welch. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.
In the first session, Sanjeev Kumar Kulangara is scheduled to join us.
Along with the 8 branches of Ayurveda that apply to humans, we can understand that, depending on the teacher, there are 2 or 3 other branches: one covers agriculture or farming (kṛṣi Ayurveda); one plants & trees (vṛkṣa Ayurveda), and one animals (mṛga or paśu Ayurveda). (Alternatively, we could understand there is just mṛga or paśu Ayurveda and kṛṣi Ayurveda–which covers plants, trees and agriculture). There are some sub-branches for specialization of mṛga or paśu Ayurveda for some animals– like Ashwa Ayurveda for horses, and Gaja Ayurveda for elephants.
There is a subset of these various branches of Ayurveda that join them together, working symbiotically to benefit all, without inflicting any violence on animals. This is called, go adharid kṛṣi or, cow-based agriculture. According to the principles outlined by, “father of agriculture,” Subhash Palekar, there are 3 factors necessary for success in this method: 1. Health; 2. Mindset and, 3. Native cattle. Together they yield, “zero-budget” farming practices that nourish the land, cows, other animals, and humans.
Sanjeev Kumar Kulangara has worked with these practices for seven years. He learned from his guru ji, Swami Nirmalananda Giri Maharaj, and continues to learn with masters of these methods as he works with of the Ayurveda eco-village vaidyagrama’s cows—and other animals– in Tamil Nadu, India. Here he protects and nurtures rare breeds of cows, including anaganmala kulan—a breed of small cows from Anaganmala—that number only around 200 in the world.
Sanjeev ji joins us in Vedic Threads to share these practices and provide a window into the inspiring results, using real-life examples.

Theyyam: Carrying the Deity with Pepita Seth
2024-03-07 - 2024-03-21 | Satsangam
These two 1.5 hour live, online sessions (March 07 & 21, 2024) are part of Satsangam’s Vedic Threads’ ongoing membership-based course with Drs. Ramkumar & Welch. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.
These March sessions are dedicated to Theyyam. In the first session, Pepita Seth is scheduled to join us.
Seriously, you must check out Pepita ji’s intro video on the Team page. She is 81, sharp, deep and has an incredible amount of wisdom and experience to share. She intends to share with us some of what she has learned while writing her new book (20 YEARS in the making): In God’s Mirror: The Theyyams of Malabar.
The ritual of Theyyam is an ancient form of worship found only in northern Kerala in India. It is believed to be somewhere between a thousand and two thousand years old. Its complex beliefs and practices belong exclusively to families of hereditary practitioners. As soon as the designated theyyakkaran – a word literally meaning a Theyyam man – completes the required preliminaries he will call the formless deity down from heaven. It is then that the theyyakkaran ‘carries’ the deity by conceptually providing him – or her – with a body and therefore the ability to interact with their devotees. While every Theyyam deity must follow their assigned rituals, they invariably dance to express their joy at interacting with the devotees who flock to receive their blessings. This is an important aspect of Theyyam, and explains why it draws people. While some may approach simply to receive the deity’s blessings, others will seek answers to their troubles, an interaction that often involves serious one-to-one discussions.
We welcome you to join us in heartfelt conversation on these themes, in our twice-monthly Vedic Threads membership-based course. For 35 USD/month you have access to two live 1.5-hour sessions/month with Drs. Ramkumar, Welch, world-class guest instructors, dedicated participants from all over the world, and more than 40 hours of content from previous sessions.

Abhinavagupta & Lal Ded (Lalleshvari): Mystic Poets in Daily Life
2024-02-01 - 2024-02-15 | Satsangam
These two 1.5 hour live, online sessions (February 1 & 15, 2024) are part of Satsangam’s Vedic Threads’ ongoing membership-based course with Drs. Ramkumar & Welch. Schedule details available on your class page after registration.
These February sessions are dedicated to Abhinavagupta and Lal Ded.
Abhinavagupta was a living example of the value of the study of multiple disciplines, as he studied the schools of philosophy and art of his time under the guidance of as many as fifteen (or more) teachers and gurus. He authored seminal works on poetry and drama as well as extraordinarily profound and influential philosophical works.
Lal Ded was a mystic poet in the Kashmir Shaivism tradition and are said to be the earliest compositions in the Kashmiri language.
Rose Baudin, long time friend and colleague of Drs. Ramkumar & Claudia shares her love of these two luminaries and how their works and spirits have influenced her life and yoga practice of over 50 years.
We welcome you to join us in heartfelt conversation on these themes, in our twice-monthly Vedic Threads membership-based course. For USD/month you have access to two live 1.5-hour sessions/month with Drs. Ramkumar, Welch, world-class guest instructors, dedicated participants from all over the world, and more than 40 hours of content from previous sessions.

EAY Information Session July 25
2023-07-25 12:00 (America/Halifax)

EAY Information Session June 13
2023-06-13 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver)
