Neil Dalal on Vedanta & Self-Inquiry (#104) By Jacob Kyle Posted on February 5, 2020 #Philosophy#Traditions About the Guest Neil Dalal is Associate Professor of South Asian Philosophy and Religious Thought at the University of Alberta, where he teaches in both the Philosophy Department and Religious Studies Program. He received his PhD in Asian Cultures and Languages from the University of Texas at Austin where he specialized in Sanskrit and Indian philosophy, and an MA in East-West Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Dalal’s interests explore philosophy of mind, contemplative psychologies, and meditation practices found in classical South Asian Yoga systems. He grounds this research in classical Sanskrit texts and commentaries as well as their living traditions. Dalal’s current research focuses on the intersections of contemplative practices, textual study, and embodiment in Advaita Vedānta. He is the co-director of “Gurukulam” (The Orchard/Sony Pictures), a sensory-ethnographic study of a contemporary Advaita Vedānta community, co-editor of Asian Perspectives on Animal Ethics (Routledge Press), and has published articles in venues such as the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Journal of Indian Philosophy, and Journal of Hindu Studies. Dalal is also a teacher within the traditional lineage of Śaṅkarācārya Advaita Vedānta. He spent several years living a monastic lifestyle in India while studying under the direct guidance of the renowned Advaita Vedāntin, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, who gave him permission to teach in 2002. In this episode, we discuss: Neil’s documentary film, “Gurukulam”, which explores a living Advaita Vedānta lineage through sensory ethnographyWhat brought Neil to his pathTriple process of study for knowledge – listening, logical reflection, contemplative understandingExperienced hunting, the need for a teacher and reflections on the current state of “Gurus”The Western concept of Karma yoga vs. the way it is traditionally definedCultural appropriation, academia, yoga practitioners, the market of yoga and how we are manifesting these issues Take the podcast with you Subscribe in your favourite app Read more like this #Philosophy #Yoga Knowledge, Experience, and the Yoga Teacher with Daniel Simpson (#160) Daniel Simpson is the author of The Truth of Yoga, an accessible guide to yoga history and philosophy. This episode was previously recorded as part of the Future of the Yoga Teacher Summit and is being republished for its depth and relevance. By Jacob Kyle #Philosophy #Practice #Rasa #Traditions #Yoga Pratipakṣa Bhāvana: Cultivating the Opposite as a Celebration of Our Humanity The Oxford Dictionary defines passion as a strong and barely controllable emotion. Many so-called positive emotions fit that bill. So what happens if we experiment with touching sorrow in times when we feel the most euphoric of highs? Cultivating the opposite in all situations, even in times of elation, prepares us for the inevitability that we will at some point feel the lowest of lows. By Tara Lemerise #Traditions #Yoga Ashtanga Yoga in Sutras and the Gītā: A Comparison with Edwin Bryant (#157) Edwin Bryant is the professor of Hinduism at Rutgers University. He has published eight books, and authored a number of articles on the earliest origins of the Vedic culture, yoga philosophy, and the Krishna tradition. By Jacob Kyle #Practice #Traditions Is the West Ready for Tantra? with Andrew Holecek (#156) In this episode, author and Embodied Philosophy faculty, Andrew Holecek, is in conversation with Stephanie Corigliano and Jacob Kyle, as they discuss Andrew’s article, “Is the West Ready for Tantra?” an article released in the latest issue of Tarka. By Jacob Kyle TARKA Journal Discover our latest issues or become a monthly subscriber to access all digital and/or print content. Tarka #06: On Spiritual Citizenship Tarka #05: On Queer Dharma Tarka #04: On Death Tarka #03: On Ecology Tarka #02: On Illusion Tarka #01: On Bhakti Tarka #0: On the Scholar-Practitioner