Eastern Philosophy: From Confucius to Yogananda

Not exactly a religion but not just a form of exercise, the ancient practice of Yoga as taught by spiritual teachers for thousands of years has much to teach us about how to live a well-balanced and meaningful life. In this lesson, you will learn what Yoga is and how it can help you to live a more fulfilling life.

Patanjali was a powerful Yoga guru that revived the teachings of the ancient Vedic texts and helped spread Yoga throughout India over two thousand years ago. In this lesson,  you will learn about Patanjali's approach to Yoga and what he has to teach us about being happier more complete human being.

In this lesson, you will learn more of Patanjali's teachings and how he has had such an impact on the historical tradition of Yoga as it has morphed throughout the centuries and become what we know today.

Confucius was such a prolific figure that his teachings spread throughout ancient China and continue to influence culture throughout all of Asia today. In this lesson, you will be introduced to this powerful thinker and learn about some of his core teachings.

In this lesson, you will learn more about the teachings of Confucius and what he has to say about many aspects of life. The wisdom of this great philosopher can help us become better decisions makers, be a better family member, and motivate us to become the best versions of ourselves.

In this lesson, you will learn some of the more practical applications of Confucius's teachings and how they can help to improve your everyday life starting right now. One of the core messages of the great teachers throughout the East is that we need not wait for some distant future to build the life that we want, but rather must being taking actions today that are rooted in reality and present circumstances.

Krishnamurti was a unique figure in the pantheon of Eastern Philosophy in that he rejected all forms of organized religion and authority in favor of an emphasis on total freedom from what he perceived to be the enslavement of our minds by governments, teachers, and religions of all shapes and sizes. In this lesson, you will be introduced to this very interesting and powerful mind.

In this lesson, you will learn more of Krishnamurti's core insights and how they can have a positive impact on your life through developing a more clear sense of self and confidence in your own realizations and judgement.

In this lesson, you will learn how to apply the teachings of Krishnamurti to your everyday life in order to become more insightful and think in a way that will help with your overall judgement and decision making. Krishnamurti also has much to teach us about how to go within ourselves and learn who we are so that we can more easily live the life that we have chosen rather than the life that has chosen us.

Vivekananda was another unique but powerful figure in the annals of Eastern Philosophy tradition. His teachings are inspirational in nature and can you find untapped energy within yourself through his insights on the human condition. In this lesson, you will be introduced to this very interesting and wise spiritual teacher.

In this lesson, you will continue to learn some of Vivekananda's most useful teachings and how he played a large role in once again reviving the ancient teachings of Yoga in the tradition of Patanjali before him. He also helped to popularize Patanjali's Sutras, which helped to further spread Yoga throughout India in the 17th and 18th centuries.

In this lesson, you will learn some practical applications of Vivekananda's teachings that will help you in your everyday life. From finding inspirational work to living the life of your dreams, Vivekananda has much to teach us as we walk the path of an aspiring seeker of truth.

Considered by many to be the archetype of the Indian Yogi, Yogananda perhaps did more than anyone else to spread Yoga throughout the United States during his years in American during the 1920s. He has lately been popularized by the late great Steve Jobs famously having only one book on his computer at the time of his death: Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi. In this lesson, you will be introduced to this powerful spiritual figure.

In this lesson, you will learn more of Yogananda's teachings on how to live a more carefree peaceful life through the practice of meditation and other ways to cultivate calmness and learn to let go of your fears and worries as you navigate this tumultuous modern world in which we now live.

In this lesson, you will learn how to apply some of Yogananda's most insightful and practical teachings in your life. 

In this lesson, we conclude our discourse on Eastern Philosophy and leave you with some final thoughts and inspiration as you go about your everyday life and start to implement these ancient spiritual teachings.