new postgraduate program at Alandi Ashram & Gurukula

[Guest guest]

Alakananda Ma is a British-trained physician who was one of the first

Western medical doctors to practice Ayurveda in the US. She is a

renowned teacher, lecturer, writer of insightful articles on Ayurveda

and also principal of Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula, a traditional

gurukula, in Boulder, Colorado. Alakananda has been writing articles

for Banayn for several years and we deeply appreciate the wisdom that

she offers. We are pleased to announce a new educational program

starting this fall at Ma's school.

 

Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula is offering the first Postgraduate Gurukula

Program in Ayurvedic Sciences in the U.S. The program is set up to be

an Oxford or Cambridge-style education with very small classes and

close personal attention from the teacher, and will be open to

selected graduates of Ayurvedic or yoga programs.

 

Traditionally, a gurukula was a type of ancient Hindu school in India

that was residential in nature with the students and the guru or

teacher living in proximity, often in the same house. It was a place

where students resided together as equals, learned from the guru and

in return helped the guru with mundane chores such as washing clothes

or cooking.

 

As a modern version of the traditional gurukula, Alandi's aim is to

combine the best of new paradigm medical education with the best of

the ancient gurukula contemplative pedagogy. The school seeks to

empower students by placing in their hands the tools needed to garner

and evaluate knowledge and information and by cultivating the seeds

of stillness, altruism and compassionate service in their hearts. In

line with the new medical curriculum, the program offers case based,

student directed education as well as traditional modalities such a

weekly satsang. Another highlight is an in-depth clinical training

component. This marks a significant step in the development of

Ayurvedic education towards training and licensing system similar to

in America.

 

The school is not interested in graduating hundreds of Ayurvedic

students but rather a few excellent and compassionate healers who are

able to connect to their patients on a deeper level. It is the goal

of Alakananda Ma and the school to be able to provide truly holistic

support to our students' development. This means not only rigorous

intellectual and clinical training but also a deep immersion in the

spiritual and Vedic context of Ayurveda.

 

The two-year postgraduate program, starting August 2008, offers over

1500 hours with a 400 hour clinical component and an onsite

educational pharmacy. To order an application package or receive

additional information, students should call 303-786-7437 or email

info. Alternatively, visit www.alandiashram.org