The Katha Upanisad
Presented by Valerie Fimat-Faneco | Sunday 29 September, 1 - 5 pm
The Katha Upanisad
This astonishing text from the Black Yajur Veda is a beautiful dialogue between a precocious young man called Naciketas and Yama, the god of death. It contains profound teachings about yoga as well as lessons about life itself. In this workshop visiting teacher Valerie Fimat-Faneco will extract some of the most well-known and important verses illustrating the ideas found within the Kaṭha Upaniṣad, skilfully bringing them to life and welcoming questions and discussion. Valerie will also teach us to chant a selection of verses, and will finish the day with a meditative practice.
The Teacher
Valerie Fimat-Faneco is a student and teacher in the tradition of Krishnamacharya. Valerie is French and has lived in Europe, Australia and Singapore before moving recently to live in Perth. Valerie’s teacher is Frans Moors, one of the ‘founding fathers’ of yoga in Europe and a student of TKV Desikachar, the son and student of T Krishnamacharya. Valerie is a yoga teacher, teacher trainer, and yoga therapist; she is also a Vedic chant teacher, having studied with Radha Sundararajan. Valerie started giving webinars on yoga philosophy in 2012, the same year she translated Frans Moors' book on the Yogasūtras into English. Her passion for Vedic chanting led her first to Sanskrit studies and then to a Master in Philosophy, both at ANU - her M.Phil. thesis will be on the Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad.
Timetable
1 - 1.50pm General presentation of the text, its context and background
2 - 2:50pm Chanting - selection of verses from the Kaṭha Upaniṣad
3 - 3:50pm Detailed analysis and explanation of important verses, Q & A
4.10 - 5pm Meditative practice
The Classic Upaniṣads
The classic Upanishads are Vedic texts that deal with consciousness, ontological knowledge, and the pressing question of the identity between ātman and brahman. According to the Muktika canon, there are 108 principal Upaniṣads, of which 10 (or 13) are usually considered as major in the branch of Vedas they are affiliated to. The Kaṭha Upaniṣad is associated with the Yajur Veda (one of the four Vedas), as is the Taittirīya Upaniṣad. These were important texts for the lineage of Krishnamacharya.
Workshop details
When Sunday 29 September, 1.00 - 5.00 pm (arrive at least 10 mins earlier)
Investment $125
Eligibility This workshop is for Yoga and Vedic chant teachers, teacher trainees, and experienced students only, from all traditions. An understanding of yoga philosophy and Vedic chanting is required.