Dev Bhagavān

Foundation Series

The Foundations of Authentic Spiritual Life

Transcription 0: Introduction

Dev Priyānanda Svāmī Bhagavān

Introduction

Video Playlist: YouTube

The Foundation Series is the introduction to Dharmasār, meaning the Essence of Dharma. This is a teaching, a very broad context containing all the essential views of all authentic spiritual Paths and methods, and showing their inter-relations. Technically this is called an ontology: the background knowledge or system of relations undying any technical field or highly evolved skill.

It is based on the teaching of catur-darśanam, the Four Views explained by Śrīpad Śaṅkarācārya in his Sārīraka-bhāśya commentary on Vedānta-sūtra. These Four Views are, in turn, based on the four states of consciousness—waking, dreaming, deep sleep and the fourth, turīya—that are an intimate part of everyone’s daily experience.

Fittingly, the Foundation Series contains four videos—each one representing one of the four views of the catur-darśanam. Although the Foundation Series is intended for those new to Dharmasār, it spans the entire range of views, from lowest to highest, on the spiritual Path. Don’t be surprised, then, if you find much of this material difficult or inscrutable. We’re not deliberately trying to make it hard for you—but much of this material is likely beyond your experience.

It’s not expected that you will realize everything just by hearing one time. In fact, the entire Path is often a journey of many lifetimes. The point of this is to expose you to the higher range of views, just so that you know they exist and are attainable by an intelligent and well-motivated human being.

Video	Transcription
YouTube	Episode 1—Skillful Living
YouTube	Episode 2—Being & Becoming
YouTube	Episode 3—Process of Becoming
YouTube	Episode 4—Four Levels of Teaching