Spring! We all know it to be a time of growth and renewal. And not surprisingly, Vedic Vidya Institute's classes are back in bloom again. This season we offer a new robust Sanskrit Foundation course, the latest round of our free Yoga Sutra chanting sessions, a continuing sturdy Intermediate Sanskrit program, and a wholly new seminar on a famous set of astrological patterns. You'll find more detail on these and other facets of spring at Vedic Vidya in the rest of this newsletter.

Be they new or ongoing, our programs continue to be well subscribed. Such strong attendance affirms the advent of spring for us yet more. Why? Because during our past three years the growth of Vedic Vidya Institute's keen student body has been our herald of spring. In the middle of this year's spring, we once again welcome our new and returning students, and wish them success in their studies.

So, not only do April showers continue to bring May flowers, the passage of April will also usher in two May blossoms at Vedic Vidya Institute. First, the inimitable Scott Roos will start another four-part round of popular Yoga Sutra chanting. Then, the redoubtable Penny Farrow will guide you through her seminar Five Great Souls (Or Not). Be sure to catch the details below.

Learn to recite Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, one stunning jewel in the world's necklace of wisdom. And learn to do it right—the way it's done in India!

By hearing the Sanskrit sounds from one skilled in their proper intonation and then repeating them as a group, you not only move toward feeling their meaning, you start to memorize them instinctively as well. The process is a boon for anyone interested in the study of genuine Yoga, or other sacred subjects.

During this popular event, you'll get a handout with basic translation and easy markers to help group chanting of verses undertaken. Both new and past participants will enjoy the mix of fresh verses and selections from previous sessions. If you are new or timid, you'll enjoy blending your voice in anonymity. The whole group chants—you are not singled out.

These joyous one-hour sessions will help free your voice and open your heart to ancient wisdom that remains highly useful in today's world.

Four, one-hour classes on Thursday evenings

Instructor: Scott Roos
Dates: May 3rd, 17th, 31st, June 7th
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE!

More Info...

If you're doing or learning Vedic astrology, you've come across five astrological patterns said to mark a great soul. Known in Sanskrit as a Pancha-Maha-Purusha Yoga, such a pattern often excites astrologers and through them, their clients. Rama, an incarnation of God in Hindu belief, had one.

More often than not, visions of riches, royalty, and refinement start to dance in people's head on discovery of even one signal for a great soul as seen in a horoscope. But will a full "punch" lie in every Pancha-Maha-Purusha Yoga, or will a singular pattern in an individual's horoscope take the juice out of the punch?

We look forward to seeing you in this one-of-a-kind seminar, where you will learn:

How to stop the madness of false promises promoted by wrong astrological analysis.

The meaning of a "great soul" in the context of Vedic astrology and Pancha-Maha-Purusha Yoga.

A trustworthy map of what genuine Vedic tradition says about Pancha-Maha-Purusha Yoga's design and thrust, singly or as a group.

Those constellations on the eastern horizon at someone's birth that strongly support the advent of a great soul.

The wider implication of "great soul"—why even dictators join saints, athletes, entertainers, and social reformers in the Pancha-Maha-Purusha club.

Why some Pancha-Maha-Purusha Yoga bearers fail the test of membership in the great soul club.

How the wedges of the local sky at the place of a great soul's birth predict the extent and arena of their soulfulness.

Other cool astrological patterns that use the great soul combinations as a stepping stone to amazing human states and events.

If you like and are serious about Vedic astrology a notch above the rest, come to this event!

This seminar is open to anyone with a background in the basic building blocks of Jyotish: Rashis, Grahas, Dignities, Aspects and Dashas.

Instructor: Penny Farrow
Dates: May 5th and 6th, 2007
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $150 due by April 20th ($175 thereafter)

More Info...

Kautilya, the king's cunning minister, knew the solution to his master's problem. He would enlist the services of a peacock, hand-picked and personally-trained. Then, the elusive cobra terrorizing the king's harem would be driven away, perhaps even killed by such a bird. Peacocks, reasoned Kautilya, were famous throughout India as the mortal enemy of cobras. Yes, he would bring his solution to the king.

But this cobra was clever, strong, and fearless. It always came out of its secret lair suddenly—unpredictably at its own whim—causing the queens to swoon with fright. Kautilya knew this cobra unfailingly got away, slyly eluding the peacocks roaming freely in the king's court at present. So, thought Kautilya, an exceptional peacock with great skill was needed. The desperate king, trusting his minister, agreed.

A prime peacock was found, and Kautilya undertook its training. Like all peacocks, the bird was beautiful, magnificently plumed—and vain. True to the reputation of its species, this peacock looked down upon everything in its view with an imperious gaze. Its strut was cocky, reflecting its spirit. Itching to outdo its competitors, the bird was always ready for a fight whenever Kautilya exposed it to rival birds, and its colors flushed with rage whenever Kautilya held a snake before this peacock.

The king, eager for a solution, kept after Kautilya to loosen the specially-trained bird in the court's harem. But Kautilya knew his peacock was not ready. He felt the peacock's cockiness, its imperious nature, its competitiveness, and its rage would break the focus the bird would need to best the wily serpent. But after a few weeks, Kautilya told the king the bird was ready.

Wondering why, the king commanded an explaination. Kautilya brought the peacock to the king. With his own eyes, the monarch saw that the dazzling peacock now bore a humble but naturally striking manner, that it was now calm in the presence of the other birds, and that it now gazed on a snake put before it with a cold-blooded attentive stare. Indeed, the bird was ready. The wily cobra would find this peacock too calm to distract it from the task of slaying even a powerful cobra, its natural enemy.

That evening the mighty cobra, hoping to terrorize the queens once again, snuck out of its lair. The peacock saw it. Keeping the serpent in its unwavering gaze, the bird planned its strategy calmly while moving toward the creeper. On a collision course with the calmly approaching peacock, the cobra writhed, raised itself to its full height, and hissed fearfully. It spat venom several times. But when the peacock did not flinch, the cobra knew the bird was mustering its lethal attack. The wily cobra thus turned, slid away at full speed, and left the king's court forever.

The ever-vigilant Kautilya saw the whole encounter. Delighted with the result, Kautilya told the relieved king: The wise restrain their senses and passions like this noble bird; they then accomplish their purpose fully aware of time, place, and ability.