ALCHEMIZING THE KLESHA
Online Course with Harshada Wagner
October 2 - November 6 2023
Welcome to Alchemizing the Kleshas! In this six-week online course, we will embark on a transformative journey to deepen our understanding and experience of the five klesha, the five basic contractions of the divine human experience. This is some core yoga psychology that will help EVERYTHING make sense!
The concept of klesha originates from ancient yogic philosophy, which recognizes that human beings are essentially perfect and divine, but experientially fragmented and prone to suffering and mental bondage. These kleshas provide a framework for exploring the various dimensions of our human weirdness and offer insights into our overall path towards well-being and self-realization.
Throughout this course, we will dive into each of the classical five klesha individually, exploring their unique qualities, functions, and interconnections. We will delve into the process of forgetting who we are and what our true essence is, uncovering the profound wisdom and potential for freedom that lies as we examine each of these aspects of our contraction. We will also add one more lesson, where Harshada will speak more speficially about the experience of core essence and the tantric approach to working with the kleshas.
The Klesha are:
Avidya - Ignorance. We forget who we are.
Asmita - Egotism. We identify with our limited self.
Raga - Desire. Out of touch with our deep essence, we desire substitutes.
Dvesha - Aversion. The other side of desire.
Abhinivesha - Fear of death. And fear of change, and clinging to what is and what was and dreading what will be.
By gaining a comprehensive understanding of the six klesha, we will learn how to navigate our inner landscapes, identify areas of imbalance or disharmony, and develop practices to cultivate greater wholeness, vitality, and self-awareness, and learn how to connect our inner work to our outer life.
Through a combination of weekly masterclasses, guided meditations, self-reflection exercises, and practical tools, we will embark on a transformative journey that will awaken our true potential and enhance our overall well-being.
Whether you are a yoga practitioner, a wellness enthusiast, or simply someone seeking a deeper connection with yourself and the world around you, this course will provide you with invaluable tools and insights to support your personal growth and inner exploration. It is designed to be accessible to individuals of all levels, from beginners to experienced practitioners, and can be adapted to fit into your unique schedule and pace.
So, are you ready to embark on this journey of self-discovery and embrace the wisdom of the five Kleshas? Join us in Alchemizing the Kleshas and unlock the transformative power within you. Let us begin this profound exploration of our inner landscape and uncover the layers that make us whole.
*a note about klesha vs kleshas: Plural Sanskrit nouns don't have an s on the end. We do it commonly when we use Sanskrit in English; chakras, mantras, sutrās, etc. It is a little awkward, but for the sake of accuracy and also to give a fresh perspective, I will drop the s on the plural klesha sometimes. Out of habit, you will see me using the s sometimes with kleshas and for other plural Sanskrit nouns such as Sādhakas etc.
It's for anyone who deeply cares about yoga, and by yoga I mean the actual classical meaning of yoga. My definition of yoga is this:
Yoga is the process of discovering, owning, and expressing our innate, sacred, human magnificence.
Yoga has come to mean so much less than this. It has become, for most people who use the word, merely an exercise method. This course is for true students of yoga, yoga teachers, yoga-related business owners, and anyone who wants to use the potent alchemical medicine of applied yoga philosophy to change their experience of being alive.
It's for anyone who is hungry to expand their experience of being alive and learn more about themselves on many levels.
How Does the Course Work:
We will take 6 weeks to go through the six klesha. Each week on Monday I will do a live broadcast class. Classes are at Noon Pacific Time, 3pm Eastern time. People who are able to attend in person may attend in person, otherwise, people can attend the live broadcast on Zoom, or watch the replay which will be posted here on Teachable. Each class will feature an in-depth discussion on the klesha of the week, guided practice, and questions and answers. In addition to the weekly class, notes, links, guided meditations and other resources will also be posted here along with an actively moderated comment section for every week.
The video links and all other resources will remain on the platform indefinitely for your reference and further study.
NEW ADDITION:The Immersion Level
For a limited number of people, we have a deeper level you can engage in. If you really want to go deep during the six weeks of the course, you can add on six weeks of private coaching for a massively reduced rate. This will allow us to dive extra deep and customize practices just for you.
How Much Does It Cost?
The course is very affordable. Just $200 for the whole basic course. That's about the same amount you would pay to drop into a good weekly yoga class! The Immersion Level is only $1200. The coaching sessions alone normally would be twice that amount of tuition.
NEWEST EDITION: The Bundle
If you missed the past two courses; Yama and Niyama and Kosha, you can get them along with the Klesha Course for a huge discount. It's just a $525 for all three! That's 22 weeks of course work! All of the weekly classes are recorded so you can learn at your own pace and review the classes whenever you want.
*We recently removed PayPal as an option for payment through this page. But if you would like to use PayPal or Venmo to pay, you can. Just email [email protected] and we will let you know how to do it.
Your Instructor
Harshada David Wagner is a master meditation instructor, author, artist, dad, and wisdom teacher with more than 25 years of teaching experience. Classically trained in the wisdom traditions of Yoga, Bhakti, Vedanta, and Tantra, his teachings come from his decades of working with people helping them learn to live more fulfilling, soul-centered, purpose driven lives. The Sanskrit name Harshada was given to him by Gurumayi Chidvilasananda in 1996, meaning "the bringer of joy, laughter, and delight".
Along with being a meditation teacher and teacher-trainer, Harshada is a teacher of "applied yoga philosophy". He offers teachings and practices from the Mahayoga tradition, but only ones that help people to get free, transform their vision of life, and serve their world in a better way.
He's known as a down-to-earth, lighthearted teacher who is able to help people get to the "deep stuff" fast. He offers a balance of grounded, approachable style of teaching with the most profound ancient wisdom and classical mystic practices. He is a dynamic speaker and storyteller and is considered one of the best meditation teachers of his generation.
He is the author of the men's book Backbone (Penguin 2015), and On the Field of Dharma (about the Bhagavad Gita), and is currently working on a modern translation of and commentary on the 10 century Tantric text known as the Shiva Sutra.
He is the proud father of two and lives with his family in Ojai, California when he is not traveling to offer retreats and seminars.