Yoga and Meditation Courses in Melbourne
Acarya Krpamayananda Avadhuta (aka Dada) is a monk and Yoga teacher who works for Seva Dharma Mission, a charitable non-profit organisation. Dada completed his Acarya training in Varanasi, India, in 1989. He is also a qualified pharmacist and naturopath.
Dada worked in India until 1992, and since then has worked in Africa – teaching Yoga, doing relief work, and helping to build schools and hospitals – Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
He is now in Melbourne, giving lectures and seminars on various topics, such as Yoga, meditation, natropathic principles for good health, Yoga techniques for stress management, and how students can improve their memory.
Below Dada answers some of our questions.
What is Yoga?
Most people think that Yoga means physical postures or physical exercises. Yoga does not mean exercise. Yoga means unification – unification of a person’s soul with Supreme Consciousness. This is the correct definition of Yoga.
Can Yoga be practised by everyone?
Yes, Yoga is for everyone, regardless of what they may believe or what religion they may follow.
What are Yoga practices?
Each human being has three fundamental aspects to their nature – physical, psychic (i.e., metal and emotional), and spiritual. There are Yoga practices for each of these fundamental aspects of human nature.
In the physical sphere, Karma Yoga, the Yoga of action, involves physical postures and physical work. Most people think that Hatha Yoga, practicing only physical postures, is all there is to the practice of Yoga, but this is not correct.
In the mental and emotional sphere, Jinana Yoga, the Yoga of knowledge, has been developed to enable people to expand their mental faculties, develop their personality and character, and attain mental peace. But Jinana Yoga alone is not a complete system of Yoga.
In the spiritual sphere, Bhakti Yoga, the Yoga of devotion, enables people to realize the Supreme. Those who have mastered this Yoga are said to be Self-realized, i.e., they have realized that there is no difference between their individual soul and Supreme Consciousness. Such a realization can only be achieved by regularly performing spiritual meditation.
Rajadhiraja Yoga, which literally means “the king of kings” Yoga, is the best form of Yoga. It includes Karma Yoga, Jinana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga.
Rajadhiraja Yoga combines Astaunga Yoga and Tantra Yoga. Astaunga Yoga means “eight-limbed” Yoga – it has eight aspects combined into one integrated system. Tantra Yoga teaches how to liberate the mind from all bondages by regularly performing spiritual meditation.
Spiritual meditation is the essence of Yoga. Physical and mental Yoga practices are designed to aid spiritual meditation.
What is the history of Yoga?
Theorigin of Yogaextends back many thousands of years. Archaeological evidence in India indicates that Yoga is more than 7,000 years old.
Historically Yoga teachings were passed on from teacher to disciple, in a personal, one-to-one manner. From earliest times the sole purpose of Yoga was the attainment of the highest spiritual goal: Self-realization, enlightenment, and the liberation of the individual soul.
Over the last 100 years or so, the lofty spiritual aims of Yoga have been increasingly diluted. Teachers began to shift their primary emphasis onto the physical practices of Hatha Yoga, often completely overlooking the higher spiritual aims and the deeper aspects of Yoga that are concerned with personal transformation and self-awareness.
What about Yoga today?
The history of Yoga continues to be written to this day. Certainly a lot of confusion surrounds the term Yoga nowadays. To a large extent this is a result of the fact that Yoga has spread throughout the world in a relatively short period of time, so naturally distortions have occurred. Yoga is now a multi-billion dollar industry, and it continues to expand into nearly every facet of modern-day life.
Needless to say, the ‘Yoga’ of today has moved a long way away from its historical foundations. If people are serious about learning Yoga today, they need to make sure they learn how Yoga impacts each sphere of human nature – physical, mental and spiritual, and not just focus on the physical aspect.
What is Seva Dharma Mission?
Seva Dharma Mission is a movement that was established to teach Rajadhiraja Yoga and spiritual meditation. It also trains Yoga and meditation teachers. It has been active in Australia since the early 1970s.
Seva and Dharma are Sanskrit words that mean “service” and “spirituality” respectively. So the mission of SDM is “Self-realization and service to humanity” by popularizing Rajadhiraja Yoga and spiritual meditation.
Where are you teaching Yoga classes?
I am conducting Yoga and meditation courses in the following locations:
1. Collingwood Senior Citizen Centre, Eddy Court, Abbotsford VIC 3067.
Time: Every Thursday from 11 February to 17 March, 7:00 pm to 8.30 pm.
2. Huntingdale Community Hall, corner of Germain St and Huntingdale Rd, Huntingdale VIC 3166.
Time: Every Monday from 8 February to 21 March, 7:00 pm to 8.00 pm.
3. East Ringwood Hall, Knaith Road, Ringwood East, VIC 3135
Time: Every Friday from 12 February to 25 March, 7:00 pm to 8.00 pm.
Contact: Call/SMS: 047 311 4086; Email: