Course

The course syllabus will be covered in six units as described below

Unit I

Describe Meditation and Understand its Benefits (CO1)

A: Importance of meditation. How does meditation help to overcome obstacles in life (Pre- recorded video with Swami Shubhamritananda Puri)

Reading 1: Why Meditate? (Swami Shubamritananda ji)

Reading 2: ‘Stillness of the Mind’ Chapter 17 in Amritam Gamaya (2022). Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust.

Additional Reading: Abhyasa Yoga: The Yoga of Practice. (Br. Achyutamrita Chaitanya)

B: Understand how meditation works. Understand how meditation helps in improving physical and mental health. Understand how meditation helps in the development of personality (Pre-recorded video with Dr. Ram Manohar)

Reading 1: Allen, Cynthia (2020) The Potential Health Benefits of Meditation

Additional Reading: Sharma, Hari (2022) Meditation: Process and Effects

Unit II

Causes of Stress and How Meditation Improves Well-being (CO2)

A: Learn how to prepare for meditation. Understand the aids that can help in effectively practicing meditation. Understand the role of sleep, physical activity, and a balanced diet in supporting meditation. (Pre-recorded video with Dr. Ram Manohar)

B: Causes of Stress. The problem of not being relaxed. Effects of stress on health. How meditation helps to relieve stress. Basics of stress management at home and the workplace. (Pre-recorded video with Prof Udhaykumar)

Reading 1: Mayo Clinic Staff (2022, April 29). Meditation: A Simple, Fast Way to Reduce Stress. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in- depth/meditation/art-20045858 (PDF provided)

Reading 2: ‘Efficient Action.’ Chapter 28 in Amritam Gamaya (2022). Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust.

Unit III

The Science of Meditation (CO3)

A: A preliminary understanding of the Science of meditation. What can modern science tell us about this tradition-based method? (Pre-recorded video with Dr. Shyam Diwakar)

B: How meditation helps humanity according to what we know from scientific research

(Pre-recorded video with Dr. Shyam Diwakar)

Reading 1: Does Meditation Aid Brain and Mental Health (Dr Shyam Diwakar)

Reading 2: ‘Science and Spirituality.’ Chapter 85 in Amritam Gamaya (2022). Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust.

Unit IV

Practicing MA OM Meditation in Daily Life (CO4)

Guided Meditation Sessions following scripts provided (Level One to Level Five)

Reading 1: MA OM and White Flower Meditation: A Brief Note (Swami Atmananda Puri)

Reading 2: ‘Live in the Present Moment.’ Chapter 71 in Amritam Gamaya (2022). Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust.

Unit V

Improving Communication and Relationships (CO5) How meditation and mindfulness influence interpersonal communication. The role of meditation in improving relationship quality in the family, at the university and in the workplace. (Pre-recorded video with Dr Shobhana Madhavan) Reading 1: Seppala E (2022, June 30th) 5 Unexpected Ways Meditation Improves Relationships a Lot. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/feeling-it/202206/5-unexpected-ways- meditation-improves-relationships-lot Reading 2: Attitude. Chapter 53 in Amritam Gamaya (2022). Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust.

Unit VI

Meditation and Compassion-driven Action (CO6)

Understand how meditation can help to motivate compassion-driven action. (Pre- recorded video with Dr Shobhana Madhavan)

Reading 1: Schindler, S., & Friese, M. (2022). The relation of mindfulness and prosocial behavior: What do we (not) know?. Current Opinion in Psychology, 44, 151-156.

Reading 2: ‘Sympathy and Compassion.’ Chapter 100 in Amritam Gamaya (2022). Mata Amritanandamyi Mission Trust.

Course Objectives

• Mastery Over Mind (MaOM) is an Amrita initiative to implement schemes and organize university-wide programs to enhance health and wellbeing of all faculty, staff, and students (UN SDG -3).
• It gives an introduction to immediate and long-term benefits of MA OM meditation and equips every attendee to manage   stressful emotions and anxiety, in turn facilitating inner peace and harmony.
• This course will enhance the understanding of experiential learning based on the University’s mission: “Education for Life along with Education for Living” and is aimed to allow learners to realize and rediscover the infinite potential of one’s true Being and the fulfilment of life’s goals.

Course Outcomes

CO1: To be able to describe what meditation is and to understand its health benefits.

CO2: To understand the causes of stress and how meditation improves well-being.

CO3: To understand the science of meditation.

CO4:To learn and practice MA OM meditation in daily life.

CO5:To understand the application of meditation to improve communication and relationships.

CO6:To be able to understand the power of meditation in compassion-driven action.

CO-PO Mapping

Course Outcomes and Bloom’s Taxonomy:

Each of the course outcomes can be mapped to specific levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy as described in Table 1 below

Table 1: Unit-wise Scope for Outcomes and Bloom’s Taxonomy:

Evaluation Pattern: 80:20

Textbook(s)/Reference(s):

1. Meditation and Spiritual Life-Swami Yatiswarananda, Ramakrishna Math
2. The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Vol Vii by Advaita Ashram Mayavati Almora Himalayas
3. Dhyana Yoga-Holy Gita Swami Chinmayanda
4. Voice of God, Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, 68th Acharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam,
5. Hindu Dharma-Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, 68th Acharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam,
6. Mind: It’s Mysteries and control-Swami Sivananda Saraswati
7. Amritam Gamaya (2022). Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Trust.
8. Books on Amma’s teachings like Awaken children, From Amma’s Heart etc.
9. The Science of Meditation: How to Change Your Brain, Mind and Body by Daniel Goleman and Richard. J. Davidson.
10. 10.Allen, Cynthia (2020) The Potential Health Benefits of Meditation
11. Seppala E (2022, June 30th Unexpected Ways Meditation Improves Relationships a Lot.Psychology Today
12. Sharma, Hari (2022) Meditation: Process and Effects
13. Mayo Clinic Staff (2022, April 29). Meditation: A Simple, Fast Way to Reduce Stress.
14. Schindler, S., & Friese, M. (2022). The relation of mindfulness and prosocial behavior: What do we (not) know? Current Opinion in Psychology, 44, 151-156