Join Dr Ramkumar Kutty, Dr Claudia Welch, and Navneet Raman in conversation with guest instructor Dr Rishi Manivannan for a four-part Vedic Threads series exploring Vaiśeṣika, one of the six classical darśanas of India.

Although Vaiśeṣika is one of India’s major philosophical traditions, it is often given only a brief introduction—or overlooked altogether—in many modern presentations of the six darśanas. This series offers a rare opportunity to become acquainted with this profound system of thought.

Vaiśeṣika offers a remarkably detailed way of understanding reality. Through careful observation and analysis, it explores the nature of matter, mind, self, and liberation, inviting us to examine how we know the world and how clear understanding can become a path toward freedom.

Across four sessions, participants will explore questions including:

* What is reality made of?
* How do we truly know something?
* Why is everything unique?
* What is the relationship between matter, mind, and self?
* Can clear understanding become a path to liberation?

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Guest Instructor

Dr Rishi Manivannan

Dr Rishi Manivannan comes from a traditional Idiga viṣavaidya lineage and has formally studied Āyurveda and Chinese medicine. He has also trained extensively in Siddha, Śaiva Tantra, Vāsi Yoga, Nāḍī Vidyā, Jyotiṣa, Pañcapakṣi, Vāstu, and other traditional Indian systems of knowledge.

His background in Siddha and Āyurveda brings a unique perspective to Vaiśeṣika, presenting it not only as a philosophical system but as a living way of observing reality, the body, the mind, nature, healing, and the self.

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Session Schedule

Session 1

Seeing the World as It Is: The Art of Clear Perception

Date: Thursday, 2 July 2026

Vaiśeṣika begins with a simple yet profound question: What does it mean to see reality clearly?

This opening session introduces Vaiśeṣika as a discipline of careful observation, precision, and discernment, helping us examine what is actually present, how knowledge arises, and how reality may be understood without confusion.

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Session 2

What Is the World Made Of? Substance, Qualities, and Change

Date: Thursday, 16 July 2026

This session explores how Vaiśeṣika understands substances, qualities, and transformation. Participants will examine how everything we encounter possesses qualities, undergoes change, and can be understood through careful observation.

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Session 3

Why Is Everything Unique? Similarity, Difference, and Connection

Date: Thursday, 6 August 2026

This session explores how Vaiśeṣika explains shared identity, individual uniqueness, and the relationships that connect all things while preserving their distinct nature.

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Session 4

From Atoms to the Self: Matter, Mind, and Liberation

Date: Thursday, 20 August 2026

The concluding session brings together Vaiśeṣika’s understanding of matter, mind, self, knowledge, and liberation, exploring the relationship between the material world and the knowing self.

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Dates & Times

Session Dates

* Thursday, 2 July 2026
* Thursday, 16 July 2026
* Thursday, 6 August 2026
* Thursday, 20 August 2026

Time

* 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US)
* 7:30 PM India Standard Time (Sessions 2–4)
* 8:30 PM India Standard Time (Session 1)

Please verify your local time before attending. World time buddy can help with this.

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Registration

Regular Fee: USD 100

Community Fee: USD 75

Coupon Code: COMMUNITY25

As a gesture of gratitude to the Satsangam community, use coupon code COMMUNITY25 to receive USD 25 off the full series.

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Learning Platform

This series is hosted on the Satsangam learning platform powered by GetOnYoga.

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Support

If you have questions or experience difficulty accessing the course, please contact:

connect@satsangam.net