Intensives (3-5 full day sessions spread over one or two weeks)

The Intensives introduce new perspectives in a particular subject area, and highlight the underlying constructs and factors that influence a discipline. The discipline no longer remains a dry academic subject outside of oneself, but is viewed in its impact on life, society, oneself.

Disciplines taken up till now:

• Psychology

• Economics

• Sociology & Culture

• Management

• Education

• Self-development & Growth of Consciousness

The participants are mostly from research or teaching background - university level. The aim is to introduce a perspective shift in the mainstream curriculum, in a particular discipline or knowledge area.

The intensives too proceed like the courses and workshops. However, here the main emphasis is on knowledge, with some project work or research to help the participants assimilate the information and relate it to their own working lives. The duration is generally 3-5 days.

The Gnostic Centre has facilitated the following intensives (each being offered a number of times):
 

• A New Vision of Psychology: Integral Psychology
• The Genius of India: Aspects of Indian Culture
• An Indian Approach to Building the Creative Organisation
• The Human Cycle: A New Perspective in Sociology & Economics
• Introduction to Integral Education

• A New Vision of Economics
• Developing the Powers of Concentration & Meditation
• Power of Attitude
• Self-Awareness
• The Yoga of Self-Perfection in ‘Savitri’ & the ‘Record of Yoga’
 

Study Circles & Study Programmes (1-2 hr. sessions spread over a few weeks)
 

The study circles are centred around the study of a particular book, along with explanations, discussions, etc. The emphasis is on deepening and widening one's understanding through reading and discussion, along with some activities. The study programmes are more in the nature of a short course and include experiential and assimilative activities.

The topics taken up have been:
• Widening the Mind (see also: article, report)
• The Brain of India (a book by Sri Aurobindo)
• Fivefold Education (essays by The Mother)
• Four Austerities and Four Liberations (an essay by The Mother)
• The Mother (a book by Sri Aurobindo)
• The Synthesis of Yoga (a book by Sri Aurobindo)
• The Life Divine (a book by Sri Aurobindo)
• Savitri (a book by Sri Aurobindo)
• Essays on the Gita (a book by Sri Aurobindo)
• Money