AYURVEDA: THE SCIENCE OF LIFE
Course Page
A six-week course: July 11th through August 21st, 2026
"A person is considered healthy when their doshas are in balance, digestion is strong, body tissues are functioning normally, waste products are eliminated efficiently, and the soul, senses, and mind are in a state of happiness."
~ Sushruta Samhita
A course that satisfies the elective requirement for the Certificate in Hindu Studies. (This course can also be taken independently of our Certificate or Diploma programs.)
Class Structure
This course consists of six modules, one module per week. Materials for this course will be a combination of original content (live Zoom meetings, recordings, and writings by the instructor) and curated content (PDFs of articles, essays, selections from books and journals, readings from textbooks, and links to online videos and articles).
Each Saturday students will gain access to the new module’s study material. This will include a 30 minute per-recored video-lectures by Dr. Steer, as well as supplementary reading from saints and scholars, Sanskrit verses to learn, visual aids and graphics, and other study material. On weeks 1, 3, & 6 there will also be video presentations by Ranmalee Perera on ayurvedic lifestyle, food preparation, and self-care.
Every Thursday evening from 7pm – 8:30pm (PST) there will be a live Zoom meeting for questions and discussion with the instructor and fellow students. Recordings of these Zoom meetings will be posted within a few hours of the live meetings for those who could not attend the live broadcast. See Course Calendar>>
Course Description
Ayurveda is a traditional system of health and healing rooted in a deep understanding of Mother Nature and her natural laws. This six-week Introduction to Ayurveda course provides a foundational overview of Ayurveda’s history, philosophy, and practical application. Students will explore the twenty guṇas and three doṣas, including their sub-doṣas, and the concepts of prakṛti and vikṛti as frameworks for understanding individual constitution and imbalance. The course will also introduce key principles of Ayurvedic anatomy, including the dhātus and bodily channels known as srotāṃsi, as well as digestion, nutrition, and Ayurvedic psychology. By the end of the course, students will have a strong understanding of the basic principles of Ayurveda, along with practical resources for incorporating Ayurvedic principles in daily life.
The course consist of six prerecorded lectures by by Dr. Steer, three classes on integrating ayurveda in ones personal life by Ranmalee Perera, and weekly live Zoom meetings for questions and discussion with the instructors and fellow students. All study material will be provided.
Dr. Sumeru Steer is a Clinical Psychologist and Ayurvedic Practitioner and teacher with a focus in integrative mental health. He also serves as a Kali Mandir Pujari.
Ranmalee Perera is a Sri Lankan author, Ayurvedic teacher, yoga guide, and international retreat facilitator teaching in across the United States, Sri Lanka, and Mexico.
Students will have access to dedicated Google Classroom course page (for announcements, handouts, study questions, discussions with fellow students and faculty, and turning in assignments), as well a student group page, and online office hours with the instructor.
(Students will continues to be able to access and review all course material, including lectures, readings, and Zoom recordings, for twelve months after the end of the course.)
Class Size
To preserve the atmosphere of a gurukulam, we aim to keep classes small, personal, and intimate.
Tuition
Tuition for this course is $200.
Students requesting financial assistance may be considered for discounted tuition or scholarship, supported by donations from fellow students and seminary patrons. If you are able, please consider contributing to the RKS Scholarship Fund so that no sincere student is denied spiritual education due to limited finances.
Registration
If you are an enrolled RKS student and wish to register for this course, please email the Registrar at RamakrishnaSeminary@KaliMandir.org and they will contact you with details on tuition and accessing class-meetings and material. If you have not yet been admitted as an RKS student, please fill out the application form to begin the process.
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By participating in any program or course given by Ramakrishna Seminary, students consent to our Terms and Conditions Agreement.
Accessing Course Modules
Click on the module links below to access online meetings, supportive materials, and assignments.
(Access restricted to enrolled students)
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July 11 - July 17, 2026
MODULE 1
FOUNDATIONS OF AYURVEDA
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Available Ku;u 11th
July 18 - July 24, 2026
MODULE 2
THE TWENTY GUNAS AND THREE DOSAS
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Available July 18th
July 25 - July 31, 2026
MODULE 3
PRAKRITI AND VIKRITI
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Available July 25 28th
August 1 - August 7, 2026
MODULE 5
AYURVEDIC ANATOMY
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Available August 1st
August 8 - August 14, 2026
MODULE 5
DIET AND NUTRITION
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Available August 8th
August 15 - August 21, 2026
MODULE 6
AYURVEDIC PSYCHOLOGY
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Available August 15th
Attendance/Participation 50%
Class assignments 50%
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Passing grade for Seminary Credit 70% and above
Evaluation of Student Performance
This 2-unit course is worth 2 Seminary Credits, and can be taken for either Credit or No Credit. Students not taking the course to earn Seminary Credits are not required to turn in written assignments or a final paper, but are expected to participate in online lectures and discussions and keep up with assigned readings and other materials. Students who are taking this course for Seminary Credits are expected to attend weekly online lectures and discussions. If students must miss a live lecture, they are expected to watch the recording of the session and to participate in the discussion forum.