Yann Le Boucher
Key-note Speaker
Yann Le Boucher has a PhD in Indian Studies, and is a former University teacher at the University of Rennes 2. He was trained in Hatha yoga by Dhirendra Brahmachari and later by K. Pattabhi Joïs, and in Vedânta by Shri D. Kulkarni and Arnaud Desjardins. He runs the “Amis de La Bertais” centre in Brittany, devoted to Adhyâtma-yoga.
Workshop
Main Morning Workshop | 10:00 – 12:00 (daily)*
* – The schedule is subject to change during the event. A more precise timetable will be provided closer to the date.
Language
French (with translation into English)
Abhyâsa and Vairâgya in the light of the Mahâbhârata. The exemplary destiny of the main heroes of the epic and the help they receive from their guide Krishna in their journey towards enlightenment.
One of the virtues of the Mahâbhârata is that it illustrates the philosophical principles of yoga by depicting, as realistically as picturesquely, situations that every aspirant to wisdom will sooner or later have to face. Excessive idealism, self-infatuation, various addictions, not to mention the poisons of anger, jealousy, doubt and discouragement – these are the obstacles that the heroes of the epic confront for our greater edification.
I therefore propose to extract from this mythical tale a few ‘pearls of wisdom’ likely to shed light on the inner journey of my listeners, all of this, of course, in relation to the notions of assiduous practice (abhyâsa) and detachment (vairâgya), the focus of this 2025 Congress.
1st talk: overall presentation of the Mahâbhârata, the involutive vision of human history and the entry into the Kali-Yuga, the cosmic theatre of the three worlds, the four goals of human life illustrated by the destiny of the main heroes…
2nd talk: non-attachment (vairâgya) is not renunciation. Illustrated by the tragic fate of Prince Bhîshma and the counter-example of Queen Satyavatî.
3rd talk: two examples of intense sadhana (abhyâsa) leading to the attainment of Shiva’s darshan: that of Princess Amba reincarnated as a warrior, and that of the hero Arjuna who succeeded in being entrusted with part of the terrible destructive power of the Great God (Mahadeva).
4th talk: the many faces of Prince Krishna, who is in turn a simple friend to the heroes, a spiritual master capable of transfiguring himself, a Machiavellian mentor to the Pândavas, and an ‘ordinary’ man who watches helplessly as his own kingdom is ruined…
5th talk: The ultimate lesson of the trials to which Yudhisthira (the eldest of the Pândavas) will be subjected in his quest for Enlightenment.
