This course, open to all, is designed for the mystical seeker and theologically curious. Through a committed semester of study, you will learn and test practical spiritual skills passed on through the ages that can accompany one for a lifetime.
John Coltrane’s "A Love Supreme," Virginia Woolf’s Moments of Being, Saint Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle, Evagrius Ponticus’ Chapters on Prayer, selected Upanishads, portions of The Bhagavad Gita, and all of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras will become familiar to you by the end of our divine journey together.
We start in the dark depths of January and agree to meet each week until the first day of spring. Together, we will keep each other warm through the long loneliness of winter by practicing how to read, write, pray, move, breathe, meditate, walk, listen, create, share, serve, and surrender.
Though rooted primarily in Yogic philosophy, our course will take many detours through complimentary contemplative traditions, including Buddhism, Christian mysticism, and other esoteric teachings. In the second half of the program, each student will experiment with how to practice their own unique form of monastic renunciation.
Our final class will be held on Monday, April 1st (the day after Easter)—a day to ritually celebrate ourselves anew as “Fools”... revitalized lovers and artists ready to begin again.
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Our weeks together will be structured thus:
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Monday Morning Surya Namaskar (45m) - join on Zoom, or do alone
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Tuesday Evening Satsang/Salon [7:30-9pm EST] (90m)
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Wednesday High Noon Kriya Yoga & Meditation (90m) - join on Zoom, or do alone
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Friday Morning Kriya Meditation (45m) - join on Zoom, or do alone
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3 monthly 1-on-1 Dharma Talks with Lindsay (45m) - January, February, March
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Home Devotions:
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Weekly Readings (~10-40 pages)
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Morning Pages Journal / Share 250-500 words of your writing each week in class discussion board
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Weekly Audio Letter Exchange with a partner in class (~8-10m voice memo recording)
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“40 Days in the Desert” Lenten Practice of Renunciation (to be determined by student)
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CLASS SCHEDULE
1 - TUESDAY 1/9 - FREE INTRODUCTION: HOLY TRINITIES, LIMBS, CHAKRAS, ELEMENTS, & GOD (AUM)
READING: THE BHAGAVAD GITA (CHAPTERS 1&2)
*REGISTRATION DUE BY THE NEW MOON 1/11 *
READING: “WAITING FOR GOD” (SIMONE WEIL)
2 - TUESDAY 1/16 - “IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS NOTHING HERE AT ALL”
READING: THE BRIHADARANYAKA UPANISHAD
3 - THURSDAY 1/25 - “BEHIND THE COTTON WOOL IS HIDDEN A PATTERN”
READING: MOMENTS OF BEING (VIRGINIA WOOLF)
4 - TUESDAY 1/30 - “NOW, INSTRUCTION IN UNION”
READING: PATANJALI'S YOGA SUTRAS (BOOK 1)
5 - TUESDAY 2/6 - “ON SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES”
READING: PATANJALI'S YOGA SUTRAS (BOOK 2)
6 - TUESDAY 2/13 *LENT* - “THE REMOVAL OF OBSTACLES” / DEATH AS TEACHER
READING: PATANJALI'S YOGA SUTRAS (BOOKS 3 & 4)
READING: KATHA UPANISHAD
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7 - TUESDAY 2/20 - 40 DAYS IN THE DESERT
READING: CHAPTERS ON PRAYER (EVAGRIUS PONTICUS)
8 - TUESDAY 2/27 - GOING THROUGH HELL: THE DIVINE COMEDY & THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL
READING: INFERNO CANTO I (DANTE ALIGHIERI)
READING: "THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL" (ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS)
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9 - TUESDAY 3/5 - A LOVE SUPREME / THE LORD’S PRAYER
READING: THE WAY OF PERFECTION (ST. TERESA OF AVILA)
LISTENING: JOHN COLTRANE'S "A LOVE SUPREME"
10 - TUESDAY 3/12 - THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
READING: EXCERPTS FROM THE BEATITUDES, THE INTERIOR CASTLE (ST. TERESA OF AVILA) &
THE YOGA OF JESUS (PARAMAHANSA YOGANANDA)
11 - TUESDAY 3/19 *SPRING EQUINOX* - “BRING ME FROM DEATH TO IMMORTALITY”
READING: TO THE LIGHTHOUSE (TIME PASSES) (VIRGINA WOOLF)
*FREE WEEK TO EXPLORE A DEEPER PRACTICE/PILGRIMAGE/RETREAT/FAST*
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12- EASTER MONDAY 4/1 *APRIL FOOL’S DAY* - FINAL MEETING/CELEBRATION
READING: “THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FOOL IN THE TAROT”
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Tuesdays 7:30-9pm EST
JANUARY 9TH - APRIL 1ST, 2024
Held in the Monastery of Zoom
$777 before 12/25
$999 before 1/11
12 Seats Available
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