READING THE BHAGAVAD-GITA
An 11-Week Devotional Study led by Lindsay Sanwald, MDIV
OCTOBER 8TH - DECEMBER 17TH
Tuesday Evenings 7:30-9pm EST on Zoom
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“The Gita is at once an instruction manual for living a spiritual life and a profound, ecstatic vision of the ultimate nature of God.”
-Ram Dass
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In this long-form course we will read the Bhagavad-Gita from start-to-finish, together, in translation, in humility, in ritual devotion, and in the regular weekly refuge of community.
To do or not to do? To be or not to be? THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS! We start confused. In distress. In despair. At war with our own family. What is the best action to take? We could use some guidance…
The Bhagavad-Gita (God’s Song) is an episode found in a larger epic Sanskrit poem of ancient India. In these 700 verses of Hindu scripture (composed around the first millennium BCE) we witness a dialogue between Arjuna, a warrior prince, and Krishna, his chariot driver (an avatar of the God Vishnu).
18 chapters offer us 18 teachings on how to navigate our living… through action (karma), with knowledge (jnana), and in devotion (bhakti).
I invite you to come back to school this fall and learn how to sit with others in the field of knowing.
CLASS RITUALS
TUESDAY SATSANG
Our intimate group will meet every Tuesday evening from 7:30-9pm EST in the monastery of Zoom for eleven consecutive weeks. In this regular refuge called satsang (a gathering for devotional instruction) we will read and discuss the text and practice basic Kriya meditation techniques (asana, pranayama, visualization, mantra). These sessions will be recorded and made available to subscribers.
KRIYA MEDITATION LAB
Additionally, students are invited to attend a weekly Kriya Meditation Lab to practice a fuller exploration of yogic concentration, either in real time on Zoom (day/hour TBD), or on their own time via a recording.
HOME DEVOTIONS
Weekly Readings (~10-20 pages); Morning Pages Journal; Discussion Board; Audio Letters.
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INVESTMENT
PATH OF ACTION (KARMA)
$45 to drop-in here and there when you can (venmo @idgydean)
PATH OF KNOWLEDGE (JNANA)
$111 monthly subscription (Oct/Nov/Dec - $333 total) - ENROLL
Designed for both the committed student who shows up every week on Zoom and/or the busy individual who wishes to engage the class materials/community on their own time/schedule. FULL ACCESS to weekly Zoom sessions, class recordings, class notes/emails, online discussion board, and guided meditations.
PATH OF DEVOTION (BHAKTI)
$700 full program (limited to 6 students) - ENROLL
Designed for the serious practitioner. Take the plunge. Go deep.
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11 class sessions
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weekly meditation practice
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3 private 45-minute 1-on-1 Dharma Talks with Lindsay (Oct/Nov/Dec)
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FULL ACCESS to class recordings, class notes/emails, online discussion board, and guided meditations.
*ENROLL BY OCTOBER 2ND NEW MOON*
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CLASS & READING SCHEDULE
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1 - TUESDAY 10/8 - *FREE INTRO CLASS* CHAPTER 1: ARJUNA’S DEJECTION
2 - TUESDAY 10/15 - CHAPTER 2: PHILOSOPHY & SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE
3 - TUESDAY 10/22 - CHAPTER 3: DISCIPLINE OF ACTION + CHAPTER 4: KNOWLEDGE
4 - TUESDAY 10/29 - CHAPTER 5: RENUNCIATION OF ACTION + CHAPTER 6: THE PRACTICE OF MEDITATION
*TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH - ELECTION DAY* - NO CLASS, GO VOTE!!!
5 - WEDNESDAY 11/6 - CHAPTER 7: KNOWLEDGE & JUDGEMENT + CHAPTER 8: THE INFINITE SPIRIT
6 - TUESDAY 11/12 - CHAPTER 9: THE SUBLIME MYSTERY + CHAPTER 10: FRAGMENTS OF DIVINE POWER
7 - TUESDAY 11/19 - CHAPTER 11: CONTEMPLATION OF THE UNIVERSAL FORM + CHAPTER 12: DEVOTION
8 - TUESDAY 11/26 - CHAPTER 13: KNOWING THE FIELD + CHAPTER 14: THE TRIAD OF NATURE’S QUALITIES
9 - TUESDAY 12/3 - CHAPTER 15: THE SUPREME SPIRIT + CHAPTER 16: DISCERNMENT OF THE DIVINE AND DEMONIC
10 - TUESDAY 12/10 - CHAPTER 17: 3 ASPECTS OF FAITH + CHAPTER 18: LIBERATION THROUGH RENUNCIATION
11 - TUESDAY 12/17 - THE WONDROUS DIALOGUE CONCLUDES *CLOSING RITUAL*