SUTRAS & SOBRIETY | idgy-dean

BECOMING THE SEER:

SUTRAS & SOBRIETY

An 8-Week Study of Patañjali's Yoga Sutras

led by Lindsay Sanwald, MDiv

SEPTEMBER 2nd - OCTOBER 28th

Tuesday Evenings 7:30-9pm EST on Zoom

Weekly Kriya Meditation Labs (recorded)

Wednesday Mornings at 9:30 EST on Zoom

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A Course in Devotional Clarity and Inner Sight

In this regular satsang (a gathering for devotional instruction), we will read and reflect upon all four chapters of the Yoga Sutras––196 enigmatic aphorisms compiled almost two millennia ago by the Indian sage, Patañjali. This enduring text continues to inspire and shine light on the yogic practice of concentrating oneself so as to become absorbed in and witness to the experience of being ALIVE.

What happens when the mystical path meets the sober mind? Becoming the Seer is a transformational course designed for artists, seekers, and recovering visionaries who yearn to see clearly—and be seen truly. Through deep study of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and lived experiences of sobriety (in all its forms), this course invites participants to step fully into the role of the witness: the drashta, the seer within.

Structured as a guided contemplative practice, the course blends textual study with creative ritual, meditation, storytelling, and somatic inquiry. Together, we will explore the yogic promise of viveka-khyati—the discriminating wisdom that arises when the mind is clear, the senses are sober, and the spirit is steady. We’ll engage ancient teachings through a contemporary, trauma-informed lens, making space for honest conversations about addiction, identity, ecstatic states, and the modern quest for spiritual discipline.

Whether you are in recovery, curious about sobriety, or simply seeking to refine your perception and purpose, Becoming the Seer offers a sacred container for re-enchantment and revelation.

You’ll Learn:

How the Yoga Sutras define the nature of mind, illusion, and clear seeing
Rituals for sustaining spiritual sobriety in a world of distraction and desire
The difference between performance and presence, intoxication and illumination
Practices to deepen intuition, self-trust, and inner alignment

Recommended for:
Creative souls in spiritual transition; yogis and mystics in recovery; artists longing for clarity; anyone ready to become the witness of their own life.

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CLASS RITUALS

TUESDAY SATSANG

Our intimate group will meet every Tuesday evening from 7:30-9pm EST in the monastery of Zoom for eight consecutive weeks. In this regular refuge called satsang (a gathering for devotional instruction) we will discuss our reading of the text and practice basic Kriya meditation techniques (asana, pranayama, visualization, mantra).

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 (Wednesday mornings at 9:30am EST) or on their own time via a recording.

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INVESTMENT

Make and honor a two-month commitment to practice reading and meditation

(charged September and October)

$88/month

for disciplines of divinity alums, current/former students, clients, and patrons

$108/month

for new students

FULL PROGRAM: THE OCTAVE / ASHTANGA

$888

*includes weekly 1-on-1 dharma talks and private meditation instruction*

*limited to eight students*