Bhagavad Gita: A Path of Love and Service

Full Description

Bhagavad Gita: 
A Path of Love and Service
Live Online Workshop

Time: Spring 2024
Dates: TBA
Online Platform: Zoom 
Prerequisite: None
Class Size: 6 Students
Required Material: The Bhagavad Gita by Eknath Easwaran

Join Spiritual Director Stacey Couch and five other spiritual seekers for a live online six-week workshop exploring the ancient Hindu mystical teaching in the book, The Bhagavad Gita. Including pivotal and practical teachings on selfless service, surrender, devotion, and divine conversations, The Bhagavad Gita is a treasure of wisdom for anyone on the spiritual path.

This is the story of the divine incarnation of Krishna and his guidance for Arjuna at a critical turning point in Arjuna’s life. Arjuna is on the precipice of a battle and can’t decide whether to fight or lay down arms. Krishna helps Arjuna make the right karmic decision as well as counsels Arjuna on the nature of right action, renunciation, the nature of Atman (soul) and Brahman (God), and more. 

In this workshop, Stacey facilitates weekly discussions on assigned readings from the text. She provides insights into important passages and encourages students to share their perspectives in an inclusive and respectful environment.

Your doubt and questions are welcome in these sessions. One of the beautiful things about Arjuna and Krishna’s conversation, is precisely that – it’s a conversation. Arjuna asks many questions and Krishna meets them all with compassion. Arjuna expresses doubt and Krishna lovingly meets him in that field. We explore their relationship as a model for how we might encounter our own Divine Source.

A beautiful pathway for anyone who has or hasn’t read The Bhagavad Gita, this workshop helps us unwrap our own beliefs about what we “should” be doing with our lives and how we form our values. 

As an inter-spiritual teacher who does not belong to a specific ideology, Stacey facilitates this workshop from a place of non-judgment. There is no pressure to conform to Hindu beliefs or the teachings in the text. At the same time, this ancient mystical text is held with deep respect and honor for the many lives it has transformed and the path to cosmic vision it offers. 

To view the first meeting in your time zone visit here:
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html?iso=20230531T170000&p1=75&p2=179&p3=137&p4=136&p5=195&p6=240
For those of you outside the U.S. please keep any time changes you have in mind.
AUSTRALIAN STUDENTS – This class is at 3:00am Sydney time on Thursdays. 

Workshop Topics

Discussion topics for the workshop are listed below. Topics and the order of topics are subject to change based on the flow of discussion and energy of the group:

Session 1 – Facing Conflict

Chapters 1-3: We practice sitting with the question of what to do, how to approach conflict and lose-lose situations, and the prospect of giving up all hope.

Session 2 – How to Act

Chapters 4-6: Krishna teaches about understanding the nature of sacrifice, the dance between renunciation and action, and methods of meditation. We explore our feelings on these topics.

Session 3 – Bigger Questions

Chapters 7-9: We look at why we choose the spiritual path and yearn for the Divine, what happens to our souls when we die, and moving deeper into the path of Selfless Service. 

Session 4 – Cosmic Vision

Chapters 10-12: Per Arjuna’s request, Krishna reveals his full splendor. We discuss our own cosmic visions and how we encounter The Infinite.

Session 5 – Re-Entry

Chapters 13-15: After the mystical experience, re-entry is challenging. Here Krishna endeavors to help Arjuna avoid getting pulled back into the illusion of the small self. We glean what we need for ourselves at this stage.

Session 6 – Staying Centered

Chapters 16-18: The true inner battle reveals itself. We explore how to center ourselves in Selfless Service, staying devoted to the Divine, and surrendering our will.

Workshop Dates:

Two 2-week breaks have been incorporated into the schedule to give students additional reading time.

This workshop is right for you if you:

• Are struggling with how to make decisions aligned with your soul
• Question if you should renounce mundane/material world concerns
• Wonder about the karmic ramifications of your choices and actions
• Have doubts about the value of surrender
• Are drawn to learn more about this ancient mystical text 
• Would like an introduction to some of the teachings in Hinduism
• Appreciate the direction of a facilitator who creates a safe container for sharing
• Consider yourself a spiritual seeker 
• Are looking to connect with others from around the world on the spiritual path

This workshop guided by Stacey provides a community for you and other seekers involved in deep transformation. Here you have an opportunity to talk, think, listen and feel through what you are experiencing. Stacey has over 15 years of experience leading groups in spiritual discussion. 

Talking with others about your interior life can be scary, especially when your experiences are different than those of the people around you. That’s the value of the being in a workshop with Stacey Couch. She provides a safe place to reveal conversations with your soul. Stacey holds a sacred space for you to share, for different ideas to arise, and for kinship and compassion beyond tolerance to grow. Her work is that of guiding you to the knowing that resides in your divinity.

In this workshop, we share our questions and consider possibilities. There is no doctrine, no right answer, and no one person smarter or wiser than the other. We all bring our own life experience and wisdom. In this space it is okay to not have the answers. In fact, that is the gentlest position. Rather than try to answer all of each other’s questions, we explore ideas and sit in wonder, wondering what is and sharing the little glimpses we each have the privilege to know.

Attendance is Required

** NO RECORDINGS of this workshop will be made **

Please check your calendars carefully and be sure that you are available to attend each session. Since this workshop is for a small amount of people, your attendance is REQUIRED once you register.

Your participation is key to make this work.

In this digital era people tend to be more casual about online activities. That works really well for the mass presentations with one teacher speaking to hundreds of students online, but for small, intimate discussion groups like we are forming, live attendance is necessary to make this work.

Your fellow seekers need your voice and questions to enrich the experience. Out of respect for your fellow seekers, please don’t fail to show and take up the spot of someone who would have been able to attend and benefit from the discussion.

Please be sure to check your calendars and make sure that the times and dates work for you in your time zone. And be sure to reserve the time in your schedule. The fee for this small group workshop must be paid in advance and is non-refundable.

One week prior to the event, you will receive an email with details on how to attend the event via your computer, mobile device or phone. It is preferred that you attend the event via video conference, but you can also call in by phone.

Cancellation Policy

There are no refunds for this workshop once you register unless your space can be filled. If you need to cancel and your spot in the workshop is able to be filled, you may receive the option of a refund minus a 5% processing fee. 

Full enrollment is required for Stacey to hold this class. If the workshop does not fill, Stacey reserves the right to cancel the workshop and refund your full payment.