THE CALL TO AWAKEN

A JOURNEY INTO THE BHAGAVAD-GITA

Two semester course

First semester: March 17 - June 17

Second semester: September 15 - December 15

This course is the foundation for all that we do at Upbuild, and it’s very close to our hearts...

Course Overview

The Call to Awaken is a journey through the Bhagavad-Gita designed to introduce and integrate the core concepts of this sacred text into the fabric of our daily lives. This two-semester course is tailored for those without prior spiritual knowledge or those in the early stages of a spiritual path. It is meant for those seeking answers to the deep questions of life and wanting to be spiritual practitioners in our modern society. We weave together movie and TV clips, quotations from contemporary scientists and ancient philosophers, and personal anecdotes to bring home the universal and timeless nature of the Gita’s key concepts.

Over two semesters, participants will:

  • Gain practical wisdom from experienced practitioners

  • Gain a deeper understanding of the most important ideas in the Gita

  • Form a community with a tight-knit group of spiritual seekers

  • Experience a warm and inviting atmosphere

  • Be inspired to develop habits that foster spiritual growth

Logistics

Timing: Tuesdays 6-7:15pm ET.

Dates: The first semester runs March 17 to June 17. The second semester runs from September 15 to December 15. There are12 classes per semester. There will be a few Tuesdays without class and a few “specials” where the class will end at 7:30pm instead of 7:15.

Medium: Zoom, all classes will be recorded so you can catch up on anything that you miss by watching the recording

Fee: $450 per semester. A link to pay the second semester fee will be sent after the first semester is over. 

(financial assistance is available for those who need) 

Commitment: We ask that you attend at least 10 classes live and complete short reflection exercises each week. Every class will be recorded, so if you need to miss one, you can easily catch up by watching the recording.

Course Syllabus

  • Checkmate! The Yoga of Existential Crisis

  • Identity: Unveiling the Existence of the Soul

  • Cracking Karma: The Universal Network of Actions

  • Where’s My Mind? Understanding Vedic Psychology

  • Awakening: Plugging the Mind into the Soul

  • Moods and Modes: How the Material World Affects Us

  • Faith and Knowledge: The Gateway to Experience

  • The “Super-String” Theory: Exploring the Origins of the Soul

  • Bhakti: The Yoga of Devotion

  • Unfettered: Being the Change You Wish to See

The Bhagavad-Gita

“I owed a magnificent day to the Bhagavad-Gita. It was the first of books. It was as if an empire spoke to us. Nothing small or unworthy, but large, serene, consistent, the voice of an old intelligence, which in another age and climate, had pondered and thus disposed of the same questions which exercise us.”

— RALPH WALDO EMERSON

The Bhagavad-Gita is the finest introduction to the philosophical and spiritual tradition of India. The Gita is special among Eastern philosophical teachings because it demonstrates how the experience of our own essence can be found in the day-to-day actions of our lives. 

The dialogue between Krsna and Arjuna is set on a battlefield just before the onset of a great fratricidal war. The moral dilemma that Arjuna faces of whether a war can in fact be fought for a just cause is apropos for the socio-political climate of our age. The perspective offered through the discourse of the Gita is all at once poetic, nuanced, and applicable, not only to the macro setting of a war, but to the quainter setting of our human affairs.

Inspiring many of the world’s greatest thinkers, including Einstein, Huxley, and Gandhi, among others, the Gita is now being taught at business schools as a “self-mastery” course in leadership.

What our community members are saying about their experiences with Upbuild

“Working with Upbuild started with my journey to understand myself and others on a deeper level so that I could be a better leader. Little did I know how deep that journey would take me. Being part of the Upbuild community has brought a sense of belonging and acceptance that is lacking in the world around us. Most importantly, the information and tools I’ve learned in seminars and coaching has helped me to find a sense of peace within myself and a stronger spiritual connection.”

- Beverly. AVP Sales and Education Development at L'Oreal.

“No one does community-building like Upbuild”

- Mayank. CTO, Consultant, and Coach.

“Upbuild courses foster human community in a time when meaningful connection with our fellow beings is vital. All gatherings, whether in person or online, are rooted in a culture of openhearted sincerity, communal respect, and diligent practice. The Upbuild team uses the raw material our workaday world offers us and makes it sacred. They know that our daily lives and circumstances are reliable road maps to and through what happens inside each one of us. I have been changed by my affiliation with Upbuild, and have grown to see more clearly what I intrinsically am”

- Scott. Actor, Director, Educator.

“My spiritual journey shows distinct pre-Upbuild and post-Upbuild segments. My understanding of the Bhagavad Gita is now deepened and simultaneously challenged on a weekly basis under the expert Socratic style of inquiry, discourse, and guidance with a team whose dedication to the path of self-realization is so hearteningly obvious!”

- Pragya. Growth and Strategy Partner for Mission-Driven Organizations.