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What is Miksang?

Miksang is a Tibetan word that translates as "good eye." The Miksang Society offers a number of programs, courses and events that present a form of contemplative photography. This school of contemplative photography brings together the art of photography, the discipline of meditation and the Dharma Art teachings of the meditation master and scholar Chögyam Trungpa.
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AbsoluteEye: Contemplative Photography and Modern Art.


Shambhala Miksang International
Workshops / Teacher Training

The Miksang Society was established by Vajra Regent Ösel Tendzin as non-profit organization for the cultivation and presentation of contemplative photography in light of the Dharma Art teachings of Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche and other wisdom teachings.
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Teacher Biographies

Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche was a lineage holder and meditation master in the Kagyu and Nyingma Lineages of Tibetan Buddhism.
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Miksang Forum

The Miksang Forum is an open discussion for people interested in the Miksang School of Contemplative Photography.

Visit the Flickr Miksang Forum web page to subscribe. NOTE: You will be required to sign-up for a free Flickr account to take part in this forum. Details are found at the Flickr homepage.


Contact Information for Instructors

For information about the Miksang Society:

John McQuade
dralaimage@gmail.com

Miriam Hall
Madison WI
herspiral@yahoo.com

Contacts

Manon Francoeur
manon.francoeur@gmail.com
Gatineau QC

Joe Fiala
joe.fiala@gmail.com
Lexington KY

Lennie Birkett
lenwilla@aol.com
Madison WI

Jude Marion
catseye1@gmail.com

In Memorium

Peter Welte

Emeritus

Maxine Sidran
maxine.sidran@sympatico.ca
Toronto ON

David Schreier
davids2600@yahoo.com
Chicago IL

Australia

Chuckie: huddymeister@gmail.com

Nicole Lionnet
nmvlionnet@gmail.com
Adelaide

Canada

Emma Ates
em-ates@hotmail.com
Toronto ON

Ian Morrice
imorrice@yahoo.com
Toronto ON

Ian Kenney
ikenney@yahoo.com
Ottawa ON

Tejumo Ogouma
ogouma.tejumo@gmail.com
Ottawa ON

Anna Hergert
anna@annahergert.com
Moosejaw SK

Vaughn Taylor
v.s.taylor@sasktel.net
Moosejaw SK

Michael Foster
23foster@telus.net
Nelson BC

Charles Blackhall
charles108@telus.net
Nova Scotia

Albena Robev
carobev@yahoo.ca
Ontario

Sue Folsinbee
sfolinsbee@bell.net
Ontario

Peter Luke
pbluke@gmail.com
Ontario

Daniel La Rue
daniellarue@yahoo.ca
Quebec (French)

Mexico

Alukandra/Alejandra Coronado
alukandra@gmail.com
Juarez (Spanish)

France

Anne Boiteux
abboiteux@gmail.com
Paris, France

Marie-Thérèse Marcel
mth.marcel@yahoo.fr
Paris, France

Lou Goineau
lou.via.goineau@gmail.com
Paris, France

Jean-Charles Vaury
jeancharlesvaury@gmail.com
Paris, France

Jessica Sarapoff
jsarapoff@hotmail.com
Ile de Yeu, France

United Kingdom

Peter Radowicz
radowicz@gmail.com
Edinburgh, Scotland

Sarah Ewans
sarah_ewans@yahoo.co.uk
London, England

Duncan Moss
duncan.moss@zen.co.uk
Devon, England

Republic of Ireland

Ivette Ebaen
ivette@6moons.com
County Mayo, The Republic of Ireland

Dola Twomey
dolatwomey2@gmail.com
Cork, Ireland

Denmark

Andre Larsen
copenlarsen@gmail.com
Copenhagen (Danish)

The Netherlands

Zuid Holland

Joey Johannsen
joeyjohannsen@gmail.com
Rotterdam

Spain

Felipe Rodrigez
felrod17@yahoo.es
Madrid, Spain

Olga Planet Ortega
olgacreativeplanet@gmail.com
Barcelona, Spain

Ara
path.of.now@gmail.com
Languages: Spanish, English
Spain

Greece

George Akounis
askounisg@hotmail.com
Thessaloniki (Greek)
Also travels to London frequently

Switzerland

Virginie Claret
vclaret@hotmail.com
Switzerland (Francophone)

Eva Amsler
eamsler@admin.fsu.edu
(speaks Swiss German)

Jane Greis
jane_greis@yahoo.com
Near Zurich

United States

Arizona

Beverly Bauer
beverlyabauer@gmail.com

California

James Marzano
jmarzano@gmail.com
San Jose

Susan Stoddard
sustoddard@gmail.com
San Francisco

Chicago IL

Julie Einstein
julieeinstein@comcast.net

Aarthi Tejuja
aarthi9@gmail.com

Renya Krempl
renya.krempl@gmail.com

Colorado

Mike Levy
allnaturallaw@hotmail.com
Boulder CO

Florida

Tom Anderson (main contact)
tanderson@fsu.edu

Margaret Clark
margaretclark@comcast.net

Jerry McFarland
jerry@nettally.com

Louise Ritche
louiseritche@aol.com

Eva Amsler
eamsler@fsu.edu
Tallahassee

Tamara Blenkhorn
tamaraf64@gmail.com
Tallahassee

Angel Eason
angeleason.jd@gmail.com
Tallahassee

Dorothy Dimambro
doridim@gmail.com

Georgia

Laura DeMercurio
demercurio@yahoo.com
Atlanta

Martha Teall
mlteall@cs.com
Atlanta

Kentucky

Lance Brunner (main contact)
lance.brunner@gmail.com
Lexington

Michigan

Judith Jackson
shaktidavie@gmail.com

New Mexico

Ingrid Kelley
inkelley2@gmail.com
Santa Fe

Mary Sherman
mtesherman@gmail.com

New York

Trudy Stern
tstern2@aol.com
Buffalo

Ray Eigen Ball
ray.eigen.ball@roadrunner.com
Buffalo

Jennifer Fendya
jennifer.fendya@gmail.com
Buffalo

North Carolina

Maurice Robinson
mrphotography.mr@gmail.com

Oregon

Lisa Stanley
hissy.fit@hotmail.com
Portland

Texas

Jake Lorfing
goslow1@gmail.com
Austin

Patrick Larson
plarson@patricklarson.com
Austin

Jessica Windslow
jessicawinslow77@gmail.com
Austin

Denise Bossarte
dci_bst@hotmail.com
Houston

Melinda Rothouse
melinda.rothouse@gmail.com
Austin

Adam Sultan
sultan@me.com
Austin

Virginia

Mark Edzards
Edzards77@gmail.com
Newport News

Washington

Jessie Jacobs
jessjjacobs@gmail.com
Seattle

Wisconsin

Ann Hall
annhall35@msn.com
Madison

Mark Sweet
masweet66@gmail.com
Madison

Mark Blumenfeld
mark.blumenfeld@gmail.com
Madison

Bo Mackinson
bomackinson@gmail.com
Madison

Gary Reinke
greinke@unitmarketing.com
Milwaukee

Beverly Bauer
beverlyabauer@gmail.com

Sandy Wojak-Weber
sandyweber305@gmail.com

Bryan Fay



Please visit the Shambhala International website:
http://www.shambhala.org


Webmaster: Gord Fynes
gordasm@gmail.com


UPDATED:
April 28, 2022


ANNOUNCEMENTS

UPCOMING Zoom Courses - Miksang: Looking and Seeing - Introduction to Contemplative Photography via Toronto ON

UPCOMING Zoom Course - Contemplative Photography Level 2 via TX

Miksang instructors John McQuade and Miriam Hall have published The Ways of Seeing, Looking and Seeing, and have a website for it, too.

John McQuade and Miriam Hall have also published Heart of Photography (July 2017). This book presents the main practices of Nalanda Miksang. Available at Amazon in both book and Kindle formats.

Please visit the Nalanda Miksang International Facebook Page.

There is a Facebook group for Contemplative Photography Edinburgh which organizes Miksang salons tri-weekly. Please see the Facebook group for further informaiton.

Read about the Austin TX Miksang Contemplative Photography exhibit in the Shambhala Times.


MIKSANG ZOOM COURSES

Miksang Level I

CONTEMPLATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY ZOOM CLASS

Looking and Seeing: Introduction to Contemplative Photography
May 22 to June 26, 2022
2pm to 4pm EST
Price: $120 Program Price; $140 Patron Price; or pay what you can afford
For more information go to www.dralaimage.com
Registration is through the Toronto Shambhala Centre website
Contact/Registration via
John McQuade


Miksang Level II

CONTEMPLATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY LEVEL II ZOOM CLASS

Contemplative Photography
Level 2
Unity of Houston

Four-week online course via Zoom
Saturdays in May 7, 14, 21, 28, 2022
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm CST
Registration limited to 12 participants
Fee: $60.00 US
Registration via the Unity of Houston website
For more information, e-mail Denise at: photos@foundworlds.com


Miksang Level III

ORDERLY CHAOS and ABSOLUTE/EYE

The visual world manifests as it is: nothing added; nothing subtracted. In this course we will let go and enter the freefall of pure perception. This opens an exploration of the visual as the visual. Modern American Artists have explored this Aboriginal perception. We will explore it with them. You will see what they see.

This course explores the direct perception of the visual as the visual. This direct perception resonates with the radical explorations of American Modern Art. You will see what they see and make brilliant modern art found images.This course is also educational. We will contemplate the schools of Modern American Art: abstract expressionism, colour field, pop, minimalism an so forth. A prerequisite for this course is the introductory Looking and Seeing program or permission of the instructor.

TBA


LOOKING AND SEEING:
INTRODUCTION TO CONTEMPLATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY

Miksang Level I

When eye and mind are in the same place one sees clearly and the visual world manifests directly. At ease and joyful, there is no struggle in making images that are strong and vivid.

This introductory training includes instruction, assignments and image reviews. No previous photography experience necessary but you will need to bring your digital camera.

TBA


DIVING IN

Miksang Level II

Austin TX

In this one-day workshop, open to anyone who has previously participated in a Miksang course or retreat, we'll touch and be touched by our physical world. Beginning at the Shambhala Center, we'll go out on morning and afternoon assignments into beautiful, kinky, colossal Austin. We'll play together and alone, and then return to review our camera's treasures.

This dive into the phenomenal world is the beating heart of the Good Eye of Miksang practice. Join us!

You'll need a digital camera (loaners available) or smartphone and laptop to participate.

TBA


LEVEL I and II NALANDA MIKSANG INTENSIVE WORKSHOPS

TBA


FIVE WISDOMS: HEART SPACE AWARENESS

Five Wisdoms is a unique program designed by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. It involves taking specific postures in coloured environments (wearing coloured glasses) which provoke emotional and existential responses that can be processed and expressed as space awareness.

This is a tantric/vajrayana engagement that is open to the public. This practice is part of the contemplative psychology program of Naropa University and informs many Art practices. The program is of interest to meditation practioners, artists and therapists. The teachings will include Dharma teachings, psychological teachings and artistic engagements.

The program is conducted by John McQuade, a certified Five Wisdoms teacher, a Shambhala Training teacher, and founder of Nalanda Miksang Contemplative Photography.

TBA


SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Being Contemplative: Life as an Enlightenment Way

This is not a photography workshop but it explores the Contemplative. The main contemplative art practice will be Haiku. Also contemplative exercises and an exploration of the Contemplative tradition. It focuses on how to find the contemplative through daily life.

TBA


Summer Miksang Maitri Retreat
Madison Shambhala Center

This first-time-ever, five-day intensive will explore the intersection of two deeply powerful practices: Maitri Space Awareness (otherwise known as Five Wisdoms) and Nalanda Miksang Contemplative Photography. These two have been combined in very brief weekend format in the recent past; this will be the first full five-day exploration.

Nalanda Miksang Contemplative Photography helps us communicate our direct visual perceptions clearly. Maitri Space Awareness uses postures and colors to explore the energy of emotions and elements.

Pre-requisite for this program is Nalanda Miksang Level I. Preference goes to those who have at least done Levels I-II, if not higher.

Cost is sliding scale, $250-$500 for the week. Please pay what you can, while also keeping in mind the deep dedication of the teachers, travel costs for John, as well as supporting Madison Shambhala, and Nalanda Miksang International.

TBA


THE HEART OF PHOTOGRAPHY: THE INNER CONTEMPLATIVE TEACHINGS

Miksang Level II

Once the discipline of looking and seeing is established, relaxation and appreciation arises and the visual communion with the world begins.

TBA


ORDERLY CHAOS and ABSOLUTE/EYE

Miksang Level III

The visual world manifests as it is: nothing added; nothing subtracted. In this course we will let go and enter the freefall of pure perception. This opens an exploration of the visual as the visual. Modern American Artists have explored this Aboriginal perception. We will explore it with them. You will see what they see.

This course explores the direct perception of the visual as the visual. This direct perception resonates with the radical explorations of American Modern Art. You will see what they see and make brilliant modern art found images.This course is also educational. We will contemplate the schools of Modern American Art: abstract expressionism, colour field, pop, minimalism an so forth. A prerequisite for this course is the introductory Looking and Seeing program or permission of the instructor.

TBA



TOUCHING THE EARTH: A Miksang Contemplative Photography Retreat

Touching the Earth is a gathering for photographers of all skill levels, beginners to professionals, seeking a fresh approach to connecting to themselves and the world. Miksang Contemplative Photography is the art and practice of visual awareness, dropping our agendas and allowing the world to touch our hearts directly. The program will use meditations, contemplations, and simple exercises to assist participants to access their wisdom, strength, and confidence as they travel beyond the grounds of Casa Werma, into Pátzcuaro and the surrounding countryside.

TBA


TEACHER TRAINING

Nalanda Miksang Teacher Training
John McQuade will be conducting Nalanda Miksang Teacher training programs. As a candidate for this program one must have taken at least the Level One and Level Two programs or an equivalent and have demonstrated a personal engagement with contemplative photography.
For more information contact John McQuade at dralaimage@gmail.com

TBA


SPECIAL EVENTS AND OPEN HOUSE

Toronto ON
Toronto Shambhala Centre

Open House
Miksang students and practitioners showcase some of their recent slides. Open to the public. Time for all dates: 8:15pm (note: if you are planning on showing some of your images, please arrive by 7:30pm to load up).

TBA


ARCHIVED

Miksang instructor
Jake Lorfing (Austin TX) had been working with incarcerated youth: Miksang with Incarcerated Youth


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