“When the warrior-students experience an environment where the dralas are present, where reality is present, where the possibilities of sanity are always there, they can appreciate the mountains, the clouds, sky, sunshine, trees, flowers, brooks… intensely bright red and blue, brilliant white and orange…When you are fully gentle, without arrogance and without aggression, you see the brilliance of the universe. You develop a true perception of the universe.”
— Chogyam Trungpa, Shambhala, Sacred Path of the Warrior (Ch. 15, p.18-19).
The great Buddhist teacher and meditation master, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, was also an accomplished artist, and taught the path of “Dharma Art.” 
But in addition to teaching the Buddhadharma, he also received and transmitted the Shambhala teachings, which uses terminology and imagery more familiar to Western culture as a way to communicate everyday Dharma.
This course includes some of these teachings, and will give emphasis to the connection between Shambhala and Dharma Art. We will explore Shambhala teachings such as basic goodness, the Shambhala dot-in-space, the flash of perception, looking and seeing, fields of perception, authentic presence and drala (Ordinary Magic). We will contemplate and express these teachings in photographic imagery.
Who Should Attend
All are welcome. No photographic experience is necessary. You will need a digital
camera; a phone camera is fine.
Enrolment is limited to 15 participants.
What to Expect
This course will include contemplation of Shambhala teachings such as basic goodness, the Shambhala dot-in-space, the flash of perception, looking and seeing, fields of perception, authentic presence and drala (Ordinary Magic) as referenced in Chogyam Trungpa’s texts: Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior, True Perception and Great Eastern Sun. (If you do not have the texts, we will provide excerpts of the relevant readings.)
There will be experienced-based perception exercises, but also Miksang
Contemplative photography engagements. Miksang is a Tibetan word that translates
a “Good Eye.” Miksang is the “Eye Dharma” that connects with basic goodness.
Schedule
Five Sundays: September 10 | September 17 | September 24 | October 1 | October 15 |
Note: Skipping October 8
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 pm Atlantic | 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eastern
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Cost
Suggested Tuition: CA$145
Generosity Policy applies. You will the have the option of applying a discount on the
Registration Page should you need financial assistance.
References
Contemplative Art and Liberation, by John McQuade
https://www.dralaimage.com/post/contemplative-art-and-liberation-how-it-works-1
John McQuade’s Website: www.dralaimage.com
Contact John: dralaimage@gmail.com
Leader
John McQuade is the founder of Nalanda Miksang Photography, and has established Nalanda Miksang teachers in North America, Europe and Australia. He is also co-author of two books in his field: Looking and Seeing, and Heart of Photography. He is currently on the faculty of the Halliburton School of Art and Design and is completing a PhD on the classic photographer, Edward Weston. John is also a practising Buddhist, having studied with Chogyam Trungpa from 1979 until Rinpoche’s death in 1987. Besides being an accomplished meditation master, Trungpa Rinpoche was also an artist, a poet and a photographer. Nalanda Miksang contemplative photography is based on the…
Learn more about John McQuade