Nalanda Miksang

AbsoluteEye : From Orderly Chaos to Found Modern Art - ONLINE
2024-03-23 12:00 - 2024-04-20 14:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
TWO GROUPS ARE AVAILABLE :
This page is to register for Saturday afternoons
Registration is through Toronto Shambhala Center, see the link below.

“ Chaos should be regarded as extremely good news”
Chogyam Trungpa

This Zoom exploration engages direct perception without reference points. Not even the reference point of contemplative
art. It is a free flowing perception orderly chaos. The images are energetic and vivid. They are Found Modern Art.
The Nalanda Miksang path and pedagogy orients from Chogyam Trungpa’s Dharma Art teaching: The Three Levels of Perception.
These three levels parallel the Buddhist three levels: Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana. This contemplative art perception
engagement is the “Tantric” level. You will learn to “let go,” enter a “visual gap” and let the visual world manifest in its own order chaos way.
The aesthetic of these artistic images resonates with certain paintings of Modern American Art. This course includes a cultural
studies aspect. We will consider the Assemblage School of American Modern Art which includes artists such as Robert Rauschenberg as well as some Pop Artists.
One of the intentions of this course is to produce brilliant found modern art images. You will become absolute photo eye artists.
The course will include contemplation of Dharma Art and Modern Art texts, teachings, image assignments and image reviews.
No photographic experience necessary. You need a digital camera. (a smart phone is workable).

AbsoluteEye : From Orderly Chaos to Found Modern Art - ONLINE
2024-03-25 12:00 - 2024-04-22 14:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
TWO GROUPS ARE AVAILABLE :
This page is for Monday evenings – NEW DATES
Registration is through Dralaimage site, see the link below

“ Chaos should be regarded as extremely good news”
Chogyam Trungpa
Monday 6:30-8:30 ET
March, 25, April 1, 8. 15, 22
This Zoom exploration engages direct perception without reference points. Not even the reference point of contemplative
art. It is a free flowing perception orderly chaos. The images are energetic and vivid. They are Found Modern Art.
The Nalanda Miksang path and pedagogy orients from Chogyam Trungpa’s Dharma Art teaching: The Three Levels of Perception.
These three levels parallel the Buddhist three levels: Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana. This contemplative art perception
engagement is the “Tantric” level. You will learn to “let go,” enter a “visual gap” and let the visual world manifest in its own order chaos way.
The aesthetic of these artistic images resonates with certain paintings of Modern American Art. This course includes a cultural
studies aspect. We will consider the Assemblage School of American Modern Art which includes artists such as Robert Rauschenberg as well as some Pop Artists.
One of the intentions of this course is to produce brilliant found modern art images. You will become absolute photo eye artists.
The course will include contemplation of Dharma Art and Modern Art texts, teachings, image assignments and image reviews.
No photographic experience necessary. You need a digital camera. (a smart phone is workable).

Color Plus / Plus - An introduction to Found Modern Art - ONLINE
2024-04-10 18:30 - 2024-06-22 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
TWO GROUPS AVAILABLE : Wednesday evenings OR Sunday afternoons
In Nalanda Miksang Contemplative Photography, our first assignment/exploration is “color as color”. “Color as Color” is the first step in making direct contact with the basic elements or features of the visual world/experience: color, then also, light, texture, pattern, space, and dot in space. These are the “visual chords” that become the basis of the Nalanda Miksang “visual music”.
At the same time, each of these visual elements has its personal dimension and aesthetic. For instance, when we photograph color as color, it can spontaneously open to abstract color. This goes beyond the context, like a “red fire engine” but even beyond “fire engine red” and into red as red, red as the ways of red.
This kind of abstract color has its own aesthetic, and resonates with the abstraction of some American Modern Art, the Color Field school in particular. This school includes what we call “color as color” but also goes beyond. These Color Field artists include Ellsworth Kelly, Barnet Newman, Kenneth Noland, and more.
In Color Plus/Plus, we will practice photographing, but we will also study and contemplate these Color Field artists. Through this study and practice, you will become Color Field artists. Your images will be forms of found Color Field abstract art.

Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8:30 Eastern Time (Toronto)
4/10, 4/24; 5/8, 5/22; 6/12, 6/22
To register, please email Miriam Hall at miriam@herspiral.com.

Level I: Looking and Seeing An Introduction to Contemplative Photography - ONLINE
2024-04-13 17:00 - 2024-05-25 17:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Miksang, meaning “Good Eye” in Tibetan, is a form of contemplative photography based on the dharma art teachings of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Miksang teachings help practitioners to see the world as it is, in the absence of the narratives and concepts usually superimposed by the mind, and in the absence of comparing and contrasting mind or personal preference.
Each Zoom session will include photographic explorations, sample images for each week’s content and review of student images and discussion. Feedback is compassionate and highly individualized. We will also examine and discuss photographers and artists whose work is directly influenced by contemplative practices.
The text for the course is Looking at Seeing: Nalanda Miksang Contemplative Photography by John McQuade and Miriam Hall, which is available on Amazon.com as a paperback or e-book.
No photography experience is necessary! Just use whatever camera you have available, including your cell phone.
Dates: April 13, 20, May 4, 11, 18, 25
Meets: Saturdays, 5 pm – 6:30 pm (ET). —- CHANGE OF MEETING TIME
Location: Online Zoom Classroom
Course Tuition: $250 (or whatever you can afford)
Course Level/Prerequisite: Open to all skill levels.
Class Size: This course is limited to 10 students.
To Register: Contact Tim Auman at aumantl@wfu.edu

Color Plus / Plus - An introduction to Found Modern Art - ONLINE
2024-05-12 14:00 - 2024-06-30 16:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
TWO GROUPS AVAILABLE : Sunday afternoons OR Wednesday evenings
In Nalanda Miksang Contemplative Photography, our first assignment/exploration is “color as color”. “Color as Color” is the first step in making direct contact with the basic elements or features of the visual world/experience: color, then also, light, texture, pattern, space, and dot in space. These are the “visual chords” that become the basis of the Nalanda Miksang “visual music”.
At the same time, each of these visual elements has its personal dimension and aesthetic. For instance, when we photograph color as color, it can spontaneously open to abstract color. This goes beyond the context, like a “red fire engine” but even beyond “fire engine red” and into red as red, red as the ways of red.
This kind of abstract color has its own aesthetic, and resonates with the abstraction of some American Modern Art, the Color Field school in particular. This school includes what we call “color as color” but also goes beyond. These Color Field artists include Ellsworth Kelly, Barnet Newman, Kenneth Noland, and more.
In Color Plus/Plus, we will practice photographing, but we will also study and contemplate these Color Field artists. Through this study and practice, you will become Color Field artists. Your images will be forms of found Color Field abstract art.

Sunday afternoons, 2-4 pm Eastern Time (Toronto)
May 12, May 26, June 9, June 16, June 23, June 30
To register, please email Miriam Hall at miriam@herspiral.com.

Atelier-découverte Miksang - France
2024-09-28 14:30 - 18:00 (Europe/Helsinki) | Jessica Sarapoff, 3 Rue Jean de la Fontaine, La Roche-Bernard, La Roche Bernard, Morbihan, 56130, France
Samedi 28 septembre 2024

De 14h30 à 18h A La Roche-Bernard, South Brittany France

Cette pratique nous invite à ralentir notre regard et nous reconnecter à la joie et la beauté du monde qui nous entoure.
Cet atelier-découverte s’adresse à tous ceux qui ont envie de relier la pratique de la photographie à la méditation.
Même l’appareil photo de votre téléphone convient à cette pratique. Convient à des photographes de tous niveaux.

Déroulement de l’atelier :

Explication sur cette pratique de Miksang et le « Flash de Perception »
Divers exercices de synchronisation
Exemples du premier exercice photographique
Cueillette-photos (sortie dans La Roche-Bernard et le port)
Tri photos
Visionnage des photos avec enseignements

Prix de l’atelier : 50€
Pour vous inscrire à cet atelier : https://jessicasarapoff.com/280924-bdc-atelier-decouverte-miksang/
Pour en savoir plus sur cette pratique de méditation en action, voici un article et une galerie d’images :

Atelier-découverte Miksang - Zoom in French
2024-10-19 14:30 - 18:00 (Europe/Helsinki) | Zoom
Samedi 19 octobre 2024
De 14h30 à 18h En Visio-Conférence Zoom

Cette pratique nous invite à ralentir notre regard et nous reconnecter à la joie et la beauté du monde qui nous entoure.
Cet atelier-découverte s’adresse à tous ceux qui ont envie de relier la pratique de la photographie à la méditation.
Même l’appareil photo de votre téléphone convient à cette pratique. Convient à des photographes de tous niveaux.
Déroulement de l’atelier :

Explication sur cette pratique de Miksang et le « Flash de Perception »
Divers exercices de synchronisation
Exemples du premier exercice photographique
Cueillette-photos (sortie dans La Roche-Bernard et le port)
Tri photos
Visionnage des photos avec enseignements

Prix de l’atelier : 50€
Pour vous inscrire à cet atelier : https://jessicasarapoff.com/191024-bdc-atelier-decouverte-miksang/
Pour en savoir plus sur cette pratique de méditation en action, voici un article et une galerie d’images :

Contemplative Arts Winter Retreat : L'Oeil et la Plume
2024-12-27 06:00 - 2025-01-02 09:00 UTC | Dechen Chöling, Mas Marvent , rue du Château 640, Saint-Yrieix-sous-Aixe, Limousin, 87700, France
This Winter, Let Your Creativity and Heart Flourish!
This year, Dechen Chöling invites you to a retreat under the theme of joy, wonder, and the depth of contemplative arts.
What You Will Explore During This Retreat:

Miksang, Contemplative Photography:
To develop a gaze filled with curiosity and poetry for the world around you.
Contemplative Writing and a Creative Renewal Journal:
To reconnect again and again with what animates you at the core of your being, allowing you to nurture it for the new year ahead.
Contemplative Walks:
To synchronize and recharge yourself with the generous and magical nature of Dechen Chöling.
Meditation:
Of course! Because it offers us the space to embrace our emotions with kindness and to continue growing friendship and love for ourselves and the world around us.

Who is this Retreat For?
This retreat is suitable for meditators and photographers of all levels.
No prior experience in photography or writing is required.
It is open to anyone who feels the need to reconnect during a time of welcoming, sharing, and celebration.
Adaptable pricing is available for all budgets, with financial support options for low-income participants.
Sign up now and fill yourself with creativity and joy to begin the new year with stars in your eyes.

This retreat is taught in French, with English translation
For more information and to register, CLICK HERE: https://bit.ly/401WhHK
Or visit www.dechencholing.org.
An Enchanted End-of-Year Retreat to Calm, Nourish, Create, and Uncover New Ways to Support Yourself.
At the end of this year, come create, dream, and recharge with contemplative practices such as Miksang photography, writing, and creativity.
During this retreat, we will explore and nurture inner confidence, discovering treasures of resources and more supportive approaches for ourselves.
Additionally, cultivate a kind gaze towards yourself to make choices that support your new year.
Who is This Retreat For?
For this retreat, no prior experience in photography, writing, or meditation is required.
It is open to anyone who wants to experience a moment of warmth and gentleness.
Even the camera on your phone is sufficient for the contemplative photography practice of Miksang.
It is also suitable for photographers of all levels.
Miksang Contemplative Photography
Helps us open up to the beauty, poetry, and wonder that the universe offers.
The starting point of this practice is first our gaze—light, color, shapes, and space.
The practice of contemplative photography Miksang is for those who wish to connect photography with meditation.
Contemplative Writing
And a creative renewal journal is a path of discovery and listening to align with your heart and all your senses.
No need to feel confident with writing—it is, above all, a journey toward oneself.
Connecting writing with colors and collage brings together the body, our sensations, emotions, and inner child, guiding us through explorations that are both joyful and profound.
In other words, this winter, come back home—to your true self.
——-
Cet hiver, laissez votre créativité et votre coeur s’épanouir !
Cette année, Dechen Chöling vous propose une retraite sous le signe de la joie, l’émerveillement et la profondeur des arts contemplatifs.
Ce que vous allez explorer pendant cette retraite :

Miksang, photographie contemplative : Pour développer un regard plein de gourmandise et de poésie sur le monde qui vous entoure
L’écriture contemplative et un journal de ressourcement créatif: Pour vous reconnecter encore et encore à ce qui vous anime au plus profond de votre être et avez envie de faire grandir en cette nouvelle année.
Des balades contemplatives : Pour vous re-syncroniser et vous ressourcer avec la nature généreuse et pleine de magie de Dechen Chöling.
La méditation : Bien sûr ! Parce qu’elle nous offre l’espace pour apprivoiser nos émotions avec bienveillance et continuer à faire grandir l’amitié et l’amour envers nous-mêmes et le monde qui nous entoure.

À qui s’adresse cette retraite
Convient aux méditants et photographes de tous niveaux.
Aucune expérience avec la photographie ou l’écriture n’est nécessaire.
Cette retraite est ouverte à tous ceux qui ont envie et besoin de se retrouver dans un moment d’accueil, de partage et de célébration.

Des tarifs adaptés à tous les budgets sont proposés, avec des facilités financières pour les participants à bas revenus.
Inscrivez-vous maintenant et faites le plein de créativité, de joie pour commencer la nouvelle année plein d’étoiles dans les yeux.
𝑷𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒍𝒖𝒔 𝒅’𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒆𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒗𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒓𝒆, CLIQUEZ ICI : https://bit.ly/401WhHK
Ou visitez le www.dechencholing.org
———
𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐟𝐟
Pratiquante bouddhiste depuis 1989, Jessica apporte son expertise en tant qu’instructrice de méditation, enseignante bouddhiste et enseignante de Nalanda Miksang et d’écriture contemplative. Elle anime également des ateliers de Journal Créatif mêlant écriture, dessin et collage.
Son parcours de chanteuse professionnelle et d’hypnothérapeute enrichit son approche holistique de la créativité et de la découverte de soi.

About Jessica Sarapoff
A Buddhist practitioner since 1989, Jessica brings her expertise as a meditation instructor, Buddhist teacher, and Nalanda Miksang teacher.
Her background as a professional singer and hypnotherapist enriches her holistic approach to creativity and self-discovery.

White Magic: Contemplative Photography and Visual Haiku - Zoom course
2025-02-01 13:00 - 2025-03-11 21:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
This course joins the practice of Miksang contemplative photography with the practice of haiku writing.
This class is open to everybody
——–
Each Season has its own sensibility, manifestation and magic. In the Northern climates
Winter manifests through cold, ice and snow.
This White Magic resonates with the contemplative “Zen” aesthetic of simplicity, space,
purity, sabi (loneliness) and Yugen (white mystery). This course includes a study of these
contemplative principles and is a way to deepen contemplative Mind. (the texts will be provided).
Besides the ways of Winter this course will explore the practice of Visual Haiku – a little
Winter happening or narrative. For those who are haiku practitioners, we will include the
combination of visual images with haiku practice.
Two different offerings :
On Saturdays : February 1st – 15th – 22nd and March 8th. From 1PM to 3PM – Eastern Standard Time
OR
On Tuesdays : February 4th – 18th – 25th and March 11th. From 7PM to 9PM – Eastern Standard Time
———————-
No photographic experience is necessary.
It is not necessary to have done a “Level 1” which is the formal introduction to Miksang practice
You need a digital camera. (a good smart phone camera is workable).
Course Fee: $125 -$150 (CAN)
Registration: dralaimage@gmail.com
For more contemplative programs, go to : Current Courses: www.dralaimage.com
p.s. If there are those who do not live in a White Winter climate but would like to explore
the play between Visual Haiku and written Haiku let me know and we can set up a
separate course. Contact me at dralaimage@gmail.com.

The Art of Minimalism: Black and White Photography (In-Person)
2025-03-18 18:30 - 2025-04-08 20:30 UTC | Sawtooth School of Visual Arts, 251 N Spruce St,, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, United States
In this class we will create contemplative black and white images that evoke a sense of
intimacy and emotion. Participants will learn to skillfully blend stark simplicity with
profound depth.
By removing color, students will create images that allow the viewer to engage with the
essential elements of composition, texture, pattern, space, and light, creating images
that resonate with a meditative quality.
This class will also include a photo walk through downtown Winston-Salem. Photo
walks can provide a source of inspiration and be a time of learning new techniques and
sharing your own knowledge and ideas with class participants.
This class is great for photographers, artists at heart, or the curious wanting to explore
the symbiotic relationship between contemplative practice and photography. You can
use whatever camera that is available to you, including your cell phone.
Instructor: Tim Auman
Dates: March 18, 25, April 1, 8
Time: 6:30-8:00 pm
Location: The Sawtooth School for Visual Art, Winston-Salem, NC

Using Photography to Process Grief (In-Person)
2025-04-01 10:00 - 2025-04-22 11:30 UTC | Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, 114 30th street, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, United States
Grief is a personal experience that’s often unique and intimate. What brings comfort to
you in a time of grieving may differ from what helps someone else. Sometimes
expressing your pain may help, and contemplative photography can be one way to do
that.
As a grief coping tool, photography can:

provide a needed respite from grief
be used to explore and express difficult thoughts, feelings, emotions, and
sensations
create images of healing, restoration, remembrance, and hope

And when we see the photographs of another person experiencing grief, it’s a reminder
that there are others out there who understand our pain.
This class is great for photographers, artists at heart, or the curious wanting to explore
the symbiotic relationship between contemplative practice and photography. You can
use whatever camera that is available to you, including your cell phone.
Instructor: Tim Auman
Dates: April 1, 8, 15, 22
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am
Location: Intergenerational Center, Winston-Salem, NC
To Register: https://www.sawtooth.org/studios/photography/

Photography and Storytelling (In-Person)
2025-04-15 18:30 - 2025-05-06 20:00 UTC | Sawtooth School of Visual Arts, 251 N Spruce St,, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, United States
Using storytelling in your photography is a powerful and rewarding technique that can
make your images more engaging and compelling.
Class participants will learn how to engage the present moment, evoke emotions, and
convey narratives through their images. By exploring the principles of storytelling,
participants will enhance their ability to communicate through their photographs. A
good story gives your images an extra quality, engaging the viewer longer and more
often.
Class participants will also create a photo essay, the traditional means by which
photographers have told longer stories. This can be a powerful way to express your
unique vision.
This class is great for photographers, artists at heart, or the curious wanting to explore
the symbiotic relationship between contemplative practice and photography. You can
use whatever camera that is available to you, including your cell phone.
Instructor: Tim Auman
Dates: April 15, 22, 29, May 6
Time: 6:30-8:00 pm
Location: The Sawtooth School for Visual Art, Winston-Salem, NC
To Register: https://www.sawtooth.org/studios/photography/
