Saturdays, June 15, 22, 29 / July 13, 20

Cohort 1 — 1:00-3:00 pm EST

Cohort 2 — 5:00-7:00 pm EST

If you are able to relax—relax to a cloud by looking at it, relax to a drop of rain and experience its genuineness—you can see the unconditionality of reality…you experience a vast realm of perceptions unfolding…the realm of perception is limitless, so limitless that perception itself is primordial…there are endless fields of perception.

—Chogyam Trungpa, Shambhala Sacred Path of the Warrior

About the Course

This course works with our senses of both sight and insight—which leads to a different and fresh way of seeing and experiencing our world. So it is both a dharma practice and a contemplative art exploration. 

The “clear seeing” you will experience as a part of this course opens up many realms of perception that we typically do not engage with in our daily life. We will explore some fields of perception such as flowers and weeds, the “ordinary world” and impressionism.  We will contemplate how this “true perception way” has implications for more primordial insight and deep realization. 

We will also contemplate some Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche texts from the books True Perception and Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior. If you do not have these books, excerpts will be provided.

The course proceeds through teachings, assignments, and assignment reviews. No photographic experience necessary, but a digital camera is required. A smartphone camera is workable.

Register for Cohort 1 — 1:00-3:00 pm EST

Register for Cohort 2 — 5:00-7:00 pm EST

Included in Live Sessions

• Guided meditation and contemplations
• Teachings on contemplative photography
• Contemplative photography assignments for the week
• Individual feedback on photos
• Discussion groups
• Question & answer sessions

What You will Gain

• A new, or renewed, connection to meditation practice
• An understanding of how to engage in the practice of contemplative photography
• More confidence in the practice of contemplative photography
• A greater connection to sense perception and a different way of seeing the world
• Connections with people who are also interested in contemplative photography!

Register for Cohort 1 — 1:00-3:00 pm EST

Register for Cohort 2 — 5:00-7:00 pm EST

About John

John McQuade is a long time student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and is a Shambhala Training Teacher and Meditation Instructor. He is also a Maitri Five Wisdoms Teacher and a founder of Nalanda Miksang Contemplative Photography (www.miksang.org). He is the co-author of two books: Looking and Seeing and Heart of Photography. He teaches contemplative arts ( www.dralaimage.com) and holds a PhD in Phenomenology.