Shambhala Art Classes
Rebekah Younger Contemplative Artist-Designer
design for the contemplative mind
 

Shambhala Art

Painting a brushstroke representing earth
Without seeing things as they are, it is hard to create art. Our perceptions are obscured and our mind is not fresh, so making art becomes a troubled, futile process by which we're trying to create something based on concept.
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche

Shambhala Art can be seen as a process, a product, and an arts education program. As a process, it brings wakefulness and awareness to the creative and viewing processes through the integration of contemplation and meditation. As a product, it is art that wakes us up. Shambhala Art is also an international non-profit arts education program based on the Dharma Art teachings of the late Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the founder of Shambhala Buddhism, Shambhala International, and Naropa Institute.  These teachings were recently re-published in a volume entitled, True Perception.

These teachings have been key to my recent work along with the study of Buddhist philosophy, in general.  I am trained and certified to teach the first three parts of this five part program that offers an experiential framework for learning the Dharma Art teachings. Each program is co-taught by two teachers who ideally work in different media, to show how this approach works with a variety of creative disciplines.

Shambhala Art Part Two  - "Seeing Things As They Are" & Part Three - "The Creative Process"

April 30th, May 1- 2
Brunswick Shambhala Meditation Center - 17 Mason St., Brunswick, Maine

Co-taught by Rebekah Younger and Marcia Shibata, Ikebana Master and Senior Student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Friday, February 5, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. - Public talk on Shambhala Art and review of Part One, $5 suggested donation.
Saturday, February 6, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
(Shambhala Art Part One is a prerequisite for this program)

In Shambhala Art Part One we learn what it means to create from the open space of meditative mind, using our sense perceptions to return us to "Square One." In Part Two we explore further the difference between the felt sense of things as they are and our thought sense. We examine the role of signs that point to something using relative information and our direct experience, what Ch
ögyam Trungpa Rinpoche refers to as things as a symbol of themselves.

In Part Three, The Creative Process, we begin to see how the expression that arises out of space can take form and have energy. In joining the vision (heaven) with things as they are (earth), energy or a spark naturally arises. When these are combined in the creative process and finished product, a potency is conveyed that can be felt by the maker and viewer alike.

We will continue our journey through these teachings by Ch
ögyam Trungpa Rinpoche with more exercises, discussion and contemplation to ground our learning in direct experience. Part Three requires a small additional fee of $25 to cover materials needed for each student. This non-refundable deposit must be paid by all participants and sent to Julia Huttel, 34 Cobble Knoll Road, Poland Springs, ME 04274 by April 20. Scholarships for the balance of the class fee are available on an as-needed basis.

For more information contact: Julia Huttel, juliahuttel@gmail.com or 207-998-4809

 On-line registration at www.shambhalabp.org.