Contemplative Writing and Photography have Life in
Winter!

It's official! Contemplative Writing will have *three*
manifestations early this next year. Two committed
classes, one drop-in class (registration is required
for committed).

And just in case you've been holding out for it,
contemplative photography (Miksang) is going to
finally be taught as well!


THE CLASS SCHEDULES:
I will be running two committed courses. I have heard
many requests for a daytime class, so if you were one
of the requesters, now is your time to jump in and
register! Both the committed courses will run Tuesdays
January 10 - February 28
January 10, 17, 24, 31; February 7, 14, 21, 28).
Tuesdays 10-12noon
Tuesdays 7-9pm
Registration is required.

Drop in classes will continue to be on Thursday
evenings following larger group meditation (so the
class begins around 7:45 - if you don't go to the
group meditation, please plan to arrive around 7:30 at
the center). No registration required. As always,
drop-in classes will be listed in the Isthmus under
"Words".

Miksang (contemplative photography) will be taught two
times, in day-long workshops at the Shambhala Center.
Just pick one! I will be teaching both.
March 19 - Shambhala Arts Day - free presentation of
Miksang
March 31, 7-9pm presentation/April 1, 9-5pm workshop
April 28, 7-9pm presentation/April 29, 9-5 workshop
For both dates, Friday evening is an introductory
slide show, Saturday is shoot and share.
Please notify me if you are interested so we can get a
sense of size of the group.

COSTS:
Cost of Miksang to be announced.

The committed classes are 80$ for the complete session
(8 weeks, or 10$ each).

The drop-in classes we ask for a donation of 5-10$,
sliding scale.

LOCATION:
408 S. Baldwin, side door.

-----------------------------------------

This is the original description of the class, just in
case you missed it the first time(s).

CONTEMPLATIVE WRITING:
Contemplative writing is inspired by the contemplative
arts tradition (Nalanda) of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche,
founder and teacher of the Shambhala tradition in
North America. My sessions aim to provide a safe
environment to witness, then document, first hand
thoughts and feelings. Ego can manifest as our
creative resistance. Sitting with ego and observing it
can clear up a great deal.

My first teacher on this path was Paula Novotnak, who
taught her own form of contemplative writing in the
Madison area for years. I, like she did before me,
aim to work as close to one-on-one with folk,
providing an environment as UN-like traditional
education as possible. It is my goal to encourage us
to all be beginners in this practice.

In each session, we do a group silent meditation for
10 minutes, then a group guided meditation for five
minutes. We write for 20 minutes. After a break,
participants are invited to, but not required to,
share their work with the group. This can offer a
chance to give compassion to ourselves and others in
ways which are unexpected and rare.

CONTEMPLATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY/MIKSANG:
Miksang means "good eye" in Tibetan, and is a
Shambhala Buddhist art form. We study, through direct
experience and contemplation, the basic principles of
sight and composition. No photographic experience is
required to take a Miksang course - in fact,
"beginner's mind" is encouraged.

Please see www.miksang.net for further information on
Miksang teachings.

Suggested beginning reading on other contemplative
writing
approaches:
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
(zen writing instructor)
Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron (general course
encouraging creativity and awareness)
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott (narrative, less
instructive, anecdotes on writing "awake")

FURTHER INFORMATION:
http://www.shambhala.org/centers/madison/ (centers'
website)
http://www.herspiral.blogspot.com/ (my teaching blog)
http://www.miksang.net (home to Miksang International)

CONTEMPLATIVE WRITING CLASSES SCHEDULE
I'll be doing drop-in dates of Contemplative Writing for *most* Thursdays through
2005. Please note there are a couple of Thursdays the class won't be occuring.
You can drop in for just one! No commitment.

The "yes" dates are:
11/10
(if there is enough interest, 11/17)
12/1
12/15
12/22
12/29

Please note it is on a drop-in basis. You can come, so
long as you show up at 7:30, 408 S. Baldwin, on any
one Thursday and not have to have come before, or come
again.

We do ask for a donation - 5-10$ sliding scale - for
each class.

Committed classes will begin again in the Spring, as
well as Miksang (contemplative photography) courses.

-----------------------------------------

This is the original description of the class, just in
case you missed it the first times.

Contemplative Writing sessions facilitated by Miriam
Hall, 441-0203, at the Madison Shambhala Center, Thurs
7:30-9:30pm, 408 S. Baldwin (side door) I recommend
attending regular meditation with the larger group
from 7-7:30.

about the course
Contemplative writing is inspired by the contemplative
arts tradition (Nalanda) of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche,
founder and teacher of the Shambhala tradition in
North America. My sessions aim to provide a safe
environment to witness, then document, first hand
thoughts and feelings. Ego can manifest as our
creative resistance. Sitting with ego and observing it
can clear up a great deal.

My first teacher on this path was Paula Novotnak, who
taught her own form of contemplative writing in the
Madison area for years. I, like she did before me,
aim to work as close to one-on-one with folk,
providing an environment as UN-like traditional
education as possible. It is my goal to encourage us
to all be beginners in this practice.

In each session, we do a group silent meditation for
10 minutes, then a group guided meditation for five
minutes. We write for 20 minutes. After a break,
participants are invited to, but not required to,
share their work with the group. This can offer a
chance to give compassion to ourselves and others in
ways which are unexpected and rare. The course runs
most Thursdays in November/December, 7:30 pm to 9pm.
We ask for a 5-10$ donation each session.

about Shambhala International/ Madison Shambhala
Center
The Madison center is part of a growing heritage of
city and land centers all over North America, begun by
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Each center is shaped by its
community, but each center is committed to opening
Buddhism to daily practice. Shambhala is based on
Tibetan Buddhism, an ancient manifestation of
warriorship, or non-violently working with the ego in
a clear and strong manner to cut through the
spiritual materialism of our existence.

The Madison center offers meditation three times
weekly:
Mondays 7-8, frequently followed by a class or film,
Thursdays 7:30-8, followed by this course or other
gatherings, and
Sundays 9-12.

beginning reading on other contemplative creative
approaches (non-Shambhala):
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
(zen writing instructor)
Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
(general course encouraging creativity and awareness)
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
(narrative, less instructive, anecdotes on writing awake)

beginning reading on Shambhala Buddhism in specific:
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Myth of Freedom, etc
(Buddhist concepts boiled down)
Pema Chodron, any titles
(accessible Buddhist concepts applied to daily life)

Please also see: www.shambhala.org if interested in
the center/organization.

Flickr is finally getting in order. No badge yet, but here's the link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/herspiral/

Go over to visit some brand new Miksang, as well as some mixed older Miksang-inspired work.

Welcome to herspiral/miriam hall's photo blog.

Please go to badge link to for my Flickr account, which will have a lot more activity in upcoming weeks.