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.

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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.