Shambhala Art is coming to a Center near you

by Shambhala Art teacher Debra Dysart

At this time of year, I am often reminded how very fortunate I am to be living in Los Angeles. I know what it’s like to shovel my car out of the hard-packed snow bank that the plow pushed up against it and scrape the ice off the windshield, not having enough time to wait for the defroster to melt it. But weather, after all as they say, is just weather.

Another reason I am grateful about living here is that LA is the strongest seat of consistent Shambhala Art offerings in our international mandala. This is partly because for many years now, the five-part Shambhala Art program has been offered every other year here in LA in an intensive retreat format over five days, followed by a teacher training. In the alternate years, we host a Shambhala Art teacher and graduate retreat. (We are lucky to have the International Director living in our community!) But as a result, we have a wonderful cohort of California-based teachers.  

Shambhala Art, based on the rich and profound Dharma Art teachings of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, has always meant a great deal to me and has complemented and brought to life whatever other practice or course of study I was involved in on the path.

Awareness practice is not just sitting meditation or meditation-in-action alone. It is a unique training practice in how to behave as an inspired human being. That is what is meant by being an artist. ~ Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Students from across the country and around the globe have attended the intensives offered here in January (could it be the weather?). But many in our local sangha have said they were unable to take a week off from work to attend. So in 2017, for the first time in many years and back by popular demand, Shambhala Art Parts One, Two, and Three will be offered as successive weekend programs.  

A one-day Part One will be taught at both the Westside and Eagle Rock Centers (Orange County TBD) and Part Twos will be offered at both Centers as an all-day retreat. Part Three will be taught as a full weekend in Eagle Rock.

Shambhala Art 2017

• January 14th WESTSIDE Part ONE (9am – 6pm) with Carolyn Sykes
• February 11th EAGLE ROCK Part ONE (9am – 6pm) with Debra Dysart and Angela Lloyd
• March 11th WESTSIDE Part TWO RETREAT (9:30 am – 9pm) (prereq. Part One) with Anne Saitzyk and Elayne Rail
• April 8th EAGLE ROCK Part TWO RETREAT (9:30 am – 9pm) (prereq. Part One) with Laura Landau and Angela Lloyd
• May 6/7 EAGLE ROCK Part THREE Sat.  9am – 6pm and Sun. 9am – 3pm  (prereq. Part Two)

This program is available to all whether or not you consider yourself an “artist.” The Shambhala Art teachings celebrate art that springs from the meditative mind. They remind us to appreciate the uniqueness of everyday sensory experience, the art of everyday life. Seeing the simplicity and brilliance of “things as they are” provides the ground for genuine creativity which is the expression of non-aggression.

You are invited to join us!