REGISTRATION IS OPEN
REGISTRATION ENDS ON NOVEMBER 17TH
ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE A FULL VIDEO RECORDING OF THE PROGRAM.
“In essence, the fundamental purpose of Buddhism is to recognize the natural creative expression of life, and to learn to navigate it with respect, insight, and compassion.” EMN
The way we see and move about the world requires creativity, and what we call “life” is a creative expression of the nature of things itself. Once, while talking on the subject of art and the nature of creative expression, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche said:
“We usually think of creativity as belonging to the artist. But in a larger sense, creativity is innate and spontaneously present, not fabricated by hammer and nail.”
These words are striking. So true! The world of appearances and possibilities we encounter each moment arise without our efforts. We are not in total command! We are part of an infinite system of interdependent relationships. Navigating the nature of relationship with humility, respect, and insight is the job of the artist…and the art of being human.
The Heart Sutra, one of the most widely recited texts in the Buddhist tradition, tells a story. In it, the bodhisattva, Chenrezig, in the presence of the Buddha, describes to a gathering of disciples the nature of the world we encounter, and we begin to see how stunning life really is.
We are pleased to announce that we will be offering a program entitled The Art Sutra: exploring the nature of creativity through the Heart Sutra. In this program, Buddhist teacher and author Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel will guide us through a deep exploration of the sutra, Chime Mattis (see below) will introduce his haunting musical composition of the Heart Sutra, which we will chant in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and artist Tatjana Krizmanic will introduce us to the magical world of visual dharma expression. Please join us.
Chanting
In this, his first musical rendition of The Heart Sutra, Chimé was influenced by the musical tradition of North India which he studied for years. North India is also the region where The Heart Sutra was born. Through the use, primarily, of percussion, he attempts to create rhythmical structure and continuity around the text while simultaneously evoking ambience, space and depth. He is currently working on the second, more melodic version which will be ready in time for the Art Sutra retreat.
Art
Tatjana Krizmanic is known for her brilliant pastel drawings and oil paintings, which depict ordinary life with a distinctly European sensibility. Born in Zagreb, Croatia Tatjana started painting at age fourteen. She studied at University of Zagreb and completed her studies at Georgetown University. Her paintings reside in numerous private collections, museums and galleries around the world. There are many book that include Tatjana’s art and among her favorites, a book of poems, Big Sky, she collaborated on with Anam Thubten. Tatjana regularly teaches contemplative art workshops in person and online. Tatjana has had a life-long conviction that art can be a means of opening what she describes as “a different door” within a person, and that this opening can translate to other areas of his or her life. She has been a practicing Buddhist since her 20s and has studied the principles of Dharma art for 30 years. Her meditation practice has helped her recognize how the natural creative flow and playfulness of human mind can influence one’s artistic practice and freedom of expression. During this program, Tatjana will do several demonstrations and guide us in awareness exercises in graphite and watercolor studies. These sessions will teach us how unfiltered contact with the world around us provokes a deeper appreciation and creative response, and how the practice of meditation and art can help us cultivate presence and openness. Working in the context of contemplative artistic expression will provide us with a powerful opportunity to shed our self consciousness and begin to open up and apply the wisdom of the Heart Sutra in our own experience
This event is hosted by the Middle Way Initiative and Paz & Mente Brasil.