- Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche quoted by Gina Stick
Contemplative Arts:
The Magnificent Display of Awake Mind
A year long ONLINE series, running September 20, 2026 - October 24, 2027 Sunday afternoons, 3pm Eastern, twice a month. Attend every session or pick and choose what you attend. Recordings will be available.
Register for this series with Dorje Denma Ling, at this link
No pre-requisites, no charge, gifts welcome
Questions: Pithpathphet@gmail.com
Series Description
When Eastern wisdom traditions met Western artistic and scientific disciplines in the 1970s, a magnificent cultural explosion took place. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche became the foremost champion of this movement and Naropa Institute (now University) became one of the richest grounds for exploration and creative expression.
The Series will showcase professional artists who devoted themselves to the pursuit of mastery in the contemplative arts both, as the core of their artistic expression, as well as of their spiritual path.
Listen to learn more:
from Marcia Shibata about how the traditional Asian Arts came to Shambhala
from Wendell Beavers about the how artists in the Western tradition engaged with Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche
Melissa Butler
Julia Sagebien
Daniel Nguyen
Emily Waters
Program Hosts
Main Stage
Interviews by Julia Sagebien on the Pith of their disciplines, Path taken, continuity of work, and how others can engage with these disciplines today.
Pop Ups
Hosted by Emily Waters, Daniel Nguyen, and Melissa Butler, open space for workshops, book presentations, Visual Arts and Miksang galleries
Fall 2026
Main Stage
September 20th:
Wendell Beavers and Erika Berland, view and context of contemplative art
October 11th: Marcia Shibata, view and context of the Japanese disciplines, featuring Ikebana
Fall 2026
Pop-Ups
October 4th: KevinTownley, author of Look, Look, Look, Look, Look Again: Buddhist Wisdom Reflected in 26 Artists
November 1st: Chogyam Trungpa, arts and aesthetics: digital resources. hosted by Emily Waters.
Winter 2027
Main Stage
Winter 2027
Pop-Ups
Emily Waters, visual arts gallery
February 14th: Richard Rutkowski, cinematography
Richard Rutkowski
Spring 2027
Main Stage
March 21st: Lanny Harrison and Steve Clorfeine, performance
(110 minutes)
Spring 2027
Pop-Ups
Summer 2027
Main Stage
July 18th: Barbara Bash, calligraphy
Summer 2027
Pop-Ups
Fall 2027
Main Stage
October 26th: Concluding celebration
Contemplative Arts Calendar
Click calendar file to add these dates to your personal calendar.
This Contemplative Arts Program is brought to you by the Kalapa Study Group, a civil society organization dedicated to the preservation and manifestation of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche's Kingdom of Shambhala teachings.
