calligraphy by Barbara Bash

Dharma Art Course (in-person and online)

based on the teachings of Chogyam Trugpa, Rinpoche

in-person: 17 – 20 May 2024, Alanus Campus, Alfter, Germany

online: 27 February, 2024 -  26  April, 2024

Course Description

Dharma Art refers to art that springs from a certain state of mind that could be called the meditative state. It is an attitude of directness and ego-less consciousness in which an artist is connected to natures everlasting flow of creation.

This program will offer a series of meditation-based practices that explore perception, creativity, composition and collaboration. Although some of these practices involve visual art, most will involve embodiment and the arts-based social change methodology, Social Presencing Theater. 

The course will consist of a multi-day in-person part at Alanus College in Alfter, Germany and three optional 120 minute online sessions via zoom always Fridays at 9:00 am EST/ 3:00 pm CET, which can be booked independently as well:

We invite artists, art teachers, innovators, and all humans who have prior exposure to art and mindfulness-based practices.

The course is limited to 26 participants and will be held in English. 

Trungpa Rinpoche gave teachings on dharma art as a vehicle to explore the playfulness and naturalness of the phenomenal world. Suggested reading: True Perception, the Path of Dharma Art by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. 

In below video Arawana explains some of the basic elements of Dharma Art and this course.

Arawana Hayashi’s pioneering work as a choreographer, performer and educator is deeply sourced in collaborative improvisation. She heads the creation of Social Presencing Theater (SPT) for the Presencing Institute. Working there with Otto Scharmer and his colleagues, she teaches both meditation and art based on bringing out the basic goodness of individuals, of relationships and of society.

Arawana will be assisted by Dirk Bräuninger, who teaches Social Presencing Theater at Alanus Werkhaus since 2016. 

Venue and General Flow of the Days

The Dharma Art program will be held on the beautiful campus of Alanus College, known for its humanistic and innovative approaches to education, the arts and the environment.   It is a small and beautiful place up on the hill surrounded by trees and greenery. It can be reached with public transport via Bonn or Cologne (Köln) which are the next big cities.

The program will start on Friday, May 17 at 10 AM CET and end on Monday May 20 at 1 PM CET.

General Flow of the Days:

morning and afternoon include 15 minutes coffee break

Catering

The course fee will include the following catering. (Minor adjustments are possible) 

Breakfast is part of the accommodation when booked in the guest house.

Enrollment

Following packages are available: 

(+ online registration fee of eventbrite)

The participation fee** of the in-person program includes lunch, dinner and coffee break catering. 


* German sales tax of 19% will be additionally accounted.  
** Discount is available to those who live in a compromised economy, or have a challenging financial situation. (Coupon codes are offered by confidential request to post@dirkbraeuninger.de)

Cancellation policy "in-person"

The amount paid minus a 100 € cancellation/processing fee will be refunded for all cancellations received in writing 6 weeks before the event starts. After that no refunds will be granted for cancellations. Please be sure to cancel your accommodation at Alanus guesthouse as well. 

Accommodation 

Accommodation at extra costs can be arranged directly with Alanus Guesthouse. There will be 18 rooms available.

German website with prices and room descriptions: https://werkhaus.alanus.edu/gaestehaus/unsere-zimmer.html

Contact: Alanus Guesthouse, Johannishof – 53347 Alfter, phone: +49 (0)2222 93 21 1715


Beside Alanus Guesthouse there are other accommodations  available in Alfter.