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: 01 December, 2023 - 22 March, 2024

All information is preliminary and will be further detailed during the first half of 2023.

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 90 minute online sessions via zoom always Fridays at 9:30 am EST/ 3:30 pm CET, which can be booked independently as well:

  1. Coming To Our Senses (December 01, 2023)
    invites us to explore our sense perceptions — experiencing the world without preconceptions and conventional interpretations. We invoke fresh connections with our phenomenal world.

  2. Art In Everyday Life (January 26, 2024)
    is an invitation to see our life as an ongoing creative process. Everyday we co-create our homes, families, teams at work, and communities. We explore our individual and collective creative potential in our ordinary activities.

  3. Appreciating Things As They Are (March 22, 2024)
    brings our attention to the sacredness in every moment. We see the beauty in our life in the midst of the challenges and struggles.

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

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.

Enrollment

Following packages are available:

  • in-person + online: 1.250 €

  • in-person-only: 1.100 €

  • online-only: 180 € (3 x 120 minute sessions)

(+ online registration fee of eventbrite)

The participation fee* of the in-person program (day 1 afternoon to closing day noon) includes lunch, dinner and coffee break catering.


* because of small businesses regulation (Section 19 German sales tax law - UStG -) no sales tax will be accounted.

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.

A non-binding accommodation inquiry will become part of the final registration process with two options available:

  1. Stay in a room on your own or with someone you know. (Your request will be forwarded directly to Alanus Guesthouse)

  2. Get assigned to a multi bed room. (Your request will be forwarded as soon as a multi bedroom is fully occupied)


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.