Tuesday

Miksang Contemplative Photography

Interview with John McQuade

On June 3, 2023, John McQuade will begin the five-session summer course Contemplative Photography and Liberation: The Outer and Inner Teachings with Shambhala Online. Participants of all levels will take a deep dive into the world of Miksang Contemplative photography exploring the liberation aspects of the artistic practice. The Shambhala Times asked John – who is founder of Nalanda Miksang Contemplative Photography, long time student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Maitri Five Wisdoms Teacher, and Shambhala Training Teacher and Meditation Instructor a couple of questions about his upcoming course, how he originally got into photography, and what makes Miksang Contemplative photography stand out.

What was your initial attraction to photography and how did you get started?

I was never interested in photography and had never owned a camera (this was in the days before smartphones). I had become a mediator at what we now call the Toronto Shambhala Center. In those days we were required to “sit” thirty hours a month which included three nythun sessions (three hour sessions). Some of us often got in our nythun requirement by doing all three sessions in one day (nine hours of sitting). I found that often on my walk home after these nine hour meditation sessions, my senses – and in particular the visual sense – was clarified. Like the slogan from a current detergent commercial the reds were redder, the blues were bluer and the whites were whiter.

I found that often on my walk home after these nine hour meditation sessions, my senses – and in particular the visual sense – was clarified.

At the Shambhala Center my girlfriend was taking a new “contemplative photography” course developed by the photographer Micheal Wood. At the end of the course the participants presented a collective image show. When I saw the show the images resonated with the clear perception I experienced through meditation. So I began to work with Michael and we developed what is now called Miksang Contemplative Photography.

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To learn more and register for Contemplative Photography and Liberation: The Outer and Inner Teachings please click here.