Events and Workshops

Eco-Dharma, Unseen Beings, and the Path of Natural Recovery (8 Weeks - Tara Mandala Online Course)
Jun
5

Eco-Dharma, Unseen Beings, and the Path of Natural Recovery (8 Weeks - Tara Mandala Online Course)

In Collaboration with Tara Mandala Online Programs.

In this eight-week course, author and teacher Erik Jampa Andersson will guide participants through the Eightfold Path of Natural Recovery as discussed in his book, Unseen Beings: How We Forgot the World is More Than Human (Hay House UK, 2023), which Lama Tsultrim has described as “a brilliant book that gives us a road map to true wholeness and recovery.” Through lectures, discussion, and guided exercises, participants will explore what it really means to be human in a more-than-human world, and how to meaningfully engage with ecological consciousness and ethics on the spiritual path. 

Participants of this program will: 

  • Take a deep dive into one of the eight points on the Buddhist Eightfold Path, exploring their applicability in our environmental crisis and their potential to guide us towards both liberation and collective health. 

  • Delve into the intersection of a wide range of topics through History, Science, Philosophy, Ecology, Medicine, and Mythology. 

  • Examine what it means to live a life worth living on a path to authentic liberation, and how Buddhist philosophy can support us in our pursuit of a more just and balanced future. 

  • Look into how climatic changes, epidemics, and religious evolutions all impacted Buddhist perceptions of the natural world, and how these shifting worldviews affected human behaviors towards the environment. 

In addition to materials from his book, Erik Jampa will share insights from his academic research on Tibetan nature spirits, exploring how animistic paradigms persisted in the Tibetan Buddhist world, allowing humans to socially engage with a vast array of beings tied to local environments and ecosystems.

Each session will include a lecture, group discussion, and meditation or exercise. Recommended reading materials will be provided for the weeks between sessions, and additional resources will be made available as the course progresses. 

We hope you will join us for this unique and groundbreaking program!

Required Reading: 

Who Should Attend? 
This program is open to everyone.

Recording Access: 
All participants will have a 1-year access period to the recordings.

What is a Tara Mandala Online Program?
Tara Mandala offers online programming via live and pre-recorded curriculum that give you the opportunity to access dharma teachings, engage in guided practice, experience personal retreat and hands-on learning, while connecting with other participants through easy-to-use online platforms and an engaged community network. When needed, the program description and schedule will inform you in advance if and when a specific online session must be attended live if a direct transmission (Tib. lung) may be given. Access to recordings of all sessions will be available for additional viewing for one year. 

PROGRAM SCHEDULE
The live sessions of the program are listed below. All times are Mountain Daylight Time. Please use this link to see how this daily schedule translates into your timezone.

The live webcasts will be held on Wednesdays from 10:00am-12:00pm MDT
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Wednesday, July 24, 2024

PRICES

Register now to take advantage of Early Bird Rates until May 6, 2024.

  • $914.00 – Generosity Rate

  • $711.00 – Sustainability Rate

  • $584.00 – Access Rate

Offering dana to the teacher: The practice of offering dana, which means “generosity,” is the traditional offering the student makes to the teacher as a symbol of appreciation, gratitude, and reciprocity for receiving the precious teachings. Information on offering dana to the teacher will be provided during the program. To learn more about dana and suggested dana ranges, please click here. 

Payment Plans and Financial Assistance
Tara Mandala offers two types of financial assistance: Deferred Payment Plans and Scholarships. You may apply for one or both of these types of assistance. Read the terms carefully as outlined on the financial aid application. Please see this page for further information.

Sustaining Sangha:
If you are currently a member of Tara Mandala’s Sustaining Sangha, you may apply your Online Program discount to this course. To learn more about Sustaining Sangha membership, benefits, and discounts, click here. 

Click Here for Tara Mandala’s Online Programs Cancellation and Refund Policy

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Into the Perilous Realm: Faërie and Fantasy on the Path to Recovery (8-week course)
Jun
6

Into the Perilous Realm: Faërie and Fantasy on the Path to Recovery (8-week course)

This eight-week course will guide participants through the ‘Perilous Realm’ of myth and fairy-story. Guided by J.R.R. Tolkien's influential essay ‘On Fairy-stories,' we will explore the origins and functions of fairy-stories and fantasy literature in human societies and discuss the key themes, ideas, and arguments presented by Tolkien in what is functionally his ‘manifesto’ for mythopoeia.

Presented by Erik Jampa Andersson, MA, author of Unseen Beings: How We Forgot the World is More Than Human (Hay House UK, 2023), this course will also examine the importance of ‘natural enchantment’ on the path to ecological recovery, and the ways that engaging with myth and fantasy can help us better understand what it means to be human in a more-than-human world.

Each two-hour class includes a lecture and seminar discussion, complemented by curated reading assignments. While focused largely on Tolkien’s scholarship and creative legacy, this course will cover a wide range of topics, including:

  • The history of fairy-stories and myth.

  • The psychological, sociological, and philosophical functions of fantasy.

  • ‘Fairy faith’ and re-enchantment in the Industrial Era.

  • Ecocritical approaches to fantasy literature.

  • ‘Nature spirits’ and animism.

  • The complex relationship between mythology and religion.

  • The storyteller as a philosopher.

  • The virtues of escapism.

  • ‘Recovery’ as a path.

This is naturally an excellent course for those who wish to deepen their understanding of Tolkien’s work, but it is equally valuable for those who are simply interested in the profundity and potency of storytelling. It is likely that storytelling holds the key to a brighter future, and our path of recovery (should we choose to take it) runs straight to the heart of our enchanted and perilous Earth.

Course Structure

Classes will take place at the following dates/times:

  • June 6th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)

  • June 13th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)

  • June 20th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)

  • June 27th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)

  • July 4th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)

  • July 11th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)

  • July 18th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)

  • July 25th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)

All lectures will be recorded and available for participants to stream for one year after enrolment, while seminar discussions will only be accessible live.

About Erik Jampa Andersson

Erik has been reading Tolkien for nearly 25 years, and has presented multiple papers for The Tolkien Society on topics including ‘Akallabêth and the Anthropocene’ and ‘Tolkien, Revelation, and the Tibetan Treasure Tradition.’ His first book, Unseen Beings: How We Forgot the World is More Than Human (Hay House UK, 2023), explores the historical roots of anthropocentric instrumentalism, and posits that animistic re-enchantment is essential for our ecological recovery. Erik holds an MA in History from Goldsmiths, University of London, and specialises in environmental history, Tibetology, religion, and the medical humanities. Much of his current research focuses on ‘eco-daemonology’ (‘nature spirit’ paradigms) and the incorporation of animistic paradigms into the conceptualisation of ecocide.

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Yuthok Nyingthig Chöd (Sowa Rigpa Institute Online Programme)
Feb
16
to 18 Feb

Yuthok Nyingthig Chöd (Sowa Rigpa Institute Online Programme)

In collaboration with the Sowa Rigpa Institute.

This workshop will introduce the Tibetan Buddhist practice of Chöd, as presented in the Yuthok Nyingthig tradition. Participants will receive instructions on a short sadhana known as the Yuthok Nyingthik Lujin (“Body Offering”) or Kusali Tsok (“Beggar’s Feast”), based on the writings of Yuthok Yönten Gönpo, father of Tibetan Medicine. This is a powerful and pithy practice – and a valuable tool for those interested in healing ourselves, our communities, and our planet.

Based on the teachings of the 11th-century Tibetan yogini Machig Labdrön, the ritual of Chöd ("Severance") has been employed by yogis, healers, and magicians across the Himalayas for centuries. Adepts are famed throughout Tibet and the Himalayas for their ability to quell epidemic diseases and negotiate with local spirits, giving Chöd a prominent reputation as a healing rite. It is particularly potent for addressing the deeper existential, environmental, and spiritual factors underlying our systemic imbalances, including our broken relationships with the Earth and our other-than-human kin.

In this course, Erik Jampa Andersson will offer instructions and commentary on the practice of the Yuthok Nyingthig Lüjin, providing historical and philosophical context as well as practical instructions for starting (or deepening) your own Chöd practice. We will also explore the many links between Chöd and Sowa Rigpa, including Machig's own teachings on medicine as well as approaches to provocation (gDon) disorders in both traditions.

Erik will also discuss the animistic and ecological dimensions of the Chöd practice, including how we can use Chöd to deepen our relationship with the many non-human beings – seen and unseen – with whom we share the world. We will also explore how the notion of ‘offering the body as food’ can radically transform the way we relate with our own bodies, the bodies of others, and humanity’s place in a more-than-human world.

This course includes the following:

· In-depth introduction to the philosophy and 'worldview' of Chöd, including its historical and spiritual context.

· An overview of the life and teachings of Machig Labdrön and Yuthok Yönten Gönpo.

· A line-by-line commentary on the Yuthok Nyingthig Lujin.

· Melody and instrument training (for those who wish to use them).

· Introduction to Tibetan daemonology and provocation disorders.

· Ecological and medical applications of Chöd.

· Practical and ritual advice.

· Resources for further training.

· Audio and video files of the practice.

· Opportunity for regular (weekly/bi-weekly) online practice and Q&A sessions after the course.

Course Fee: $135 (£106)

Schedule

February 16, 17, & 18 2024
10 Hours Total

3 hours on Feb 16th & 17th
4 hours on Feb 18th

Course Start Times:
9am LA | 12pm NY
5pm UK | 6pm Rome


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In Collaboration with Morbid Anatomy - Cabaret of the Drowning World: A Variety Spectacle
Sep
10

In Collaboration with Morbid Anatomy - Cabaret of the Drowning World: A Variety Spectacle

Erik Jampa will be presenting a short talk and guided meditation at Cabaret of the Drowning World: A Variety Spectacle with the Truppe Fledermaus and Very Special Guests.

Erik’s presentation will centre around an ecumenical approach to the Tibetan Buddhist practice of Chöd, focusing on its animistic potency as a practice for existential, spiritual, and ecological recovery.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a Morbid Anatomy event, and video playback will only be available to members of their Patreon. Become a Member HERE.

Ticketholders: A Zoom invite is sent out two hours before the event to the email used at checkout. Please check your spam folder and if not received, email info.morbidanatomy@gmail.com.

Nicholas Kahn and Richard Selesnick's Tarot of the Drowning World and Sarah Falkner's companion guidebook Dr. Falke's Tarot du Monde Perdu are the interdependent ecosystems in which has germinated a collaborative, rhizomatic, multimodal multimedia online event. 

Truppe Fledermaus ringleaders Kahn & Selesnick and fellow traveler Falkner will be joined by a troupe of fascinating, erudite and adept colleagues, with Morbid Anatomy programming director and cartomancer Laetitia Barbier hosting a program that includes short introductions to the artists' complete bodies of work; live readings from the guidebook; a live demonstration tarot reading; a mini-symposium of several scholarly and poetic presentations exploring ancient history, art history, divinatory, magical, and sorcerous practice, and ecocriticism; documentary film insight into Kahn & Selesnick and collaborators' process during the making of the cards; and a guided meditation.

There will be time for Q & A at the end with Kahn, Selesnick, Falkner, and all the presenting practitioner-scholar-performer-writer-artists: Una Maria Blyth, Maura Coughlin, Erik Jampa Andersson, Sasha Ravitch, David Sater, Damon Stang, and Caroline J Tully

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Ecology and Daemonology in the Himalayas: ‘Unseen Beings’ talk and book-signing at Watkins Books
Aug
24

Ecology and Daemonology in the Himalayas: ‘Unseen Beings’ talk and book-signing at Watkins Books

Book talk and signing with Erik Jampa at Watkins Books in Central London, focusing on the numinous and perilous world of Tibetan spirit ontologies, examining what they can teach us about non-modern perceptions of the so-called ‘natural world,’ and what wisdom they might confer as we make our way through the Anthropocene.

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Yuthok Nyingthig Kusali Chöd
Jul
29
to 1 Aug

Yuthok Nyingthig Kusali Chöd

Learn the ancient practice of Chöd.

In this workshop, we will explore the ancient Tibetan Buddhist practice of Chöd, as presented in the Yuthok Nyingthig tradition. Participants will learn a short pithy sadhana known as the Yuthok Nyingthik Lujin (“Body Offering”) or Kusali Tsok (“Beggar’s Feast”), based on the writings of Yuthok Yönten Gönpo.  This is a perfect practice for modern times, especially for those involved in the healing arts, as a concise daily sadhana at the intersection of these two incredible traditions.

Based on the teachings of the 11th-century Tibetan yogini Machig Labdrön, the ritual of Chöd ("Severance") has been employed by yogis, healers, and magicians across the Himalayas for nearly a millennia. Accomplished adepts are famed throughout the Tibetan world for their ability to quell epidemic diseases and appease troublesome spirits, giving Chöd a prominent reputation as a healing rite. 

 The esoteric allure of this ritual has captivated spiritual seekers and academics alike for centuries, yet its essence is not one of occult mystery but rather a profound understanding of the nature of the mind. Machig's teachings on the nature of gods and demons reveal the true nature of our hopes and fears, while the ritual framework of the practice offers an opportunity to accumulate positive karma, develop spiritual potency, cancel karmic debts, and heal both the environment and its sentient inhabitants. On a most essential level, however, the true power of Chöd lies in its power to cut through dualistic ego-fixation - the root of all afflictions - and to provide us with an opportunity to rest in the nature of our own mind. 

While Machig's Chöd tradition was once its very own 'chariot' of Tibetan Buddhist teachings, over the centuries her teachings became absorbed into nearly all the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Today, Chöd is often treated as a kind of 'auxiliary practice,' but it can itself comprise a complete path to liberation. 

In this course, Erik Jampa Andersson will offer instructions and commentary on the practice of the Yuthok Nyingthig Lüjin, providing historical and philosophical context as well as practical instructions for starting (or deepening) your own Chöd practice. We will also explore the many links between Chöd and Sowa Rigpa, including Machig's own teachings on medicine as well as approaches to provocation (gDon) disorders in both traditions. 

Central to both Tibetan medical theory and the Chöd tradition is an in-depth understanding of the nature of unseen beings. While great attention has been paid to the psychological application of Chöd in recent years, this course will expand more thoroughly upon the animistic and ecological components of the practice, illuminating the ways we can use Chöd to deepen our relationship with the beings of the natural world - both seen and unseen.

This course includes the following:

  • In-depth introduction to the philosophy and 'worldview' of Chöd, including its historical and spiritual context.

  • An overview of the life and teachings of Machig Labdrön and Yuthok Yönten Gönpo.

  • A line-by-line commentary on the Yuthok Nyingthig Lujin.

  • Melody and instrument training (for those who wish to use them).

  • Introduction to Tibetan daemonology and provocation disorders.

  • Healing applications of Chöd.

  • Practical and ritual advice.

  • Resources for further training.

  • Audio and video files of the practice.

Course Schedule

9am - 12pm Los Angeles | 12 - 3pm New York
5 -8pm London | 6 - 9pm Rome

Check your time zone

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