Special Events

If You Meet a Buddha, Draw Them!

A brief experience with Sacred Geometry

Special Guest Michèle Laporte

Sunday, November 15th, 10 am – noon ET

Online only via Zoom

Buddhas have beautiful faces. Such serenity, such peacefulness. Same with their bodies, so elegant, so grounded... But what does this ancient style of looksmaxxing mean for me, a meditator living in modern western culture? As practitioners we are encouraged to associate this perfect, mask-like face and smooth body with enlightenment, but how can visualizing such a “pure” form actually benefit my practice? What makes such proportions “sacred”? And what about all those colors and ornaments?

These important questions point to historical traditions and are part of a larger conversation about the uses of symbolism to promote spiritual realization, and we will touch on these topics in our discussion. Another way to explore this topic, however, is through the practice of drawing, or tracing. We are all familiar with the idea that using our hands to draw or trace forms can supply its own kind of understanding by allowing these shapes to connect with our minds in a visceral way, through feeling. So in this short workshop we will also try that approach, making a simple drawing of a Buddha head or a seated Buddha form.

For all skill levels—no artistic experience required.

All are welcome! Working diagrams will be provided.

Michèle Laporte has been a student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche since 1978. Over many years she has also had the privilege of studying with other Tibetan Buddhist teachers, primarily from the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages as well as Zen traditions. In New York City where she lives, she has been working as a gallerist and painting conservator for Buddhist art since 1997.

Michèle also teaches at Parsons School of Design, The New School, where she is in her 29th year as an instructor in illustration, systems theory, and sustainable design. And for many years she has had the good fortune to act as arts faculty at the Profound Treasury Retreats in Maine.

RSVP YES

A Note from Special Guest Michèle Laporte

Noble Sketchers of the Buddha,

Warm greetings to you! To ensure a good drawing experience it will be useful for you to have these simple materials handy for our Open House session this Sunday:

  • paper: any plain paper you like— at least 8 1/2 x 11”, at least 7 -10 sheets or pages

  • pencil: any kind you like to use

  • eraser: pink pearl, kneaded, gum— whatever works for you

  • ruler: preferably 12”

Here are some OPTIONAL materials you could have handy as well:

  • writing pen or marker, any kind

  • crayons, colored pencils, colored markers, etc.

  • graph paper

  • tracing paper

You can participate using any size device but it may be easier to use something larger than a phone such as a laptop, tablet, or desktop. Thank you for signing up, and I’m looking forward to our time together, drawing the Buddha!

Be well,

Michèle Laporte