Essential Instructions, day III

On the third day of the workshop we mostly repeated what we did on the first two days and we slowed down our pace even more. I learned that looking and looking again is essential indeed and it shows in the pictures. There is more contact, more connection, more heart in them.

Dharma means truth and Miksang is about visual truth. We don't show the world our version of the truth we show our perception, nothing more and nothing less.

The first two days we especially dealt with calming our minds and we  explored the area before we pick up the camera. Every so often when we see something we would like to pick up our camera immediately and pull the trigger, so to speak.

During the past few days we hit the brakes and we took more time to look at what it was that we saw. This stabilizes our perception and gives a deeper connection.

Everything on the path of contemplative photography is about getting in the moment, because there is no other moment than the present. The pictures are the by-product of this practice (and what a joy they are!).

The emphasis of the third day is forming the equivalent: how to use our camera to express what we saw. We learned a few technical aspects of our camera. The equivalent should match your perception as close as possible. In Miksang we don't use special lenses or tricks to enhance the picture. What we see is what you get.

I can look back on a tremendous informative and joyous workshop. Miksang is not about cognitive information, it's more a discipline of spontaneity.  It is a path on which we learn a lot about ourselves and how our mind works. I keep on looking and seeing, it makes me calm and happy.