November 18, 2024 6:30pm

November Dharma Friends | Reclaiming the Divine Feminine: Dakini Magic with Megan Mook & Kevin Townley

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Kevin Townley | Lopön Karla Jackson-Brewer | Carolyn Castiglia | Anna Bianco | Kendra Cunningham | Melissa Rocha | Shalewa Sharpe | Megan Mook

$0.00$150.00

Description

Monday, November 18

6:30 – 8:30 PM

$0, $10, $25, $55 & $150 ( Benefactor) | Hybrid

The November Dharma Friends is all about the DIVINE FEMININE, which is traditionally associated with decisive, cutting wisdom in Tibetan Buddhism. In this timely and special Dharma Friends, we’ll explore the divine feminine, mandalas, and the magical world of the dakinis through live comedy, guided meditation, and Dharma discussion. Special guests include Lopön Karla Jackson-Brewer, senior teacher at Tara Mandala and 5 fabulous female comics: Anna Bianco, Carolyn Castiglia, Kendra Cunningham, Melissa Rocha and Shalewa Sharpe. This is our last gathering at Tibet House until the New Year – don’t miss it!

Dakini is a Sanskrit word that means “sky dancer,” representing the most sacred aspect of wisdom appearing in female form. “The dakini is a messenger of spaciousness and a force of truth . . . Wherever we cling, she cuts; whatever we think we can hide, even from ourselves, she reveals. The dakini traditionally appears during transitions: moments between worlds, between life and death, in visions between sleep and waking, in cemeteries and charnel grounds.” From Wisdom Rising, By Lama Tsultrim Allione.

For participants ages 18-35, this event is donation-based via a sponsorship from Dharma Gates. Dharma Gates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to opening pathways into formal meditation practice for young adults. To find out more and/or sign up for Dharma Gate’s newsletter, visit  dharma-gates.org/join-newsletter. Donations are graciously accepted though Venmo: @dharma-gates.

Additional Info: 
Dharma Friends is offered on a sliding scale. In an effort to be both accessible and sustainable, we invite you to select the donation level that is most appropriate for your circumstances. If the access level is beyond your reach, we’re happy to welcome you as our guest. Email: [email protected].
Access Level: $15
Sustaining Level: $25
Generosity Level: $55
Access Level: This level is for those who have difficulty meeting their basic financial needs, live paycheck-to-paycheck, or lack money in times of need.
Sustaining Level: This level is for those who are able to meet their basic financial needs and who can generally afford purchases / experiences. 
Generosity Level: This level is for those who live comfortably without financial worry and who have a desire to help make the Dharma more accessible to others. 
***Participants will have access to the Zoom recording for one year.  A copy of the Zoom recording will automatically appear under My Account.***

Additional information

Pricing Options

$0 – Dharma Gates Sponsorship – Ages 18-35 only. In-person, $0 – Dharma Gates Sponsorship – Ages 18-35 only. Zoom, $15 – Access Level. In-person, $15 – Access Level. Zoom, $25 – Sustaining Level. In-person, $25 – Sustaining Level. Zoom, $55 – Genersosity Level. In-person, $55 – Generosity Level. Zoom, $150 – Benefactor. In-person, $150 – Benefactor. Zoom

Featuring

Megan Mook holds a Master’s in Buddhist Studies and is a long-term student of both Tibetan Buddhism and yoga. Megan has lived and studied in traditional monastic environments all over the world, thoroughly immersing herself in the practice of Buddhism, yoga, and natural healing. A member of the Tibetan Translators Guild of New York, Megan has worked on Tibetan scriptural translations with Dr. Robert Thurman and Dr. Lozang Jamspal, an 87 year old Tibetan Lama with whom Megan studied and traveled for several years. The heart of Megan’s teaching is tender-hearted clarity, accessed through compassion and embodied awareness. Megan regularly offers Buddhist philosophy classes and meditation retreats, and leads international Buddhist pilgrimages for Tricycle Buddhist Review. MeganMook.com
Kevin Townley is a writer, performer, and meditation instructor. His first book, Look, Look, Look, Look, Look Again: Buddhist Wisdom Reflected in 26 Artists, delves into the Five Wisdom Families of Tantric Buddhism through the lens of secular women artists. Kevin’s primary teacher is Kyoun Sokuzan, a Zen priest, who was first authorized to teach by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1978. Kevin teaches regularly in Susan Piver’s Open Heart Project sangha, and has also studied at the Interdependence Project where he completed their teacher training in 2012. In 2022, Kevin guest-curated the Rubin Museum’s Brainwave Series. Kevin is passionate about exploring the interplay between meditation and art, always encouraging others to bring their own innate humor and insight to their meditation practice. KevinTownley.nyc

Lopön Karla Jackson-Brewer

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Lopön Karla Jackson-Brewer, M.S. is a senior teacher at Tara Mandala where she has been practicing Chöd for over 30 years. Lopön Karla has assisted Lama Tsultrim Allione on many Chöd retreats and has co-taught Chöd since 2013. She leads the Tara Mandala NYC Sangha as well as a monthly BBAIPOC ((Black, Brown, Asian and Indigenous People of Color) meditation practice. Karla is an adjunct professor in the Women’s & Gender Studies Department and the Africana Studies Department at Rutgers, as well as a founder of Sine Qua Non: Allies in Healing, an Integrative Therapy Practice in New York City.  Karla is also an initiated priest in the West African system of Ifa.

Anna Bianco

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Anna Bianco is a NYC based comedian. She has performed around the country and been featured on the Travel Channel. You can catch her nightly in clubs around NYC, or by running (she is not very fast.)

Carolyn Castiglia

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Carolyn Castiglia is a multi-disciplinary artist who employs stand-up, storytelling, music, and more to wow audiences with her powerfully funny and endearing performances. She’s appeared on Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Lifetime, Food Network, and more.

Kendra Cunningham

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Kendra Cunningham is a stand up comedian, filmmaker, host, and all around funny lady. She has appeared on Fallon and Last Comic Standing, and is a frequent contributor to Huffington Post. Her comic essays are collected in the book Blonde Logic.

Melissa Rocha

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Melissa Rocha hosts and produces the weekly stand-up show Savage Comedy. She’s been seen on NY1, CBS Sunday Morning, and most recently heard on John Fugelsang’s Tell Me Everything on SiriusXM.

Shalewa Sharpe

VISIT WEBSITE

Shalewa Sharpe has appeared on HBO, Comedy Central, The CW, Peacock, and Showtime. She has two albums: “Stay Eating Cookies” (2016) and “So You Just Out Here?” (2019), both available everywhere.

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