Meetings & Lectures

The art of thangka painting, March 30, 2007

Since the occupation of Tibet by Communist China 50 years ago, many aspects of Tibetan culture have been threatened. Among them is the centuries-old tradition of thangka painting. Thangka painting is a uniquely Tibetan tradition that evolved between the 7th and 12th centuries.

Its origins lay in Indian religious art, but Nepalese, Chinese and Kashmiri styles also influenced its development. Painted on canvas and mounted in silk brocade, a thangka is more than just a work of art. It is an object of devotion, an aid to spiritual practice, and a bringer of blessings.

On March 30, at 7pm, the San Miguel Meditation Center, in conjunction with the San Miguel Shambhala Sangha, is pleased to present a one hour talk by Greg Smith, entitled “The Art of Thangka Painting.”

Greg Smith has painted thangkas for the past 30 years. He studied with master thangka painter, Noedrup Rongea, at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado from 1977–79.

A spiritual and religious expression as much as an art form, the process of learning to paint thangkas is rigorous. Although thangka painting involves mastery of many demanding painting techniques, the focus of this talk will be on the symbolism associated with the images depicted.

This program is presented at the Meditation Center of San Miguel de Allende, Callejon Blanco 4. A 50-peso donation is requested.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

The Rev. Jonalu Johnstone presents thoughts about the purpose of gathering in religious community at this week’s Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Meeting.

“Why do we bother to gather week after week in religious community?” she asks. “Community and caring, yes, but you can get those from family and clubs. Our purpose together is bigger than we might imagine, or even hope.”


Rev. Johnstone presently serves as Program Minister for the First Unitarian Church in Oklahoma City, devoting herself primarily to adult religious education, Covenant groups, and working with Lifespan Faith Development.

The UU Fellowship meets every Sunday at 10:30am at La Posada de la Aldea, Ancha de San Antonio 15. Visitors are invited to attend the service and then join the UUs in the hotel restaurant for brunch. For more information about Mexico’s only chartered UU Fellowship visit portalsanmiguel.com/lifestyle/unitarians/unitarians.html

Midday Rotary Club

Bill LeVasseur, owner and curator of “The Other Face of Mexico Mask Museum” (“La Otra Cara De Mexico”) addresses the Midday Rotary Club on Tuesday, April 3. He discusses some of the dance celebrations he has observed in towns and villages all over Mexico. As he personally narrates a description of 25 different ritual dances, a video will be shown which graphically shows how these indigenous masks fit in with the local culture.

LeVasseur has been collecting Mexican masks for more than 17 years. Each of these masks represents a different character in the ritual dance celebrations—some of them dating back to pre-Columbian days.

The Midday Rotary Club of San Miguel meets every Tuesday at 12:30pm in the upstairs theater at the Villa Jacaranda Hotel (Aldama 53). Visiting Rotarians and all others are invited to attend. Lunch follows at 1:30pm. For more information, check out the website: www.rotarysma.org.  

Globetrotters

On Wednesday, April 4 at 5pm, the initial meeting of the local chapter of Globetrotters (a club for independent travelers) has two presentations. Robert Baines speaks and shows pictures on his recent trip, entitled “The Falkland Islands in a Small Plane.” Glenn Barker talks and presents pictures on “Chile: From Terra del Fuego to the Atacama.” Globetrotters is a mutual support club. There will be an opportunity to obtain and share travel information with other attendees. All are welcome. Admission is 30 pesos, all of which goes to the library.

The San Miguel Christian Fellowship

The San Miguel Christian Non Denominational Fellowship will be “on vacation” for the next two months since several members including the group’s convener, The Rev. Dr. Harold Weicker, will be out of town occasionally during this time. When the Fellowship reconvenes, it will have a new format. Instead of gathering weekly, the group will meet once or twice a month to hear speakers, or discuss videos, on special topics of interest. As always, participants will have many opportunities to ask questions and share their views. Meetings will be advertised in advance, and true to the group’s purpose, everyone is welcome.

During this two month hiatus, the Fellowship’s web site, www.smacf.org , will remain available to everyone for shared inspiration and prayer requests. For more information, or to give your input, please call Harold Weicker at 120-8180.

Classes & Workshops

Rare opportunity for writers seeking publication

Would you like inside secrets about how to get published, right from the horse’s mouth? Alan Rinzler has been a key figure in the New York publishing world for decades and is offering a workshop here in San Miguel on Saturday, March 31, from 10am to noon. Sponsored by the San Miguel Authors’ Sala, the workshop is entitled, “What Writers Need to Know About Today’s Publishing World,” and is held at Posada San Francisco, on the corner of San Francisco and Hidalgo, across from the jardín. Admission is 100 pesos.

Currently the Executive Editor at Jossey Bass Publishers, Alan has served as an editor at Simon and Schuster, Macmillan, and Grove Press. He was the Director of Trade Publishing at Bantam Books, and before that, was the Associate Editor of Rolling Stone magazine. 

Alan has published many well-known authors including Toni Morrison, Hunter Thompson, Tom Robbins, Shirley MacLaine, Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan, Annie Liebowitz, and many others. 

This great wealth of experience in publishing qualifies Mr. Rinzler to answer the questions that plague writers: What’s the secret to getting a great agent? How can I give my work commercial potential and still be true to my art? What are publishers looking for, and how can I fit in? What can I expect to gain by working with a publisher? 

The publishing industry has changed dramatically in recent decades. Alan Rinzler will explain how to manage this corporate-dominated publishing world to maximize your potential to be published, to earn a substantial royalty advance, and to have the best possible experience with a major publisher. 

Shambhala Meditation Group

The Shambhala Meditation Group of San Miguel de Allende invites anyone interested in meditation, to join us for Nyinthun, an in-depth practice session of sitting, walking, and contemplative meditation.

Nyinthun is offered the first Sunday of every month. There is no charge (although donations are welcome) and you may enter and leave without attending the entire program. Practice materials, if needed, are provided. A meditation instructor is available to assist new practitioners. Time and place: Sunday, April 1, 11am to 2pm, Callejon Blanco 4 (off Quebrada). For more information contact John Perkins (120-0767).


Weight Watchers meetings now in San Miguel

Weight Watchers has come to San Miguel! Saturday, March 24 marked the first officially sanctioned Weight Watchers meeting. Meetings are held every Saturday morning, 10:30-11:30am in the Bridge Studio at the Real de Minas Hotel. If you are interested in losing weight and maintaining weight-loss, improving your health, enhancing your life-style and gaining self-confidence, you’re welcome to join us Saturday mornings.

Weight Watchers is an international organization dedicated to providing information and support to all people interested in healthy, sustainable weight loss. It’s the most frequently recommended weight-loss program; recommended by more physicians than any other plan. At the weekly group meetings members get information about the program, celebrate successes, and share challenges with trained leaders and other members. Each week there is information about a new topic that pertains to weight-loss and health. Most important, members get support and receive support from one another. The program combines healthy food choices, portion control, appetite awareness and exercise to meet weight loss goals, which are individually set by members. It’s been found that people who attend Weight Watchers meetings lose three times more weight than those who go it alone—as many of us have done for years.

If you want more information, please come to the next meeting or contact group leaders:

Susan Curra at susancurra@hotmail.com  or Corinne Leachman at corinne@smabridge.com. 

Eva Hunter gives April writing workshop

From April 10 through May 4, Eva Hunter offers her flagship writing workshop, “Style Workshop for Prose” here in San Miguel de Allende. The workshop, which meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 1pm, is designed for writers who are ready to learn the techniques that serious writers use to give their work polish. The class, which costs US$275 or peso equivalent is limited to six people. Space in the class will be held only with full payment, by US or peso check, to Box 401A, La Conexion, Aldama 3.

Beginning, as well as experienced writers, learn to utilize specific principles of writing that increase the scope and excellence of their writing.

Hunter, an award-winning writer who has published both fiction and nonfiction in venues such as the New York Times, Northwest Magazine, The Oregonian, Quii, and others, says that the primary stumbling block for those who wish to publish professionally is both lack of knowledge about organizing their work, and lack of knowledge about the principals of high polish in writing. The workshop addresses both. 

Hunter’s most recent book, a literary, nonfiction/fine arts photography collaboration with Jo Brenzo, is The Lord of The Dolls: Voyage in Xochimilco.

For more information about the workshop, Hunter can be reached at 152-6634 or wordhuntermx@yahoo.com. 

Tours & Excursions

The Saturday Adventurers

The Adventurers are visiting the oldest colonia of San Miguel, “El Atascadero,” literally translated it’s a place of disorder or a dump. What a beautiful “dump” it is today, full of lovely elegant homes. One home is that of William Harris & Luis Pantoja, Jewelry Designers. Their garden is a gem, but it doesn’t compare with their gems inside—thousands of glittering, brilliant precious stones, set in glamorous settings. Bring your checkbook, because you are going to want to indulge yourself.

Next, we visit Harold & Carol Weicker’s Rancho Encanto, where Carol shows us her beautiful horses. Then she and Harold show us their home. Notice the incredible, painted boveda ceiling in one of the living rooms. There is so much to absorb in this beautiful home. Don’t miss this very special tour, and bring your camera. This tour leaves from inside the Jardín, across from the Parroquia, at 10:30am.

Botanical Garden Tour

Every Tuesday morning, discover the marvels of cacti and other Mexican plants as well as the history of El Charco with Mario Mendoza, Assistant Director of the garden. The tour includes a visit to the nursery which contains many rare species and is not usually open to the public.

Entrance fee is 30 pesos (waived for members) and the tour is 50 pesos. All proceeds benefit the garden. The tour is in English and starts at the main entrance at 9am, lasting about 2 hours. Bring a hat and water. Space is limited, so reserve by calling 154-8838 or email charcodelingenio@gmail.com. 

Performances & Events

Knowing the Gypsies 

“El Javi” Estrada is singing and playing in a concert with his unorthodox guitar and special gypsy-lament voice on Monday, April 2 at 7pm. 

Gypsy music as it is known and played in Hungarian restaurants from Budapest to Boston is based on recruiting tunes (verbunkos) played during the Rakoczi independence war. At least two fiddles, a bass and a cymbalom (a curious stringed instrument played with sticks) are de rigueur. 

Tickets are 100 pesos and are available at the theater box office.

Volunteer Opportunities

Library volunteers needed

The Biblioteca Pública needs volunteers in several departments. 

In the Tienda, we need two more people, preferably with retail experience, to work morning and evening shifts during the week (10am to 2pm and 3 to 6 pm). Volunteers with basic computer skills are needed in the computer center, hours are flexible. The Sunday House & Garden Tour needs a cashier (11am-12:30pm) and always welcomes house and bus guides on Sundays from noon to 2:30pm. The English program needs English teachers who will be here this April and May.

A minimum three-month commitment is requested for these positions. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Judy Boston at volunteers@bibliotecasma.com. 

Atención volunteers needed

Atención seeks volunteer proofreaders. If you are obsessive about grammar, spelling and punctuation and would like to contribute your expertise, contact Atención at edit@atencionsanmiguel.org. 

See you in the funny papers

Mark Saunders, creator of Atención’s “Más o Menos” cartoon, invites suggestions from readers for funny material about living in San Miguel that would lend itself to a cartoon. Selected ideas will be drawn by the cartoonist, and authors will be given credit as well as a signed copy of their cartoon. Please send your “expat” cartoon ideas to edit@atencionsanmiguel.org. 

The Art Of Living Foundation to offer courses in San Miguel

The Art of Living Foundation, for over a quarter of a century, has been educating humanity in life-skills, equipping them to face challenges in a skillful and cheerful manner under the guidance of its founder and world humanitarian leader, H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Our unique stress-elimination programs, using simple and effective breathing techniques and meditation, empower individuals and groups to lead a natural and stress-free life. They build self-confidence, restore human values and encourage individuals to take social responsibility and work towards common solutions which provide maximum long-term benefits to maximum number of people. With its basis in spirituality, the organization aims to create a stress-free, violence-free, crime-free world of peace for our future generations.

The Foundation is one of the largest volunteer based NGOs committed to service and is active in over 140 countries. We are one of the most multi-faceted organizations in the world and work in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.

The Foundation has spearheaded numerous grassroots-level projects which aim to stop farmer suicides, empower youth and women in rural India, provide free education for economically challenged children from tribal and rural areas, create a platform for sustainable growth in rural areas, put an end to female foeticide, conduct anti-addiction programs and so on.

At a global level, the foundation provides aid and relief to trauma victims of wars and natural disasters with a focus to restoring normalcy in their lives and building confidence in them. Peace initiatives have been undertaken in various conflict-prone areas including Iraq, Kosovo, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Israel, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Kashmir and Bihar.

From individuals to families to societies to nations, The Art of Living Foundation has fostered a global change inspiring people to move from limited identifications of nationality, race and religion to a broader understanding of the unity of human life, of a One World Family, which can help bring about a more peaceful world.

The Yogic Science of Breath is a precise, 5,000+ year old science of heath promotion. It is one of the first sciences to recognize the impact of mind and emotions on creating and restoring optimal heath. One of the most comprehensive breathing techniques derived from this ancient science by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is Sudarshan Kriya, which is taught by the Art of Living Foundation. Sudarshan Kriya is understood to use specific rhythms of breath to eliminate stress, support the various organs and systems within the body, transform overpowering emotions, and restore peace of mind.

Current medical findings

Mounting scientific research continues to suggest that health, quality of life and even the very length of life are all profoundly affected by our mental and emotional states. The emerging field of mind/body medicine explains how our thoughts and emotions can powerfully affect brain, endocrine (hormone), and immune system function. This influence is facilitated by chemical messengers called neuropeptides, which are released with one’s every emotion. They are rapidly picked up by cells in the immune, endocrine and autonomic nervous systems, and directly affect their functioning. For example: “positive emotions, such as joy, love and enthusiasm produce chemical messengers that can affect the brain, endocrine and immune system in positive ways, resulting in improved resistance to disease and better overall health. In contrast, “negative” emotions, such as anger, fear, sadness, produce chemicals that can adversely affect the brain, endocrine and immune systems, resulting in less resistance to disease and poorer o
verall health. This is how feeling stressed can lead to significant alterations in the physiology, and can contribute to a broad range of diseases.

Independent research has shown that Sudarshan Kriya significantly reduces levels of stress (reduced cortisol- the “stress” hormone); benefits the immune system; reduces cholesterol; relieves anxiety and depression (mild, moderate and severe); increases antioxidant protection; enhances brain function by increasing mental focus, calmness and recovery from stressful stimuli and enhances health and well-being.

Subjective reports of increased health, vitality, well-being and peace of mind by thousands of SK practitioners are consistent with research finding to date, which suggest an overall strengthening of the mind/body system. EEG, blood cortisol, and lactate levels reflect a state of relaxation, yet alertness. Significant increases in NK (natural killer) cells and antioxidant enzymes suggest that regular practice may help prevent many serious diseases. Decreases in cholesterol may prevent cardiac disease, and depression is quickly alleviated in a high percentage of individuals. Thus, even though further studies will be forthcoming, these findings point to the powerful heath restoration of these time-honored breathing practices.

The Art of Living Foundation is a non-profit educational and humanitarian organization, and a Non-Governmental Organization of the United Nations in special status with the UN’s Economic and Social Council.

The course is offered from April 23 to 28, 2007 here in San Miguel and is taught by Ramola Prabhu M.D. Space is limited. Please contact Luz Elena Browning at 152-7745 (luzrandy@yahoo.com ) to reserve your place or for future information. www.artofliving.org