Contributors
Erik Pema Kunsang — Buddhist teacher, author, experienced translator for some of the greatest teachers of Tibetan Buddhism.
“…Whether you call it Buddhism or become a Buddhist – you can learn the methods and use them in practice, in order to hold the steering wheel in your own life. You can use them more adequately and freely if you know bit about their origin and the ways they have been shaped and channelled in various contemporary contexts…”
Anders Laugesen - Radio host (Mennesker og Tro), “People and Faith”, Danish National Radio, active in numerous dialogue forums on Christianity and spirituality inside and outside the Lutheran Danish church.
“….It lies in the heart of the Nordic folk high school movement to be on the move. It has always been on its way. I think a contemplative summer institute is a natural, timely and potentially very lively new branch on this big old tree… “
Phie Ambo – filmmaker. Phie has had impact in Denmark and abroad with documentaries about existential, spiritual and environmental dimensions. She is also deeply involved in creating and running a new “green” elementary school in Copenhagen.
"... speaking to a place in ourselves which is soft and empathic - the place where we can recognize ourselves in another being. We can do that through aesthetics…"
Lone Fjorback – psychiatrist, Ph.D., yoga teacher, leader of the Danish Center for Mindfulness at Aarhus University.
“...I think they should their lives very seriously! Wildly so! And know that they are extremely powerful. The way you relate to yourself in everyday life - I am sure that has huge significance for how we are all going to be faring”
Peter Elsass –psychologist, MD, professor, filmmaker, author and university teacher in health psychology, psychotherapy, ethnography. Lately, several books and publications on Buddhism and meditation.
“…in fact, it may rather be that meditation and spirituality enable us to ask questions about what it really means to be happy or to have a good life. Indeed, the contemplative dimension may be enable us to have more meaningful crises rather than solving or removing them…”
John Dunne – professor, Ph.D., researcher and teacher in Buddhist philosophy and the emergent field of “contemplative humanities”. John is very active and influential in cross disciplinary research projects and dialogues on Buddhism and meditation, including the Mind and Life Institute. He is also an inspiring teacher of meditation and “dharma” himself.
John Dunne's personal webpage contains links to much of this work, including several lectures you can stream.
David Hykes –Composer, singer, teacher of contemplative music and meditation. David has developed unique forms of vocal performance and is justly famous for concerts, published music, as well as workshops in meditation and contemplative singing.
“…Expression has many layers – embodied, vibratory, harmonic… But there is also the listening… truly hearing what the other is expressing… The realm of accompaniment is really co-creation…”
Susanne Lifschitz – Yoga teacher
Niels Viggo Hansen –Philosopher, Ph.D., researcher at Aarhus University in group dynamics, meditation, habits and practice development. Founder of “Moving Meditation” and “the Delta Program”, member and initiative taker to the Gomde Højskole team.
"… I believe philosophy and meditation are one – not as books and schools but as linving process. It is about waking up inside our habits – in our thoughts as well as bodies and everyday lives. The idea of a contemplative summerschool adds focus on the important dimension of waking up as a collective…"