Miksang Contemplative Photography
True to Life: Seeing Beyond Thought
A Seven-Week Online Introductory Workshop (Nov. - Dec. 2026)
Can you recognize the truth of your own experience of seeing, free of concepts and preferences?
Miksang photography rests on authentic visual experience, expressed exactly as it is seen — "True to Life.”
When we learn to recognize perception beyond thought as it happens, we begin to develop confidence in the fact that unconditional perception exists, and that it arises from neither self nor other.
Seen this way, Seeing Beyond Thought is not a struggle. It becomes self-evident that we can become fully available to see, and to express our perceptions with a mind of effortless equanimity.
Photograph by Brian Sano
General Information / Requirements
As part of this seven-week online workshop on Sundays, you will learn a series of visual practices developed by Michael Wood called "Settling into Awareness." As we say in Miksang, "Seeing is a State of Mind." These practices are the way into direct seeing, and have proven to be remarkably effective for developing visual awareness.
Class meetings are 2 hours on Sundays for 7 weeks (November — December 2026).
Beyond our class time together, you will be photographing assignments and doing visual exercises each week. It is important that you have room in your schedule during the week for the visual practices (around 30 minutes a day) and the assignments (around three one-hour periods during the week). Consider this time essential to your learning process.
You will need to have a good working relationship with your camera or iPhone. We do not provide technical help with all the various models available. For more questions about technical, camera, and computer matters, see the FAQ below.
Participants: This course is limited to 8 students
Schedule: Nov 1; Nov. 8, Nov. 15, Nov. 22, Nov, 29, Dec 6; Dec 13, 2026 (classes start 12pm — 2 pm ET)
Cost: $500 for the entire workshop (VAT included); Please note: Refunds are not available unless the workshop is cancelled.
Preparing for the course
Photograph by Brian Sano
We photograph exclusively in color and do not focus on any classic conventional photography themes, such as landscape and nature. We do not shoot in black and white or use Photoshop.
In order to understand the nature of the Miksang journey before you make the decision to register, please watch these videos:
Students often find it invaluable to read the e-book, Opening the Good Eye by Michael Wood before the course begins, which you can purchase at the link below.
Meet Brian Sano
This course is facilitated by Brian Sano. He has practiced Miksang for nearly 20 years, studying and training directly with Michael Wood and Julie DuBose, co-founders of the Miksang Institute for Contemplative Photography. Brian began his Miksang teaching journey in 2011.
In his other roles, Brian is an executive and leadership coach, organizational consultant, and leadership development facilitator working with leaders who want to go deeper — into how they see, how they lead, and what they're willing to face. Miksang influences all of this work and forms his core belief: leadership is an art of seeing.
Photograph by Brian Sano
If you want to learn more about Brian Sano’s experience with Miksang, you can purchase the e-book, Georgetown: An Exploration of Our Everyday Visual World, available at the link below. He also posts images regularly on social media (see links in the footer below).
Register for the upcoming course here
Please register for the upcoming course with the following form. You will receive a payment link once the class has enough participants to be confirmed.
Photograph by Brian Sano
What else…?
Please see more frequently asked questions and answers below.
If you have any additional questions, please contract Brian Sano.
Photograph by Brian Sano
Frequently Asked Questions
Photograph by Brian Sano
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Any digital camera will work, as well as a phone with the ability to take and download high-quality photos (e.g., iPhone Models 12, 13 or 14, 15, 16 or 17 Pro Versions).
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You need a computer with a camera and microphone for ZOOM Meetings and with photo-editing software.
Please familiarize yourself with your computer’s digital imaging software before the class.
We recommend as the best option an Apple Computer using iPhoto or Photos for editing. P.C. Laptops work, however, they are much slower for this type of work and the advice or assistance we could provide on Windows-based computers is limited.
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No. However, you should learn as much as you can about your camera and the basics of photography in advance of the course.
You can set your camera on program or automatic to begin with and improve your skills as you go.
In Miksang Courses we are interested in forming the equivalent of our perceptions through the medium of photography, and having control over the exposure, depth of field, focal point and exposure compensation etc. helps us do that.
So, know as much as you can prior to the workshop.
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None. We do not use tripods, flashes or special effects filters (including on a mobile phone).
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The first class or evening introduction is essential. The workshop has a natural flow and each part of it is important to the overall experience, so full participation is strongly recommended.
Fortunately, since this is an online course and is being recorded, if a single class has to be missed, the recording can be viewed and images can be submitted for viewing and discussion in the following class.
Settling into Awareness and the Miksang curriculum were developed by Michael Wood and Julie DuBose of the Miksang Institute for Contemplative Photography.