Narratives That Walk: Telling the Story of Central Asian Spirituality

Francis Tiso, PhD

Central Asian spirituality is a profound topic with far reaching implications, and offers us unique insights into the world’s great spiritual traditions including Buddhism and Christianity. In this rare workshop with a true authority on the subject, we will begin by exploring the postmortem, paranormal rainbow body phenomenon of the Tibetan Dzogchen lineages in its broadly Central Asian setting, where esoteric spirituality tells its stories in ways that invite an intuitive reading. We will examine the heroic epic of the steppes, culminating in the Gesar legend of Tibet. We then cross the great Silk Road with the tales of Barlaam and Ioasaph and of Garab Dorje – both stamped with startling narrative footprints. Lost teachings meet in the Gnostic Hymn of the Pearl and in the Persian yogin Jabir’s alchemical system. Finally, in the 8th century Chinese Christian book Realizing Peace and Joy, we encounter a “different” Jesus who instructs St. Peter in Buddhist insights similar to those of early dzogchen. Join us to explore the extraordinary and multifold spirituality of the Silk Road.











When: Sun., Oct. 16, 2016 at 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Where: New York Open Center
22 E. 30th St.

Price: $55
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Francis Tiso, PhD

Central Asian spirituality is a profound topic with far reaching implications, and offers us unique insights into the world’s great spiritual traditions including Buddhism and Christianity. In this rare workshop with a true authority on the subject, we will begin by exploring the postmortem, paranormal rainbow body phenomenon of the Tibetan Dzogchen lineages in its broadly Central Asian setting, where esoteric spirituality tells its stories in ways that invite an intuitive reading. We will examine the heroic epic of the steppes, culminating in the Gesar legend of Tibet. We then cross the great Silk Road with the tales of Barlaam and Ioasaph and of Garab Dorje – both stamped with startling narrative footprints. Lost teachings meet in the Gnostic Hymn of the Pearl and in the Persian yogin Jabir’s alchemical system. Finally, in the 8th century Chinese Christian book Realizing Peace and Joy, we encounter a “different” Jesus who instructs St. Peter in Buddhist insights similar to those of early dzogchen. Join us to explore the extraordinary and multifold spirituality of the Silk Road.

Buy tickets/get more info now