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Naropa University

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Naropa University is a private university in Boulder, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1974 by Tibetan Buddhist teacher Chögyam Trungpa, it is named after the 11th-century Indian Buddhist sage Naropa, an abbot of Nalanda. The university describes itself as Buddhist-inspired, ecumenical, and nonsectarian rather than Buddhist. Naropa promotes non-traditional activities like meditation to supplement traditional learning approaches.

Naropa's main Arapahoe Campus, as seen from Arapahoe Avenue
Naropa University
Seal of Naropa University
Former names
Naropa Institute (1974–1999)
TypePrivate university
Established1974; 50 years ago (1974)
FounderChögyam Trungpa
AccreditationHLC
Religious affiliation
Shambhala Buddhism
Endowment$8.34 million (2019)[1]
PresidentCharles G. Lief
Academic staff
164
Undergraduates402
Postgraduates617
Location
Boulder
,
Colorado
,
United States
CampusMidsize City, 12 acres (0.049 km2)
Colors  Heather Purple[2]
NicknameBodhi Cheetahs[2]
Websitewww.naropa.edu

Naropa was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in 1988, making it the first Buddhist-inspired academic institution to receive United States regional accreditation. It remains one of only a handful of such schools. The university has hosted a number of Beat poets under the auspices of its Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics.

History

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Naropa University was founded by Chögyam Trungpa, an exiled Tibetan tulku who was a Karma Kagyu and Nyingma lineage holder. Trungpa entered the USA in 1970, established the Vajradhatu organization in 1973, and then in 1974, established Naropa Institute under the Nalanda Foundation.[3] Initially, the Nalanda Foundation and Vajradhatu were closely linked, having nearly identical boards of directors. In subsequent years they differentiated into more independent institutions.[4]

Trungpa asked poets Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman, and Diane di Prima, and the composer John Cage to found a poetics department at Naropa during the first summer session. Ginsberg and Waldman, who roomed together that first summer, came up with the name for the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics.[5]

Naropa's first formal degree programs were offered in 1975–76. These included a BA in Buddhist studies and visual art, MA in psychology, MFA in visual art, and expressive arts certificates in dance, theater, and poetics.[citation needed]

The MA in psychology was originally designed as an extension of Trungpa's Maitri program, a 16-week meditation course held in Connecticut, and based on Vajrayana teachings on esoteric energy patterns within the mind and body. Trungpa asked Marvin Casper to restructure the Maitri program for use at Naropa as a full-fledged graduate degree program in contemplative psychotherapy. Casper went on to chair that department and edit two of Trungpa’s books. Initially for the degree, students were required to attend three of the institute’s summer sessions, take two Maitri programs in Connecticut, and complete a six-month independent project.[citation needed]

In 1977, at Trungpa's urging, Naropa's administration made the decision to seek regional accreditation. Evaluation visits continued through 1986, and in 1988, Naropa Institute received accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. In the mid-1980s, Naropa's president, Barbara Dilley, asked Lucien Wulsin to chair the board of directors. One of Wulsin's first acts was to formally separate Naropa from Vajradhatu.[4] Ties with Vajradhatu were further weakened with the physical relocation of Vajradhatu's main center to Halifax, and then by Trungpa's death in 1987.

In 1991 Naropa's board of trustees hired John Cobb, a Harvard-educated lawyer and practicing Buddhist, as president.[6] Thomas B. Coburn served in this role from 2003 to 2009, succeeded by Stuart C. Lord in July 2009.[citation needed]

The university began engaging in electrophysiology research at The Graduate School of Counseling and Psychology when the university introduced new equipment for the study of heart rate variability, galvanic skin response, and respiration during 2012 - 2014. Later, Jordan Quaglia, PhD established the Cognitive and Affective Sciences Laboratory to study Electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor brainwave patterns in 2016 - 2017.[7]

In August 2024 Naropa announced it was selling its main "Arapahoe" campus (2130 Arapahoe Ave). The "Nalanda" campus (6287 Arapahoe Ave) will be retained. The announcement said "With over 40% of students (and a significant portion of staff and faculty) now operating primarily in hybrid and virtual spaces, we are redefining the very essence of what it means to be a community."[8]

Spiritual principles

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Naropa promotes contemplative education – a term used primarily by teachers associated with Naropa University or Shambhala Buddhist organizations – including activities such as meditation, the Japanese tea ceremony, taijiquan, Christian labyrinth, ikebana, and neo-pagan ritual.[citation needed] Robert Goss comments that

Geoffrey Samuel, Reginald Ray, and Judith Simmer-Brown have traced the Shambhala lineage [Trungpa's teaching] back to the 19th century Rimé movement in Eastern Tibet... When Naropa describes itself as a Buddhist-inspired, nonsectarian liberal arts college, "nonsectarian" translating to the Tibetan rimed. Nonsectarian does not, however, mean secular as it is commonly used in higher education. Nonsectarian is perhaps understood as ecumenical openness to contemplative practices and arts of the world religious traditions that foster precision, gentleness, and, spontaneity.[9]

Goss goes on to note that as with many U.S. Protestant and Catholic colleges and universities, Naropa has faced pressure to establish independence from its associated religious organization, Shambhala International; but unlike many such institutions, it has avoided relegating religion to the periphery of university life.[10]

Naropa's description of contemplative education makes liberal use of Buddhist language and concepts. For example, its catalogue speaks of "students wholeheartedly engag[ing] in mindfulness awareness practices in order to cultivate being present in the moment...the development of openness, self-awareness, and insight", and frames "interior work" as "preparation for compassionate and transformative work in the world."[11]

Notable alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Data USA - Naropa University".
  2. ^ a b "Naropa University".
  3. ^ Hayward (2008), pp. 91–93.
  4. ^ a b Goss (2013), p. 220.
  5. ^ "The Inner Scholar". New York Times. November 4, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  6. ^ Goss (2013), p. 221.
  7. ^ Hernandez, Elizabeth (August 2, 2017). "'Souped-up meditation': Boulder's Naropa University to back up mindfulness with science". Boulder Daily Camera. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  8. ^ Doak, Olivia (15 August 2024). "Naropa University to sell its main Boulder campus". The Denver Post. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  9. ^ Goss (2013), pp. 218–219.
  10. ^ Goss (2013), pp. 229ff.
  11. ^ "Contemplative Education: The Spark of East and West Working Within". Naropa University. Archived from the original on 2012-06-10.
  12. ^ Oloizia, Jeff (2016-06-03). "A Singer-Songwriter Who Puts His Garden First". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  13. ^ Poets, Academy of American. "About Brenda Coultas | Academy of American Poets". poets.org. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  14. ^ Rice, Almah LaVon (October 3, 2007). "Wily, Witty and Whimsical". www.colorlines.com. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  15. ^ Needham, Alex (2016-03-14). "Justine Frischmann: waking up from Elastica to art in America". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  16. ^ "Tim Z. Hernandez". Poets & Writers. July 1, 2012. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  17. ^ Miller, Leah (May 30, 2012). "Q & A with Jonathan Siegrist". Climbing. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  18. ^ Mishler, Peter (January 11, 2019). "Cedar Sigo on Playfulness and Poetry". Literary Hub. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  19. ^ Sikelianos, Eleni. "Eleni Sikelianos Biography". Poem Hunter. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  20. ^ Berrigan, Edmund (March 31, 2020). "Visiting Naropa in the Summer of 1992". Poetry Foundation. Retrieved 2020-03-31.

Works cited

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  • Goss, Robert E. (2013). "Buddhist Studies at Naropa: Sectarian or Academic?". In Queen, C.; Williams, D. R. (eds.). American Buddhism: Methods and Findings in Recent Scholarship. Taylor & Francis. pp. 215–237. ISBN 978-1-136-83033-4.
  • Hayward, Jeremy (2008). Warrior-King of Shambhala: Remembering Chögyam Trungpa. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0-86171-546-6.

Further reading

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