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The Heritage Project

Documenting Contemplative Pedagogies at Naropa

An Initiative of the Center for the Advancement of Contemplative Education

The Heritage Project documents some of our faculty’s most treasured contemplative methods, cultivated over the last forty years in our classrooms. Naropa University is collecting this lifetime of transformative work through artifacts from the faculty members’ files, written work, and video interviews; and, in some cases, to create trainings in specific practices.

Goals of the Heritage Project

 
  • Preserve Naropa’s heritage contemplative teaching methods.
  • Share information about these methods to help promote Naropa University as the pioneering thought leader in the field of contemplative education.
  • Use these methods as the training ground for future contemplative faculty members at Naropa and other universities.
  • Further the conversation around the relevance and application of these practices, particularly as they relate to topics of diversity and inclusivity.
  • Apply this groundbreaking work beyond the university to pre-school and K-12 educators, health care and social service professionals, pastoral counselors, entrepreneurs, and more.

Examples of Heritage Practices

  • The Bow
  • Contemplative Dance Practice — The Red Square
  • Maitri Space Awareness
  • Mudra Space Awareness — The Being Circle
  • The Warriors’ Exam
  • The Practice of Basic Attendance



Five banners mark the entrance of Naropa University’s campuses, welcoming students to come as they are, unleash their bravery and uncover their inherent wisdom and skillful means offered by the deep insight and compassion of contemplative education.

Resource Library/Video Project:

Please visit our Classroom Practices and Resources page that includes online resources and video documentation with special focus on preserving and making accessible the vintage Naropa University contemplative methods developed by the founding faculty to introduce students to their respective disciplines. The library also includes relevant articles, resources and practices related to pedagogies and artifacts, that showcase the impact of these modalities at Naropa University for more than forty years. For more information on Heritage Project practices, trainings and workshops, please visit Events & Trainings.

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Contemplative education brings together the best of Western scholarship and Eastern world wisdom traditions. Therefore, your pursuit of wisdom at Naropa means learning both about academic subjects and about your own place in the world. This innovative approach places Naropa on the cutting edge of the newest and most effective methods of teaching and learning.  

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If you’re seeking an education that resonates with both personal fulfillment and global impact, Naropa could be your top choice. At Naropa, you will experience a comprehensive curriculum that integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational approaches. Explore how Naropa can fuel your journey of intellectual and spiritual development.

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Through its incredibly vibrant and welcoming community,  “Naropa offers a home for those who aren’t willing to conform to convention—the mystic, the healer, the prophet, the rebel, the artist, the revolutionary, the oddball—those who are incredible contributors to the evolution of society and of our planet.”—Core Associate Professor Zvi Ish-Shalom

The Naropa Difference

How is Naropa different from other universities? At Naropa, a liberal arts education balances rigorous academics with powerful interpersonal skills and self-awareness to educate the whole person. Naropa’s contemplative approach is inspired by Buddhist philosophy and the conviction that we can build a diverse, contemplative, enlightened society when we have transformed education to affirm the basic goodness of every person. 

About Naropa

Located in Boulder, Colorado, Naropa University is a Buddhist-inspired, nonsectarian liberal arts university that is recognized as the birthplace of the mindfulness movement. Naropa offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs that emphasize professional and personal growth, intellectual development, and cultivating compassion. 

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Naropa Campuses Closed on Friday, March 15, 2024

Due to adverse weather conditions, all Naropa campuses will be closed Friday, March 15, 2024.  All classes that require a physical presence on campus will be canceled. All online and low-residency programs are to meet as scheduled.

Based on the current weather forecast, the Healing with the Ancestors Talk & Breeze of Simplicity program scheduled for Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday will be held as planned.

Staff that do not work remotely or are scheduled to work on campus, can work remotely. Staff that routinely work remotely are expected to continue to do so.

As a reminder, notifications will be sent by e-mail and the LiveSafe app.  

Regardless of Naropa University’s decision, if you ever believe the weather conditions are unsafe, please contact your supervisor and professors.  Naropa University trusts you to make thoughtful and wise decisions based on the conditions and situation in which you find yourself in.

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