Community Practice Day
Compassion in Action
March 4, 2025 @ 8:15 AM–4:30 PM // Nalanda Campus
Join us on March 4 for Community Practice Day—a day when classes and meetings are not held, and when we gather together in virtual and in-person community. For our Spring 2025 Community Practice Day, the theme is Compassion in Action.
How do we meet one another with a loving and intelligent heart? What contemplative resources can we draw on as we meet the challenges of our world today with fierce clarity and wise compassion? Join us for a day exploring these questions through community practice, engagement, and discussion.
Morning Community Time
8:15–9:00 AM Queer Collective Breakfast and Zine Making with Leila Pettibone
Location: Nalanda Cafe
Begin your morning with delicious treats, the warmth of community, and zine making! Zines are small, low-cost, self-published booklets that have been used throughout history by populations that have had their voices silenced to make their voices heard, bring awareness to important issues, and foster connections. In this offering, participants will be making an 8-page and a 16-page zine and learning about the versatility of this art form. All are welcome!8:30–9:00 AM Coffee & Bagels Admissions Staff and prospective students
Location: Nalanda 9246
8:40–9:00 AM Communi-Tea and Morning Refreshments
Location: Nalanda Atrium (south entrance)
Everyone is welcome!
Compassion in Action
Location: Nalanda Events Center // Zoom link: https://naropa.zoom.us/j/99020515074
9:00–9:10 AM
Opening Shrine, Welcoming & Introduction: Charlotte Rotterdam, Director, Center for the Advancement of Contemplative Education
9:10–9:30 AM
Awake at First Meeting: Aikido Movement Practice with Jude Blitz
Jude Blitz has taught Aikido in Naropa’s Traditional Eastern Arts since 1991. Jude, Shihan Dai, is a Sempai student of Aikido Shihan, Hirioshi Ikeda, practicing at his dojo, Boulder Aikikai, since 1982.
9:30–10:45 AM
Sitting & Walking Meditation with Judith Simmer-Brown, PhD, Professor Emeritix
Judith Simmer-Brown, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Contemplative and Religious Studies Emeritx at Naropa University, where she has taught for over 45 years. Simmer-Brown is the founder of Naropa’s Center for the Advancement of Contemplative Education (CACE), and is a compassion trainer for the Compassion Initiative. She has taught Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, interreligious dialogue, Buddhist chaplaincy, and contemplative education subjects. She is author of Dakini’s Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism (Shambhala) and editor, with Fran Grace, of Meditation and the Classroom: Contemplative Pedagogy for Religious Studies (SUNY).
11:00 AM–12:30 PM: "The Call of the Lion's Roar" with Larry Ward, PhD
The lion roars when the domain is threatened and communicates with pride. We are at such a moment when our thinking, speaking, and behaviors require an evolutionary elevation. This virtual talk will illuminate how and why we must, and the nature of our roar.
Larry Ward, PhD, is the co-founder of The Lotus Institute, a celebrated poet, a senior Dharma teacher in Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village tradition of Engaged Buddhism, and the author of America’s Racial Karma: An Invitation to Heal. Dr. Ward holds a PhD in Religious Studies with an emphasis on Buddhism and the neuroscience of meditation. As a teacher, Dr. Ward interweaves insights with personal stories and resounding clarity that express his Dharma name, “True Great Sound.”
Lunch on your own or with friends and colleagues!
Community Engagement Scholars Lunch
Location: Nalanda 9235
Application due by Feb 26 – folks will be informed of attendance!
If you have formally led your community in a way that uplifts Naropa’s values and would like to participate in this year’s lunch, please share how you have engaged. We will cap this lunch at 30 folx, so please respond and come share your engagement ideas with others similarly devoted to meaningful compassionate action.
This intimate event is designed for students who are deeply passionate about weaving social justice principles into the fabric of their future and personal lives. This lunch offers a unique opportunity to:
- Engage in meaningful conversations with peers who share your commitment to community engagement
- Explore how others are using their academic journey to contribute to a more just and beautiful world
- Make connections with people who get it
RSVP.
Community Practice Day Alumnx Luncheon
Location: Dojo Room
Cost: Free
Enjoy the company of your fellow alums over a delicious lunch from Naropa’s own Little Lama Cafe. Break bread, hear updates, and take home some special 50th anniversary swag. Gluten free and vegan options will be available.
RSVP for Lunch
Community Practice Day Luncheon for Prospective Students
Location: Nalanda 9246
In-Person Offerings: 1:45–3:00 PM
Exploring Your Compassion Pathway: A Journey into Interconnected Compassion with Jordan Quaglia, PhD
Offered in Person & Online
Location: Nalanda 9246 // Zoom: https://naropa.zoom.us/j/9677969124
Many approaches to cultivating compassion focus on either caring for others or practicing self-compassion—but in daily life, we rarely need just one or the other. Real-world compassion flows in multiple directions at once. In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore key insights from compassion science and training that reveal the power of interconnected compassion—an approach that weaves self-compassion and compassion for others into a shared, lived practice. Through reflection and discussion, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your unique compassion pathway and tendencies, helping you take the next meaningful steps on your own compassion journey.
Jordan Quaglia, PhD, has spent over a decade researching and teaching on topics such as mindfulness, compassion, and lucidity. He is an associate professor of psychology at Naropa University, where he directs the Cognitive and Affective Science Laboratory and is research director for its Center for the Advancement of Contemplative Education. A recognized expert in the science of compassion, he has been designated as a research fellow by the Mind & Life Institute, a Contemplative Social Justice Scholar for Contemplative Mind in Society, and a panelist for multiple United Nations Day of Vesak conferences. In addition to his research, Jordan co-developed and co-teaches the Naropa Mindful Compassion Training program.
Warriorship through Tea with Rebecca Turlay & Sarah Richards Graba
Location: Nalanda 9195
Reserve Your Spot! (Please note there is an 11-person limit per session. Be sure to book Nalanda session.)
For many historical warriors, tea was not only a beverage, but a way of life, playing a crucial role in their military and/or identity culture. Preparing and consuming tea was thought to sharpen acuity, focus concentration, and promote patience, all of which prepared one for battle. Modern tea ceremony practices offer unique spaces for cultivating the Peaceful Warrior archetype, and in particular, how we might implement this wisdom into action. In this session, Rebecca Turlay, a tea practitioner, will serve to any who are interested in contemplating this theme together through tea. Rebecca will be pouring an oolong or Puerh tea (which contain caffeine) in the Global Tea Hut side handle style, with Sarah Richards Graba of the Naropa Tea House assisting.
Rebecca Turlay—a Naropa student, tea practitioner, and Navy veteran—is interested in healing the Warrior archetype within individuals and society. She believes the Warrior is alive in each of us and is necessary to be an activist. As a novice tea host, she invites everyone to come with an open mind and soft heart to join in contemplation, community and tea.
Sarah Richards Graba of the Naropa Tea House is a writer and teacher with an eclectic spiritual life that includes zen, yoga, witchcraft, shamanism, tea ceremony, and more. She is an adjunct professor at Naropa, primarily teaching writing in the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics. She has been studying chanoyu for over 10 years (after discovering it at the Naropa Tea House), and has been a lover of all tea for life.
Questions or tech issues? Contact us at naropateahouse@naropa.edu
Training the Heart with Swanee
Location: Nalanda 9248
Together we will look at writing from “The Art of Peace” by Morihei Ueshiba. Referred to as doka in Japanese writing, these lessons from the founder of aikido are poems for reflection as we move through the world with harmony, in balance with others. We will then reflect, and craft our own dokas to share and take with us.
Swanee Astrid is a poet-scribe from Sacramento, CA with degrees in Literature and Writing from the University of Iowa (BA) and Naropa University (MFA). She has been an editor for Earthwords, Vestal Review, and Bombay Gin Literary Journal. She is launching a new venture, VIBRISSAE Editions, a sensory ecology of publishing.
Swanee has served on the boards for the Sacramento Poetry Center and collective.aporia of which she is a founding member. Swanee has also been an executive assistant to the Jaipur Literary Festival at Boulder (2015-2018) and is the Summer Writing Program Managing Director and department Administrator for the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics.
Swanee is a performance collaborator whose areas of research include astro-anthropology, Nordic animism, language permutation, world building, eco-feminism, and contemporary mythopoetic narrative frameworks.
Compassionate Play with Giovannina Jobson
Location: Nalanda 9184
Explore several relaxing and playful activities based on contemplative space awareness exercises. These will include object arrangement, authentic presence and movement activities designed to spark our creativity based on the art of non-aggression. The session is limited to the first 18 people.
Giovannina Jobson is a faculty member in the Department of Wisdom Traditions. She has taught at Naropa for over 20 years in the Master of Divinity program as well as in the Naropa Core program. She is a mindfulness instruction trainer, a Maitri Space Awareness teacher and a dedicated Dharma Art practitioner. Come as you are.
Regenerative Naropa Series, Part 4: Naropa as a Living System with Ian Sanderson
Offered in Person & on Zoom
PLEASE NOTE: This workshop will span both afternoon sessions, ending around 4:30pm.
Location: Nalanda 9130 // Zoom: https://naropa.zoom.us/my/culturecenter
In Parts 1-3, we shifted from problem-solving to exploring the school’s potential within its community. We focused on changing our thinking patterns to move from reactive to regenerative design.
We identified shared caring patterns, envisioned Naropa’s fullest potential, and practiced Indigenous and Regenerative frameworks. We applied these frameworks to imagined possibilities for the school’s evolution.
Part 4 will deepen our regenerative practice, emphasizing a living systems perspective of Naropa. The Regenesis Institute states that regenerative projects must be grounded in their place’s potential, viewing places as complex, dynamic living systems.
We encourage everyone to attend, as system evolution requires all elements working together. While previous attendance isn’t mandatory, watching videos of Parts 1-3 provides helpful context for this ongoing journey.
Ian Sanderson—Joanna Macy Center Earth Guardian Fellow— is a member of the Mohawk Nation’s Turtle clan from Ontario, Canada, has dedicated over 25 years to fostering awareness and reconnection with self, community, and nature. With a background in Indigenous Studies and extensive experience in outdoor education and community-based programs, he currently serves as core faculty in Environmental Studies at Naropa University. Sanderson’s work spans diverse contexts, from wilderness settings to urban environments, integrating Indigenous, Eastern, and Western philosophies to promote personal transformation and socio-ecological change. He co-owns the Boulder Quest Center, teaching To-Shin-Do ninjutsu, and is involved with the Joanna Macy Center, applying complexity and Indigenous systems-thinking to inspire revitalization.
The Way of Tea at Naropa Tea House
Location: Arapahoe Tea House
Reserve your spot! (Please note there is a 5-person limit per sitting. Please be sure to book the ARAPAHOE session.)
Please join Chadō practitioners Andrea Becker and Chad Corbin for a bowl of tea in the historic Naropa Tea House. Small groups of guests will enjoy a sweet and a bowl of matcha prepared in the Urasenke style.
Andrea (Drea) Becker, Writer, Photographer, Chajin, graduated from JKS in 2018 and has been studying Chadō for seven years. www.dreadoes.com
Chad Corbin is a tea practitioner and potter. He instructs at Groundworks Art Lab in Boulder and specializes in making teaware. www.mudmeditations.com
Questions or tech issues? Contact us at naropateahouse@naropa.edu
Nonviolent Direct Action De-Escalation Deep-Dive with Giselle Herzfeld & Chris Allred
Location: Nalanda 9189
De-escalation is one of the most important skills for successful nonviolent actions and social movements, but also one of the most difficult skills to learn. Successful de-escalation requires practice, self-reflection, planning, and more practice. As anger and violence grow in the political arena, strong de-escalation skills are more important than ever. Join the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center for a hands-on nonviolence training and deep dive into de-escalation. You will learn concrete strategies for de-escalating yourself, your fellow activists, police, and counter-protesters so that you can maintain calm and reduce harm during direct actions.
For as long as she can remember, Giselle Herzfeld has been out in the streets protesting for justice and collective liberation. For over 9 years, she has campaigned for various progressive causes, including stopping military and nuclear weapons development, supporting Palestinian liberation, and uplifting Indigenous justice, immigrant justice and climate justice, among others. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International and Comparative Policy Studies from Reed College and works as a Campaign Coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center.
Chris Allred graduated from CU Boulder in the spring of 2012 with a degree in film studies. A teacher made a recommendation to visit RMPJC to learn about nonviolence during a University course about Gandhi. Chris began working at RMPJC in 2014 as a Nuclear Guardianship Coordinator, and helps with tasks such as documentary film and photography, coordinating internships, coalition and alliance building, administrative, fundraising, campaign planning, and Nuclear Guardianship.
Online Offerings: 1:45–3:00 PM
Exploring Your Compassion Pathway: A Journey into Interconnected Compassion with Jordan Quaglia, PhD
Offered in Person & Online
Location: Nalanda 9246 // Zoom: https://naropa.zoom.us/j/9677969124
Many approaches to cultivating compassion focus on either caring for others or practicing self-compassion—but in daily life, we rarely need just one or the other. Real-world compassion flows in multiple directions at once. In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore key insights from compassion science and training that reveal the power of interconnected compassion—an approach that weaves self-compassion and compassion for others into a shared, lived practice. Through reflection and discussion, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your unique compassion pathway and tendencies, helping you take the next meaningful steps on your own compassion journey.
Jordan Quaglia, PhD, has spent over a decade researching and teaching on topics such as mindfulness, compassion, and lucidity. He is an associate professor of psychology at Naropa University, where he directs the Cognitive and Affective Science Laboratory and is research director for its Center for the Advancement of Contemplative Education. A recognized expert in the science of compassion, he has been designated as a research fellow by the Mind & Life Institute, a Contemplative Social Justice Scholar for Contemplative Mind in Society, and a panelist for multiple United Nations Day of Vesak conferences. In addition to his research, Jordan co-developed and co-teaches the Naropa Mindful Compassion Training program.
The Enchanting History of the Naropa Community Art Studio: 24 years of Service as a Spiritual Practice with Michael Franklin, PhD
Zoom Link: https://naropa.zoom.us/j/96332872363
This presentation reviews the rich history and 24th anniversary of the Naropa Community Art Studio (NCAS) social engagement research project. Civic commitment to creating democratic, inclusive studio spaces where the arts offer therapeutic benefits without focusing on clinical interventions will be highlighted.
Dr. Michael A. Franklin is a practicing art therapist, professor, and past chair of the graduate Transpersonal Art Therapy program at Naropa University. He is also the founder of the Naropa University undergraduate art therapy program and the Naropa Community Art Studio (NCAS). Prior to his current academic position, Michael chaired the art therapy programs at the College of St. Teresa and Bowling Green State University. Michael is an international lecturer, workshop leader and researcher publishing over 30 papers on numerous subjects. His current work integrates relationships between art therapy, art-based empathic/compassionate methods, social engagement, yoga philosophy, and meditation. He is the author of: Art as Contemplative Practice: Expressive Pathways to the Self with SUNY Press. (see ArtisYoga.com)
Tonglen: A Compassion Practice of Giving & Receiving with Marina Dorian, PhD
Zoom Link: https://naropa.zoom.us/j/3617516044 // Meeting ID: 361 751 6044
Tonglen is a meditation practice that focuses on compassion and is also known as “giving and receiving.” The practice involves taking in the suffering of others and giving out healing and compassion. In this session we will discuss and practice Tonglen together as a way to develop compassion for ourselves and others. This practice challenges us to embrace discomfort, develop an open heart and see suffering as a universal experience. I invite you to practice for yourself and for others in need of relief.
Dr. Marina Dorian is an associate professor in the Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling Program at Naropa University. As a psychologist, meditation instructor, and contemplative educator, she integrates mindfulness practice, clinical expertise, and relationship dynamics into her teaching and research. Marina holds a doctoral degree in clinical and community psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. With three decades of research experience, Marina’s work explores mindful relating, stress and resilience, and the intersection of cultural and relational dynamics. Marina is a meditation practitioner for over 20 years, following the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh and is a facilitator in her local sangha. She is passionate about contemplative practices, including yoga, meditation, art, dance, and connecting with nature, which deeply inform her pedagogy and personal life.
In-Person Offerings: 3:15–4:30 PM
Compassionate Connections: Cultivating Hope in the Great Turning with Monica Mueller, PhD
Location: Nalanda 9248
This workshop explores the transformative power of compassion in our interconnected world. Drawing on Joanna Macy’s Work That Reconnects, we’ll delve into how compassion can turn despair into constructive action, sustaining hope in these precarious times. Through guided discussions and Macy’s “Callings and Resources” dyad activity, participants will reflect on their unique roles in the Great Turning – our collective shift towards a life-sustaining society. By emphasizing our web of relationships and mutual interdependence, this workshop aims to inspire sustained compassionate action, uniting us in our responsibility to create a more just and sustainable world.
Monica Mueller, PhD, is a philosopher with a focus on Ethics and Social/Political philosophy, currently on sabbatical from Portland State University. She is dedicated to fostering collective action and resilience in the face of ecological challenges, advocating for anti-oppression through transformative education, particularly in marginalized communities. An author of “Contrary to Thoughtlessness: Rethinking Practical Wisdom,” Monica combines professional rigor with playful curiosity in her teaching and mentorship, while enjoying outdoor adventures in her free time.
Meeting/Greeting Who/What Is: An Aikido Afternoon with Jude Blitz
Location: Dojo Room
Join long-time faculty member Jude Blitz for an afternoon exploring the practice and wisdom of Aikido.
Warriorship through Tea with Rebecca Turlay & Sarah Richards Graba
Location: Nalanda 9195
Reserve Your Spot! (Please note there is an 11-person limit per session. Be sure to book Nalanda session.)
For many historical warriors, tea was not only a beverage, but a way of life, playing a crucial role in their military and/or identity culture. Preparing and consuming tea was thought to sharpen acuity, focus concentration, and promote patience, all of which prepared one for battle. Modern tea ceremony practices offer unique spaces for cultivating the Peaceful Warrior archetype, and in particular, how we might implement this wisdom into action. In this session, Rebecca Turlay, a tea practitioner, will serve to any who are interested in contemplating this theme together through tea. Rebecca will be pouring an oolong or Puerh tea (which contain caffeine) in the Global Tea Hut side handle style, with Sarah Richards Graba of the Naropa Tea House assisting.
Rebecca Turlay—a Naropa student, tea practitioner, and Navy veteran—is interested in healing the Warrior archetype within individuals and society. She believes the Warrior is alive in each of us and is necessary to be an activist. As a novice tea host, she invites everyone to come with an open mind and soft heart to join in contemplation, community and tea.
Sarah Richards Graba of the Naropa Tea House is a writer and teacher with an eclectic spiritual life that includes zen, yoga, witchcraft, shamanism, tea ceremony, and more. She is an adjunct professor at Naropa, primarily teaching writing in the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics. She has been studying chanoyu for over 10 years (after discovering it at the Naropa Tea House), and has been a lover of all tea for life.
Questions or tech issues? Contact us at naropateahouse@naropa.edu
Ian Sanderson Workshop Continued
Offered in Person & on Zoom
PLEASE NOTE: This workshop will span both afternoon sessions, ending around 4:30pm.
Location: Nalanda 9130 // Zoom: https://naropa.zoom.us/my/culturecenter
In Parts 1-3, we shifted from problem-solving to exploring the school’s potential within its community. We focused on changing our thinking patterns to move from reactive to regenerative design.
We identified shared caring patterns, envisioned Naropa’s fullest potential, and practiced Indigenous and Regenerative frameworks. We applied these frameworks to imagined possibilities for the school’s evolution.
Part 4 will deepen our regenerative practice, emphasizing a living systems perspective of Naropa. The Regenesis Institute states that regenerative projects must be grounded in their place’s potential, viewing places as complex, dynamic living systems.
We encourage everyone to attend, as system evolution requires all elements working together. While previous attendance isn’t mandatory, watching videos of Parts 1-3 provides helpful context for this ongoing journey.
Ian Sanderson – Joanna Macy Center Earth Guardian Fellow – is a member of the Mohawk Nation’s Turtle clan from Ontario, Canada, has dedicated over 25 years to fostering awareness and reconnection with self, community, and nature. With a background in Indigenous Studies and extensive experience in outdoor education and community-based programs, he currently serves as core faculty in Environmental Studies at Naropa University. Sanderson’s work spans diverse contexts, from wilderness settings to urban environments, integrating Indigenous, Eastern, and Western philosophies to promote personal transformation and socio-ecological change. He co-owns the Boulder Quest Center, teaching To-Shin-Do ninjutsu, and is involved with the Joanna Macy Center, applying complexity and Indigenous systems-thinking to inspire revitalization
V. Regenerative Naropa Series, Part 4: Naropa as a Living System with Ian Sanderson
PLEASE NOTE: This workshop will span both afternoon sessions, ending around 4:30pm.
In Parts 1-3, we shifted from problem-solving to exploring the school’s potential within its community. We focused on changing our thinking patterns to move from reactive to regenerative design.
We identified shared caring patterns, envisioned Naropa’s fullest potential, and practiced Indigenous and Regenerative frameworks. We applied these frameworks to imagined possibilities for the school’s evolution.
Part 4 will deepen our regenerative practice, emphasizing a living systems perspective of Naropa. The Regenesis Institute states that regenerative projects must be grounded in their place’s potential, viewing places as complex, dynamic living systems.
We encourage everyone to attend, as system evolution requires all elements working together. While previous attendance isn’t mandatory, watching videos of Parts 1-3 provides helpful context for this ongoing journey.
Ian Sanderson – Joanna Macy Center Earth Guardian Fellow – is a member of the Mohawk Nation’s Turtle clan from Ontario, Canada, has dedicated over 25 years to fostering awareness and reconnection with self, community, and nature. With a background in Indigenous Studies and extensive experience in outdoor education and community-based programs, he currently serves as core faculty in Environmental Studies at Naropa University. Sanderson’s work spans diverse contexts, from wilderness settings to urban environments, integrating Indigenous, Eastern, and Western philosophies to promote personal transformation and socio-ecological change. He co-owns the Boulder Quest Center, teaching To-Shin-Do ninjutsu, and is involved with the Joanna Macy Center, applying complexity and Indigenous systems-thinking to inspire revitalization
The Way of Tea at Naropa Tea House
Location: Arapahoe Tea House
Reserve your spot! (Please note there is a 5-person limit per sitting. Please be sure to book the ARAPAHOE session.)
Please join Chadō practitioners Andrea Becker and Chad Corbin for a bowl of tea in the historic Naropa Tea House. Small groups of guests will enjoy a sweet and a bowl of matcha prepared in the Urasenke style.
Andrea (Drea) Becker, Writer, Photographer, Chajin, graduated from JKS in 2018 and has been studying Chadō for seven years. www.dreadoes.com
Chad Corbin is a tea practitioner and potter. He instructs at Groundworks Art Lab in Boulder and specializes in making teaware. www.mudmeditations.com
Online Offerings: 3:15–4:30 PM
A Discussion of Contemplative Practices Across Cultures with Jhan Doughty, PhD
Zoom Link: https://naropa.zoom.us/j/7481738264
Meeting ID: 748 173 8264
Dr. Jhan Doughty, Core Faculty and Chair of the Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Psychology Department, offers reflections from her own experience and studies on the diverse and rich ways that contemplative practice has blossomed in cultures across the world. Join us online for this inspiring gathering that gives us a direct taste of the powerful ways the human spirit celebrates awareness, compassion and the preciousness of life.
Dr. Jhan Doughty is Core Associate Professor in the Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling Department. She has twenty years of experience as a counselor, faculty member, researcher, university administrator, and a nationally recognized leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is trained in mindfulness-based counseling, breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation, to help those with eating disorders, depression, and anxiety. Dr. Doughty is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with post-doctoral training in Psychiatry and Public Health from Yale University School of Medicine. She has researched and worked with individuals who were coping with long-term physical illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS and clients with great physical pain and is an advocate for those with disabilities.
Ian Sanderson Workshop Continued
Offered in Person & on Zoom
PLEASE NOTE: This workshop will span both afternoon sessions, ending around 4:30pm.
Location: Nalanda 9130 // Zoom: https://naropa.zoom.us/my/culturecenter
In Parts 1-3, we shifted from problem-solving to exploring the school’s potential within its community. We focused on changing our thinking patterns to move from reactive to regenerative design.
We identified shared caring patterns, envisioned Naropa’s fullest potential, and practiced Indigenous and Regenerative frameworks. We applied these frameworks to imagined possibilities for the school’s evolution.
Part 4 will deepen our regenerative practice, emphasizing a living systems perspective of Naropa. The Regenesis Institute states that regenerative projects must be grounded in their place’s potential, viewing places as complex, dynamic living systems.
We encourage everyone to attend, as system evolution requires all elements working together. While previous attendance isn’t mandatory, watching videos of Parts 1-3 provides helpful context for this ongoing journey.
Ian Sanderson – Joanna Macy Center Earth Guardian Fellow – is a member of the Mohawk Nation’s Turtle clan from Ontario, Canada, has dedicated over 25 years to fostering awareness and reconnection with self, community, and nature. With a background in Indigenous Studies and extensive experience in outdoor education and community-based programs, he currently serves as core faculty in Environmental Studies at Naropa University. Sanderson’s work spans diverse contexts, from wilderness settings to urban environments, integrating Indigenous, Eastern, and Western philosophies to promote personal transformation and socio-ecological change. He co-owns the Boulder Quest Center, teaching To-Shin-Do ninjutsu, and is involved with the Joanna Macy Center, applying complexity and Indigenous systems-thinking to inspire revitalization
V. Regenerative Naropa Series, Part 4: Naropa as a Living System with Ian Sanderson
PLEASE NOTE: This workshop will span both afternoon sessions, ending around 4:30pm.
In Parts 1-3, we shifted from problem-solving to exploring the school’s potential within its community. We focused on changing our thinking patterns to move from reactive to regenerative design.
We identified shared caring patterns, envisioned Naropa’s fullest potential, and practiced Indigenous and Regenerative frameworks. We applied these frameworks to imagined possibilities for the school’s evolution.
Part 4 will deepen our regenerative practice, emphasizing a living systems perspective of Naropa. The Regenesis Institute states that regenerative projects must be grounded in their place’s potential, viewing places as complex, dynamic living systems.
We encourage everyone to attend, as system evolution requires all elements working together. While previous attendance isn’t mandatory, watching videos of Parts 1-3 provides helpful context for this ongoing journey.
Ian Sanderson – Joanna Macy Center Earth Guardian Fellow – is a member of the Mohawk Nation’s Turtle clan from Ontario, Canada, has dedicated over 25 years to fostering awareness and reconnection with self, community, and nature. With a background in Indigenous Studies and extensive experience in outdoor education and community-based programs, he currently serves as core faculty in Environmental Studies at Naropa University. Sanderson’s work spans diverse contexts, from wilderness settings to urban environments, integrating Indigenous, Eastern, and Western philosophies to promote personal transformation and socio-ecological change. He co-owns the Boulder Quest Center, teaching To-Shin-Do ninjutsu, and is involved with the Joanna Macy Center, applying complexity and Indigenous systems-thinking to inspire revitalization
V. Regenerative Naropa Series, Part 4: Naropa as a Living System with Ian Sanderson
PLEASE NOTE: This workshop will span both afternoon sessions, ending around 4:30pm.
In Parts 1-3, we shifted from problem-solving to exploring the school’s potential within its community. We focused on changing our thinking patterns to move from reactive to regenerative design.
We identified shared caring patterns, envisioned Naropa’s fullest potential, and practiced Indigenous and Regenerative frameworks. We applied these frameworks to imagined possibilities for the school’s evolution.
Part 4 will deepen our regenerative practice, emphasizing a living systems perspective of Naropa. The Regenesis Institute states that regenerative projects must be grounded in their place’s potential, viewing places as complex, dynamic living systems.
We encourage everyone to attend, as system evolution requires all elements working together. While previous attendance isn’t mandatory, watching videos of Parts 1-3 provides helpful context for this ongoing journey.
Ian Sanderson – Joanna Macy Center Earth Guardian Fellow – is a member of the Mohawk Nation’s Turtle clan from Ontario, Canada, has dedicated over 25 years to fostering awareness and reconnection with self, community, and nature. With a background in Indigenous Studies and extensive experience in outdoor education and community-based programs, he currently serves as core faculty in Environmental Studies at Naropa University. Sanderson’s work spans diverse contexts, from wilderness settings to urban environments, integrating Indigenous, Eastern, and Western philosophies to promote personal transformation and socio-ecological change. He co-owns the Boulder Quest Center, teaching To-Shin-Do ninjutsu, and is involved with the Joanna Macy Center, applying complexity and Indigenous systems-thinking to inspire revitalization
Online Faculty Focus Workshop
We are excited to offer opportunity for community building and workshops on Contemplative Pedagogy, specifically designed for faculty. All Naropa faculty are invited and encouraged to join. This is a unique opportunity to engage with other faculty around particular topics in contemplative education, Naropa’s unique educational lineage.
3:15–4:30 PM
A Practice Day Conversation for Faculty: Exploring Naropa’s Roots & Founder with Judith Simmer-Brown, Valerie Lorig, Judy Lief, Giovannina Jobson
ONLINE ONLY: The zoom link for this session has been emailed to all Naropa core and adjunct faculty.
Join four long-time Naropa faculty for an open conversation regarding Naropa’s founding vision and its founder, Chögyam Trungpa. This online gathering is designed for shared inquiry and reflection, with the goal of supporting established and newer Naropa faculty in understanding and relating to the university’s rich and sometimes complex heritage.
Judith Simmer-Brown, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Contemplative and Religious Studies Emeritx at Naropa University, where she has taught for over 45 years. Simmer-Brown is the founder of Naropa’s Center for the Advancement of Contemplative Education (CACE), and is a compassion trainer for the Compassion Initiative. She has taught Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, interreligious dialogue, Buddhist chaplaincy, and contemplative education subjects. She is author of Dakini’s Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism (Shambhala) and editor, with Fran Grace, of Meditation and the Classroom: Contemplative Pedagogy for Religious Studies (SUNY).
Giovannina Jobson is a faculty member in the Department of Wisdom Traditions. She has taught at Naropa for over 20 years in the Master of Divinity program as well as in the Naropa Core program. She is a mindfulness instruction trainer, a Maitri Space Awareness teacher and a dedicated Dharma Art practitioner.
Judy Lief has a long association with Naropa, and held many roles here, including serving as the Dean of Naropa Institute from 1980-85. She trained directly with Naropa’s founder, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and is a highly regarded Buddhist teacher. Judy leads retreats and workshops throughout the world as well as presenting online teachings. Her podcast, “Dharma Glimpses,” has subscribers in over 14 countries. Author of: Making Friends with Death: A Buddhist Guide to Encountering Mortality She has been the editor of many of Trungpa’s books including three volumes of The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma.
Valerie Lorig, MEd, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor at Auspicious Coincidence Counseling and a faculty instructor at Naropa University in the BA Psychology program. A Buddhist practitioner, she attended the first Naropa Institute in the summer of 1974 and continued to study with the founder, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, for 14 years.
Feedback Is Welcome: Your Voice Matters!
Practice Day is produced by Mission Culture and Inclusive Community where we are committed to a practice of giving and receiving feedback.
We rely on your voice to help us shape this event in the future, to be more in alignment with our Community Compass.
Please take a minute, literally it take less than a minute at the end of each session to provide your honest feedback for each session you attend. There is only one required question but space for you to write a small book. All your ideas are valuable and will be heard.
The same link may be used more than once and we appreciate your feedback for every session you attend.
