Richard Brown is the founder of the Department of Contemplative Education at Naropa University, established in 1990. With a background in both public and Buddhist-inspired K-12 education, Brown has dedicated his career to exploring and expanding the field of contemplative education. His work emphasizes the integration of mindfulness, awareness, compassion, and bodily experience into the learning process, advocating for an educational approach that goes beyond traditional thinking to include the full spectrum of human experience. This approach seeks to enrich both students and teachers by drawing on the wisdom of emotional, sensory, and environmental dimensions of learning.
In addition to his pioneering role at Naropa, Brown has been an influential figure in the development of contemplative schools and parenting on an international scale. He has contributed extensively to literature on contemplative education, including his work on Buddhist views of children’s spiritual development. Brown is a founding member of the Garrison Institute’s Initiative on Contemplation in Education Leadership Council and co-developer of the CARE for Teachers program. From 2009 until his retirement, he was involved in the contemplative reform of Bhutan’s education system, collaborating with Naropa’s Contemplative Education program and the Royal University of Bhutan on innovative educational projects.
