Naropa University

This place has exploded over the years. Grown to such a degree that two auxiliary campus settings are required to meet the demand. In a past life I sat in maitri rooms and did yoga daily, I’m pleased to see the vibe carrying on and evolving exponentially. If in the area, of any interest in art and creativity this is a must stop. Same with Eastern religion, poetry, or writing for they’ve got it all and more!

I was driving my friend from his PSATs in the fall of 2012.
Well, I was a friend to him, and he was something more like a desire to me. He was just a year younger, but I felt like he was a person who I wanted to be with. He was funny, and soft, and he spoke Spanish better than most boys I had had crushes on. I picked him up and we were going to go eat bad Chinese food, a reward for him having to spend his Saturday cooped up and testing in the high school.
I was playing loud Spanish music on the radio, and I glanced over at him. He was laughing at something i said, and I remember having such an urge, a want, to place my hand on that face. I didn’t even want to kiss him, I just wanted to feel the soft fuzz of his cheek against the pads of my fingers. I wanted him to see me not as a loud, fat, funny girl who drove him around, but as something delicate and desirable, small and special.
These thoughts hit my mind like piano notes, dulled to the outside world, when I saw him widen his eyes and his expression change, and he said something, something that made me whip my head back around to face the road. The car in front of us was much, much closer than it should’ve been. The foot I slammed down on the brakes felt the delay, just a second but long enough for my car to fold, accordion like, into the one in front of me. I crashed my car on the narrow road of arapahoe, under construction at the time, And had to pull over in front of the Naropa University sign.
I sat there, stopped, and before taking a breath to collect myself, I looked at this boy, and, knowing that my license still only allowed for just me in the car, I heard myself say «You have to go.»
He grabbed his bike and left, face full of fear and nervousness.
I sat in my dripping car, seeing the flags in front of Naropa, flutter back and forth.
I texted him later apologizing, and he said it wasn’t a big deal, as long as I was safe. I asked him to lie with me, that I had told the police officer that no one else had been in the car. He said yes, and again said that he really didn’t mind, he was just happy we were okay.
To the police, to the court, to my mother, to his parents, and eventually to us, the moment never existed.

Going to Naropa was one of the single most valuable and important decisions of my life. I studied Transpersonal Psychology & Music Therapy there — and my education was extraordinary. I am now the owner and director of an Integral Life Practice Center (Samadhi) located outside of Boston with a full private practice and a thriving business. Naropa not only gave me the skills I needed to create an amazing career, but it gave me heart, community and a platform for my spiritual practice.

This is part of what makes Boulder, Boulder. Not a school that will give you resume-​building skills or any of that, but one that will allow you to engage in topics of Buddhist philosophy and related disciplines. It’s pricey, and good luck getting anything like financial aid for it, but if you have the time and money and interest, why not? You only live once (at least until you re-​incarnate).

I definitely enjoy my Naropa education and I definitely have to say that there are always a lot of fun events happening at Naropa throughout the school year. In fact, it is what drew me to move to Colorado in November of 2007. This is my first semester so I am getting the feel for Naropa still.
Personally, there are a few practices, such as those with financial aid and registration that are weird but that’s likely because there are less students and therefore, they can spend more time speaking with me about my degree plans and intended programme.
Also, Bataan Faigo, the chair of the Traditional Eastern Arts (my intended major) is a very fun man to talk with. Naropa has a lot of very qualified, very capable and very interesting instructors.
(Read the update)

Basically the world is lucky to have Naropa. Thanks Rinpoche. During many years’ involvement with Naropa’s faculty and students, I was deeply touched and my heart peeled open (thanks again Rinpoche).
My main criticism which I have given personally to admissions is that they should maintain a level of academic rigorousness — there are times when they take whomever can pay the cost of tuition, regardless of readiness to work seriously at the college level. Also, they have occasionally taken students into the therapist degree programs whom clearly needed to do more of their own pesonal work first, which in my opinion was doing harm to the student (s) they allowed to restart over and over (without a refund I might add). I would like the counseling programs to consider using the same admission criteria as western-​based programs. If you have ever applied to CU, Columbia, Regis, you know what I mean — very simple, sane expectations for the applicant.

Hiker Chicka and DJ Soundra have already described Naropa very adequately, therefore read their reviews and/​or go to the Naropa website for more factual detail about Naropa, its curriculum, and its fascinating history.
I studied writing at Naropa long before it was accredited, and when many more of the great beat writers and poets were still in their physical bodies and teaching Naropa classes and workshops. It was a learning experience I’ll never forget.
The reason I’m doing this review is that I picked up a Naropa extended studies catalogue the other day and found that Alberto Villoldo, Ph. D
is teaching a 2-​day class at Naropa in March. It’s just so cool that Dr. Villoldo is coming to Colorado next month. Many people I know of have travelled to South America to study with him.
I’m not writing this to promote the class. Early registration is already over, as a matter of fact. And the class is filling up very fast.
I’m mostly so very grateful for the calibre of guest teachers that Naropa consistently attracts. Such a gift to our community!!!
This is the teacher’s website in case anyone is interested:

Naropa University is an excellent choice for holistic new age hippy stylies. Students are free from the constraints of a traditional learning environment and sure to flourish among fresh thoughts and ideas of super new-​age caliber. Naropa prides itself on a learning environment combined from the best of eastern and western learning traditions – «Greece and India» in one. The Uni strives to integrate self-​awareness and understanding with a traditional study of the «outside» world. Therefore, meditation, yoga and other spiritual methods are incorporated in curriculum. Interestingly, Naropa is the only «fully accredited Buddhist-​inspired University in the United States». Naropa University has a lot of Boulder charm or Boulder has a lot of Naropa charm. Either way, if you are from Colorado, you will understand my description that Naropa is «very Boulder.»

This is a holistic psych university (bachelors/​masters) based on Buddhist principles. Buddhism is a philosophy and a way of life, and not a religion. After 10+ years in an all girls private catholic school, I really appreciate Buddhism.
I have to admit that I have never attended this university as a student. However, I’ve been blown away by almost everyone I’ve met who has studied here. They seem more happy, grounded, peaceful, and positive. Sure, there is an occasional trust fund pot head, but it’s Boulder, what do you expect?
Their curriculum includes subjects like meditation for stress reduction, transforming your relationship with money, re-​visioning your future, couple power, writing from the heart, yoga, listening to our bodies, and aikido. Real world skills. They don’t spend time memorizing battle dates! There needs to be more institutions of learning like this. Erudite, content people don’t wage war!