There is a lot of information here, says Giovahnina Jobson, a Buddhism Studies faculty member at the Naropa Institute on Arapahoe Avenue. There are many different outlets where you can have access. The Naropa Institute offers several classes on Buddhism, including a graduate program in engaged Buddhist study, and a masters of divinity program. The curricula for these programs is mostly intellectual, however they integrate spiritual guidance into the focus. Even though it is an academic program, meditation is still a heavy part in it, says Jobson.
Students look to understand how their mind works, a sort of spiritual psychology.
Not surprisingly, a majority of the students enrolled in the Buddhist studies department at Naropa go on to perform Chaplaincy work across the world. We see most of our graduates become social activists, doing community-based work, says Jobson. You can t help people if you don t know yourself. First you must work on yourself. Liberal ideology isn t the only reason Buddhism is so popular in Boulder.