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Mindful U at Naropa UniversityThoughts and Instruction on Mindfulness in Higher Education Author: Naropa University
As the birthplace of the mindfulness movement in the United States, Naropa University has a unique perspective when it comes to higher education in the West. Founded in 1974 by renowned Tibetan Buddhist scholar and lineage holder Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Naropa was intended to be a place where students could study Eastern and Western religions, writing, psychology, science, and the arts, while also receiving contemplative and meditation training. Forty-three years later, Naropa is a leader in contemplative education, a pedagogical approach that blends rigorous academics, contemplative practice, and experiential learning. Naropa President Chuck Lief explains, Mindfulness here is not a class. Mindfulness is basically the underpinning of what we do in all of our classes. That said, the flavor or the color of mindfulness from class to class is really completely up to the individual faculty member to work onon their own. So, what happens in a poetry class is going to look very different from what happens in a research psychology class. But, one way or another the contemplative practices are brought into the mix. This podcast is for those with an interest in mindfulness and a curiosity about its place in both higher education and the world at large. Hosted by Naropa alumnus and Multimedia Manager David DeVine, episodes feature Naropa faculty, alumni, and special guests on a wide variety of topics including compassion, permaculture, social justice, herbal healing, and green architectureto name a few. Listen to explore the transformative possibilities of mindfulness, both in the classroom and beyond! Language: en-us Genres: Buddhism, Education, Religion & Spirituality Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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113. The Science of Psychology: Mind, Perception, and Consciousness
Thursday, 23 April, 2026
In this episode, Peter Grossenbacher, PhD—Naropa faculty member and psychological researcher—explores the science of psychology through his research on perception, sensory experience, and psychedelic states, and how these insights bridge disciplines from counseling to biology. Drawing on his work at the intersection of meditation, consciousness, and psychological science, he reflects on the transformative potential of contemplative practice—how shifts in perspective can reshape our experience of self and world. He also examines the limitations of frameworks like the DSM in capturing the fullness of human experience, and how Naropa’s emphasis on authenticity, presence, and relationship fosters academic freedom and spontaneous, teachable moments in the classroom.Special Guest: Peter Grossenbacher, PhD.
