Nalanda:
Culture and Art in Everyday Life
Nalanda comprises a number of disciplines which integrate meditative awareness with everyday
life. Each of these disciplines represents a genuine contemplative path;
together they bring beauty, vividness and wisdom to our lives and culture.
Nalanda takes its name from an eleventh-century
Indian university that welcomed teachings and disciplines from many different
traditions. In this same spirit, many groups and activities have developed
within the Nalanda family.
The activities of Nalanda may be
roughly grouped into four major categories: the arts, health, education,
and business. The following are some of the disciplines or pathways included
within Nalanda. Some of these activities occur within structured organisations;
others are pursued by individual practitioners with similar inspirations.
Arts
Bugaku and Gagaku
Calligraphy
Chado (tea ceremony)
Dance/Movement
Dharma Art (Chögyam Trungpa's teachings on art)
Graphic Design
Horsemanship, Dressage
Ikebana (flower arranging)
Kyudo (archery)
Miksang (contemplative photography)
Mudra Space Awareness
Music
Poetics
Visual Art
Health
Amara Health Professionals
Contemplative Psychotherapy
Home Care
Maitri Space Awareness
Palliative Care
Sarpashana (addiction)
Education
Early Childhood Education
Contemplative Education
Naropa University
Business
Leadership Training
Shambhala Institute
Here is a brief description of
a few of these activities:
Kalapa Ikebana
In 1982, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
formed a new school of ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) inspired by
his own training and vision. Kalapa Ikebana, as this school is called,
promotes the study and practice of flower arranging, often working closely
with masters of other schools of ikebana.
Mudra Space Awareness
This awareness practice is based
on postures and movement from traditional Tibetan monastic dance. Simple
yet demanding, these techniques train students in synchronizing body and
mind, in relating with space, in maintaining awareness during intense activity,
and in communication.
Maitri Space Awareness
This practice is based on the principles
of the five buddha families, each of which expresses a particular style
and attitude of openness. Maintaining a posture associated with each family
in five specifically designed rooms heightens the characteristic patterns
of energy of each family, so that both the neurotic and sane aspects of
the student's personal style becomes apparent.
