Mandate
Upaaya also provides frameworks and tools to students in their personal and scholastic research in areas of Wellness, Healing, Ethics and Self Leadership.
Our primary purpose is to see communicated, supported and enacted, a path to realization of the highest potential of our students dreams and aspirations. The secondary purpose is to share the benefits that arise out of this research and practice with our students and society. This includes collaboration with scholars and practitioners.
Vision
Since Upaaya is a Centre for Contemplative Practice and Research it offers a selection of programs in the practice, study and research of contemplation and meditation relevant to and easily practiced in contemporary and contextualized spaces. These programs have been offered in:
- General Studies
- Holistic Education
- Customized students research projects
- Trans Disciplinary Research
- Master Classes
Upaaya also situates itself in a context of the Global South to include, but not be limited to, discourses and practices of post-development, alternatives to development, the crisis of civilization, the rights of nature including all flora, fauna, and post-extractivism.
We believe that earth is a single sacred community bound together in interdependent relationships. By recognizing the rights for all humans and other living beings as sacred. Our transdisciplinary inquiries are grounded in places, bioregions, historic cultures, civilizations as well as the self.
To be part of an integral universal meme with an inclusiveness that appreciates the goodness in all. We strives to create and sustain a forum of outreach, focusing on both formal and informal meditative, mindfulness retreat and contemplative lifestyle, structured neuro cognitive processes and academic curriculum up to the post-graduate level. Also to collaborate closely with the scientific community to further enable and to facilitate study, research and practice for the purpose of making ancient contemplative traditions practices available easily.
Scaffolding Upaaya
Focus and mindfulness along with a contemplative and reflective mind lie at the root of sustainable and robust practices. Upaaya’s philosophy is driven by examining cognitive tools and contemplative mindfulness processes.
The essential process requires the acceptance of duties and responsibilities (dharma), cognitive and behavioural consonance in fulfilling these duties and responsibilities in an ethical manner. This also includes healing, renewal and rejuvenation of our minds and bodies.
Ethical and moral conduct however is the central scaffolding of this Research Centre. Mindfulness, Focus, Contemplation, Reflection and Relaxation are important supports.
