General Info:
Maitripa College is a nonprofit corporation authorized by the State of Oregon to offer and confer the degree described in this website, following a determination that state academic standards will be satisfied under OAR 583-030. Inquiries concerning the standards or school compliance may be directed to the Office of Degree Authorization, 1500 Valley River Drive, OR 97401 Eugene Suite 100 Maitripa College in Portland, Oregon, offers graduate-level Buddhist Studies classes for part-time and full-time students through our Buddhist Studies Program, retreats and workshops with visiting scholars through our Extension Program, introductory classes in Buddhism through the Discovering Buddhism courses, and weekly public Dharma teachings and prayer services in the Jokhang Meditation Hall under the direction of Yangsi Rinpoche. Maitripa Institute received legal authority in July 2008 from the State of Oregon to offer graduate degrees in Buddhist Studies. This approval means that Maitripa is now a College, and that its program courses are available for college credit. Maitripa is currently offering a Master of Arts degree in Buddhist Studies. This achievement is the first step towards regional accreditation. We hope to expand this program into a fully-functioning accredited university in the future, and to continue the precedent of great scholarship in and practical application of this rich philosophical tradition in America. If you live in - or plan to visit - the Portland, Oregon area and have an interest in Tibetan Buddhism, Buddhist scholarship, or meditation, please attend one of our events, take a class, or contact us for a tour of the College. MAITRIPA VISION & MISSION STATEMENT Maitripa College in Portland, Oregon, will produce enlightened practitioners, politicians, businesspeople, social workers, teachers, artists, philosophers, scientists, environmentalists, and healthcare workers for the 21st century. We will fulfill this vision through the development of an accredited Buddhist University offering graduate and undergraduate education guided by the principles of the Buddhadharma. The College will educate students in traditional areas of liberal arts, such as philosophy, political science, languages, and the arts, as well as in practical areas of expertise, such as psychology, social work, environmental sciences, business, and healthcare. The emphasis of the education at Maitripa will be on integrating Buddhist principles into the student's chosen field of study, and on developing the qualities of a good heart, tolerance, forgiveness, and joy in the students' minds as a basis for active engagement and benefit in society. The mission of Maitripa College is to: * Offer educational programs in Buddhist philosophy, languages, liberal arts, social service, and social science that reflect the standard of the tradition of scholarship of Tibetan Buddhism * Offer all educational programs on a scholarship basis to those students who demonstrate both merit and need