About Us
Welcome! We're so glad you're here.
Step through our doors in the Fremont/Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle for a soothing space to explore your mind, and to develop genuine compassion and loving-kindness with like-minded friends.
Attend classes and events on meditation, flower arranging, mindful use of technology, conversations on the big questions and much more. Connect with your creative being and natural, spacious mind.
Like the historic Nalanda University of India, Nalanda West event center brings you a curated selection of teachings and presenters from diverse wisdom traditions. All our programs speak to our shared need for global awakening and the wish to live a meaningful life.
Founded by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in 2004, Nalanda West offers programs and events inspired by the Five Fields of Knowledge originally taught at Nalanda University. The event center is mostly volunteer-run by Nalandabodhi, a Buddhist community under the direction of Ponlop Rinpoche. The best way to learn about the center is to join us for a program in Seattle, or when offered, via live webcast. See you soon!
The Five Fields of Knowledge
“The things we fear most in organizations — fluctuations, disturbances, imbalances — are the primary sources of creativity.”
– Margaret J. Wheatley
Creativity & the Arts
Engaging with the Creative Moment
The field of creativity is a relationship with the raw materials and with the creative moment. It is the clear expression of that moment. It’s about creating something meaningful to achieve harmony and balance. This includes influencing and raising children. More
Health & Well Being
Healing for Harmony and Balance
This fields of knowledge refers to all aspects of healing – mental, physical, and environmental – to achieve harmony and balance. More
Communication
Expression through Language, Poetry, and Performance
By bringing meditation’s spaciousness and clarity of intention into your everyday activities, you can find joy in working for yourself and others. More
Knowing and Reasoning
Clarifying Our Understanding
In the 21st century it is more important than ever to develop a strong, clear mind. On a daily basis, we are asked to process unprecedented amounts of information. How can we make sense of it all? How can we know what to focus on and what to ignore? By training the mind, we enhance our capacity to learn, to make informed decisions, and to create a meaningful life. More
Inner Science of Mind
Awakening the Heart and Mind
The focus of this field of knowledge is on various forms of mind training, meditation, and other practices that evoke direct insight, or experiences that lead to awakening. More
