Tarpa’s Mission

For 2,500 years, Buddhist traditions have systematically investigated the nature of the mind, its suffering, and its wellbeing through philosophical debate, careful observation, and contemplative practice. Modern psychology and neuroscience now validate many of their insights. But most people encounter only fragments of Buddhist philosophy or the theory behind meditation—a mindfulness course, a meditation app—without understanding the complete framework.

Tarpa’s mission is to provide comprehensive secular education in Buddhist meditation theory and practice for the public, and to make it freely accessible to everyone from all backgrounds without any religious beliefs, fees, or prerequisites being required. Toward this end, in 2022, Tarpa formed as a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit and began offering educational lectures and guidance in meditation theory and practice. Then, in 2024, after completing the construction of three retreat cabins for students to experiment with the theories and practices they learned, Tarpa is now in the process of expanding and improving its online curriculum. 

Tarpa’s aim is that through education, students discover the freedom and benefits of developing compassion, and this discovery transforms their relationships with themselves and their broader community. The Buddhist expression of this principle is that we are fundamentally connected with other beings, and serving others' wellbeing is inherently serving ourselves. In this way, developing compassion is practical wisdom, not just a moral obligation. 

When students actually experience these benefits for themselves firsthand in a secular environment, we hope that their example will influence others in their immediate sphere, multiplying the transformative effects of their own studies at Tarpa, making the benefits spread beyond themselves to others in their communities.

That’s why Tarpa exists.