A conversation with our Director, Nina Highfill, about reimagining Buddhist education for the modern student.

After years of studying how people truly grow in their spiritual practice, we’ve developed an entirely new approach. The Buddhist Journey represents a fundamental shift in how we approach Buddhist education—one that puts the student’s experience at the center of everything we do.

I sat down with Director Nina Highfill to understand what makes this approach so different and why now was the right time for this transformation.

What inspired The Buddhist Journey, and why did you feel a new approach was needed?

For too long, Buddhist education has felt confusing and overwhelming to many students. People would come to us asking, “Where do I start? What comes next? How do I know if I’m progressing?” They wanted a clear path, not just a bunch of random courses.

We realized that while we had amazing teachers and teachings, we weren’t presenting our program in a way that truly served the students’ journey. The Buddhist Journey doesn’t change what we offer, we aren’t altering our programs in any way. Instead, we’re revolutionizing how we present these options, so they are accessible and easy to navigate. This way, our students can design their spiritual education based on their experience level and interests!

Tell me about this “student-centric” approach. What does that mean in practice?

Everything starts with the student’s needs and where they are on their path. The Buddhist Journey is divided into three clear stages—Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced—but what makes it special is that each stage has specific, trackable goals. Students know exactly what they’re working toward and can see their progress. It’s practical, clear, and applicable to everyday life situations.

You mentioned “experiential education.” What does that mean for the students?

Traditional Tibetan Buddhist study within the Gelug tradition can sometimes feel like it focuses heavily on intellectual understanding, like memorizing texts, learning concepts, and analyzing philosophy. And of course, that’s super valuable, but it is just a means to an end. The real transformation happens through direct experience.

In The Buddhist Journey, everything we study serves to feed the student’s meditation practice and generate experiences in their mindstream. We’re not just learning about compassion; we’re cultivating the lived experience of compassion. We’re not just studying emptiness; we’re aiming to realize it in meditation.

The learning fuels the practice, and the practice brings the learning alive. It’s a complete integration.

What’s unique about The Buddhist Journey?

Here’s what makes this truly game-changing: students are in the driver’s seat. There are no prerequisites for any of our courses, with the single exception of Highest Yoga Tantra, which requires specific initiations. Students can join any class (in person or online) at any time. In fact, the Zoom links for most of our classes are on our event pages, so you don’t even need to pre-register. We are big fans of an open-door policy.

The Buddhist Journey isn’t a rigid curriculum that has to be followed step by step. Instead, it’s a map that helps students understand where they stand and choose classes based on their needs. For example, you might be a beginner in meditation, but ready for intermediate philosophy discussions. Or maybe you’re very advanced in your studies, but want to revisit foundational practices. You choose what feels right for you.

Can you walk me through what each stage The Buddhist Journey offers?

The Beginner stage has four clear, practical goals: less stress, more joy, better relationships, and elementary familiarity with Buddhist concepts. We’re not trying to turn people into Buddhist scholars overnight. Instead, we focus on immediate, tangible improvements in daily life.

Beginner programs like Buddhism in a Nutshell or Meditation 101 typically last a few weeks and give students a solid foundation. We also offer Explore & Connect events, one-time fun experiences where students can simply get to know us. An example of one of these events is our monthly Sound Baths, which will start in September.

The Intermediate stage focuses on dealing with negative emotions, transforming problems, increasing compassion and wisdom, and developing a clear understanding of Lower Tantra and Sutra topics. These are typically multi-month to multi-year programs that include retreat and meditation practice components. Students can audit classes on a one-off basis if they want to explore, but the real transformation happens through sustained engagement.

The Advanced stage aims for profound knowledge of Sutra and Tantra with potential teaching eligibility, purification and merit accumulation, and advancement on the Yogic Path. These are deep, often multi-year commitments for students ready to fully immerse themselves in the path and potentially guide others.

What makes the goals “trackable”? How does someone know they’re progressing?

Each stage has specific milestones that students can recognize in their own experience. It might be the ability to maintain focused attention for a certain period, or recognizing particular mental patterns, or feeling genuine compassion in challenging situations.

Students often tell us, “I can see the difference in how I handle stress,” or “My relationships have changed.” That’s real progress, and it’s something they can observe in our day-to-day lives.

What can people expect when The Buddhist Journey launches?

Starting August 1st, our website will be much easier to navigate! Students can quickly find courses that match their level and interests through improved calendar search functions. We wanted to make the path clear and inviting, rather than overwhelming.

We’re also providing a downloadable version of The Buddhist Journey guide, so students can reference it at any time and really see how all the pieces fit together. 

Who is The Buddhist Journey designed for?

It’s designed for anyone interested in spiritual growth and who wants a clear, practical path forward. The Buddhist Journey gives structure for everyone, from those who have never heard of Buddhism to those who have been studying for years!

It’s especially powerful for those who learn best through experience rather than just theory. And also for people who want to see how their study directly impacts their meditation practice and daily life.

What are you most excited about as this launches?

I’m excited to see students finally have the clarity and support they’ve been asking for! Our goal has always been to develop joy, wisdom, and compassion in the hearts and minds of our students, all the way to enlightenment. And that never changes. But what is changing is how we present our huge offering of programs so students can navigate their own path more intuitively.

Maybe what excites me most is seeing how our students deepen their practice and transform their lives in exactly the ways they’re seeking. Because, at the end of the day, that’s what Buddhist education should do. It’s not just about offering courses, but genuinely supporting people in becoming wiser, more compassionate human beings. Thanks to our new Buddhist Journey, we can do just that. 

The Buddhist Journey launches on August 1st with our new webpages and improved search functions. Download your free guide and discover your next steps in Buddhist study and practice. Whether you’re taking your first steps or ready to deepen years of experience, your path forward is now much more clear.