Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Vajrapani Institute for Wisdom Culture
- Abstract:
- This collection contains the records of the Vajrapani Institute for Wisdom Culture, a Tibetan Buddhist retreat center in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. It includes administrative records, correspondence, flyers and other publications, course materials, and newsletters. Some of the materials featured are photographs, hand written materials, and documentation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to UC Santa Cruz in 1979.
- Extent:
- 1.25 Linear Feet 1 carton
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
Vajrapani Institute for Wisdom Culture records. MS 529. Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains the records of the Vajrapani Institute for Wisdom Culture, a Tibetan Buddhist retreat center in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. It includes administrative records, correspondence, flyers and other publications, course materials, and newsletters. Some of the materials featured are photographs, hand written materials, and documentation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to UC Santa Cruz in 1979.
- Biographical / historical:
-
The Vajrapani Institute for Wisdom Culture (VPI) was incorporated in California in 1975, and is located on 75 acres of land in Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz County, California. Its facilities include a meditation hall, accommodations, and blessed land available for rental to spiritual groups of all traditions. VPI was founded by Lama Thubten Yeshe and his student, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, two Tibetan lamas who came to the United States via exile in Nepal. The Institute is affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, an international, non-profit organization, devoted to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation, and community service. VPI is one of the first Tibetan Buddhist Dharma centers in the United States, and has hosted His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, His Eminence the 7th Ling Rinpoche, His Holiness Zong Rinpoche, and other Tibetan Masters.
VPI has had a significant relationship with UC Santa Cruz, as exemplified by institute courses taught through the university campus, and event partnerships throughout the years.
Visiting teachers at the Vajrapani Institute over the years have included Lama Zong Rinpoche, Sogyal Rinpoche, Geshe Gyeltsen, Geshe Sopa, Alan Wallace, Dr. Lobsang Dolma Khangkar (the first female doctor of Tibet), Jan Willis as part of a Women in Buddhism series, and His Holiness Ganden Tri Rinpoche. Other courses and retreats were led by the founding lamas, Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, among others.
The Vajrapani Institute was founded to offer people meditative tools to recognize the nature of their minds, achieve their highest potential for the benefit of all, and support the transformation of spiritual teachings into experience through contemplative retreat. As of 2025, VPI continues its activities in the California redwood forest.
Source used: The Vajrapani Institute for Wisdom Culture, 2025, www.vajrapani.org.
- Acquisition information:
- Gifts of the Vajrapani Institute for Wisdom Culture in 2024 and 2025.
- Processing information:
-
This collection was processed by Stefania Cotei and Melissa Mack with assistance from Alix Norton and Meleia Simon-Reynolds in the Center for Archival Research and Training (CART), September 2025.
- Arrangement:
-
This collection is arranged into 5 series:
- 1. Administrative Files
- 2. Correspondence
- 3. Flyers and Other Publications
- 4. Courses
- 5. Newsletters
The series correspond to the original arrangement of the materials into labeled binders by the Vajrapani Institute. Materials in each series are retained in their original order.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
Copyright for the items in this collection is owned by the creators and their heirs. Reproduction or distribution of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the copyright owner. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether a use is fair use, and to obtain any necessary permissions. For more information see UCSC Special Collections and Archives policy on Reproduction and Use.
- Preferred citation:
-
Vajrapani Institute for Wisdom Culture records. MS 529. Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.
- Location of this collection:
-
Special Collections and Archives, University Library1156 High StreetSanta Cruz, CA 95064, US
- Contact:
- (831) 459-2547