Elephant Journal is honored to partner with Naropa University to bring Parker J. Palmer’s graduation speech to our elephant readers. Above, watch one of Palmer’s favorite Naropa videos about Contemplative Education. To watch Parker J. Palmer’s address, you can register online anytime before the speech on Sunday, May 10th, at 1:30 p.m. MST. 

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“Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am.” ~ Parker J. Palmer

On Sunday, May 10th, Boulder’s Naropa University will welcome world-renowned speaker, poet, author and activist Parker J. Palmer as its 2015 graduation speaker.

If you haven’t heard of Palmer, he’s the founder of the Seattle-based Center for Courage & Renewal, a non-profit dedicated to creating a “…more just, compassionate and healthy world by nurturing personal and professional integrity and the courage to act on it.” He also is a frequent contributor to “OnBeing”, one of iTunes’ most popular podcasts. 

Palmer is the embodiment of an individual working to create an Enlightened Society—erudite, engaging, always poignant and compassionate—he reaches millions of readers all over the world with the nine books he’s authored so far, along with poems he’s written about subjects as fleeting as a football game, or as huge as the Grand Canyon. 

He’s always leaned toward realization, toward education, toward wholeness—and he’s always visionary. Palmer will weave all of these things into his 2015 graduation speech, “Living From the Inside Out,” which will reveal moments from his extraordinary career, along with his dedication to a mindful approach to ecology, justice, leadership, healing and community.

And, in an exciting development between Naropa and Gaiam TV, you can watch Palmer’s graduation address live, on your television or Android, iPhone, iPad or any other mobile device—for free, from anywhere on the planet!

To watch Palmer’s address, you can register online anytime before the speech. Graduation is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 10th, at 1:30 p.m.—be sure to register, tune in and take in Palmer’s message to the next Naropa graduates. 

This year, Naropa will give degrees to more than 300 graduate and undergraduate students, including BA, BFA, MA, MFA, and M.Div degrees in the arts, education, environmental leadership, psychology and religious studies, and more. You can find a full schedule of events at on Naropa’s website.

Naropa University’s graduation speech, featuring Parker J. Palmer, will be live-streamed with Gaiam TV on May 10th, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. MST/3:30 p.m. EST. View it live here. 

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Editor: Rachel Nussbaum

Photo: Naropa University