Friends of Urban Dharma: Ryan Morra

Ryan may have seemed an unlikely candidate for a study-abroad course in Tibetan Buddhism, as he majored in Biology and went on to teach high school science. Yet, in the summer of 2006 he travelled to Tibet with Dr. Hun Lye and a group of students as the capstone to a semester-long course in Tibetan religion and culture. Through this study and travel, he saw a side of Buddhism that he had never come across in the West, and his eyes were opened to what it means to practice Buddhism. Ryan is a teacher, actor, traveler, mountain biker, road cyclist, hiker, and lover of good food, coffee, and tea. Most important, however, is his love for community and bringing people together; this is why he has jumped on board in helping to develop Urban Dharma. He sees it as a much-needed community space for people to come together in their practice.