PI Info from Lee

June 2007


Dear Practice Instructors of Nalandabodhi,


Sangha Retreat is almost upon us! Amazingly there will be over 70 PIs at retreat this year. I feel that we are beginning to fulfill The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche’s aspiration that all our Nalandabodhi sangha become trained as Practice Instructors.


I am writing you with a couple of details that will concern those at sangha retreat and also have significance for everyone.


First, as you may already know, members of the NEC Practice team have created four letters to students that give information about what books, DVDs, and materials they might consider at their level of practice. These letters are not designed to take the place of the personal relationship between PI and instructee. The were generated out of a need on the part of the Nalandabodhi Bookstore to make it more possible to pre-order for the retreat. However they also provide support for the dialogue between you and your students.


We have letters for shamatha/vipashyana/mind training, Track A ngondro, Track B ngondro, and Mahamudra. Much of the material (but not all) is covered in your Practice Instructor Manual, but you might find it beneficial to have a letter to hand a student after discussing the materials you feel he or she should purchase at this time. Email me: leew@mho.com and I will send you whichever letters you need.


Second, we have secured a space and time for meditation instruction at retreat this year! This will be a first! During the meditation period after lunch, 1:30 to 3:00 pm, the Dining Tent will be available for PIs to meet with their students. There may be more than one PI in the tent at the same time, but I think it will be spacious enough so that you and your instructee can feel comfortable. Norma Burke is creating a schedule, or sign up sheet. No more rainy walks as PI meetings!


I encourage you to meet with your students at retreat. Especially if you have long distance or email Practice Instructees, it would be beneficial for you to have a bit of “face time.” I also want to encourage those of you unable to attend retreat to let your students who are attending know that they are invited to meet with a PI at retreat and encourage them to share what they discovered with you upon their return home. In this way we can indeed begin to become PIs for one another and take Rinpoche’s vision a step further.


With gratitude for the instruction you are offering and the love you share with others,


Yours in the Buddharma,


Lee Worley

NEC US Practice Director

Publications

Dear Practice Instructors of Nalandabodhi,

NEC Practice has written several letters that can inform students as to what books and DVDs are suggested, recommended, and/or required for the various practices of Nalandabodhi. The letters also encourage students to meet with their PI to discuss the texts you think suitable for them to purchase and at which points in their practice.

If you are interested in copies of these we have the following:
Shamatha/Vipashyana
Ngondro, Track A
Ngondro, Track B
Vajrasattva Sadhana
Mahamudra Shamatha


You are welcome to give copies of these letters to your students, but the letter shouldn't take the place of your personal connection and discussion. The Nalandabodhi Bookstore will be asking sangha retreatants to identify what texts they want in advance of their arrival so a meeting with your students on this matter is advisable soon.

Please email me at: leew@mho.com.

Thanks so much,
Lee