Course Liaison Guide

Being a Support

Every retreat needs a Course Liaison. Because our staff is busy cooking, cleaning, and organizing, the Course Liaison is the “go-to” person for communications between the Vajrapani Institute staff and retreatants, including questions and concerns that inevitably arise during the retreat. They also help manage the working meditation jobs performed by the retreatants. You are a vital resource for making the retreat run smoothly.

 

We very much appreciate your contribution to ensure the success of our retreat experience. In addition, you will

 

  • Create amazing merit (positive potential in your mind) by offering service to a dharma center, the teachers, and fellow students.
  • Practice dharma off the cushion and gain real-world skills to effectively help people in a loving an nurturing environment.
  • Strengthen your connection with Vajrapani Institute, a place that cherishes and nurtures all who serve and visit.
  • Receive a 30% discount off the cost of camping or dorm accommodation during retreat.
  • Receive a 10% discount off retreats for one year after serving as course liaison.

Duties and Responsibilities

On the first day of the retreat

 

  • Arrive around noon to have lunch, meet with the staff, and be briefed on the upcoming retreat.
  • Assist with the registration process.

 

During the retreat

 

  • Field questions of retreaters as they arise.
  • Check in with the kitchen, housekeeping and office staff as needed.
  • Check to see that retreatants completed their working meditation jobs.

 

At the end of the retreat

 

  • Facilitate the final clean-up in cooperation with appropriate staff.
  • Ensure that working meditation jobs are completed.

 

Why We Assign Working Meditation Jobs

  • Allows retreaters to give back to Vajrapani Institute and each other, creating merit or “positive spiritual potential.”
  • Creates an opportunity to put the teachings into practice as a group and to see work from a new perspective.
  • Builds a sense of community and interdependence as everyone does their part to facilitate a successful retreat.
  • Assists the Vajrapani Institute staff to better serve large groups.

 

Should any problems arise, feel free to ask one of our staff for help. We are happy to be of service to you.

Upcoming Retreats

Transforming the Mind to Cultivate Lasting Happiness

Elaine Jackson

February 23 - March 23, 2025
Buddhist Mind Science: Activating Your Potential is an FPMT introductory course.  Buddhism is considered by some to be a “science of mind” because it presents a comprehensive map describing the mind and its various aspects and functions. The Buddha’s teachings also provide methods to observe the mind directly and to discover and activate our inner potential. And it does so with one intention: to overcome suffering and its causes, and to cultivate true, lasting happiness.   The Buddhist Mind Science series is being offered in collaboration with Thubten Norbu Ling, our sister FPMT center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Elaine…

Transforming Problems Into Happiness

Venerable Tenzin Tsepal

April 3 - 6, 2025
We are excited to welcome Ven. Tenzin Tsepal of Sravasti Abbey, who will share insights and transformative tools from Lama Zopa Rinpoche's, Transforming Problems Into Happiness. This small book contains volumes of practical advice for training the mind to see problems as beneficial conditions supportive of, and even necessary for, our happiness. While mind-training texts like this are not intended to eliminate the difficulties we inevitably encounter, they teach us how not to be disturbed by them, and instead how to accept and transform such harms to make swift progress along the path to full awakening.    Ven. Tsepal taught…

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Vajrapani Institute is affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition www.FPMT.org

19950 Kings Creek Rd Boulder Creek, CA 95006

(800) 531-4001 | office@vajrapani.org

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