COUNCIL FORMATION
Council members are Appamada practitioners who are invited to join a Council by the teachers. Councils provide deeper training in our practice and tradition, peer support to deepen practice, and opportunities to learn and grow together. Council members also help shape programming at Appamada, help care for the sangha, and manage intensives and other offerings.
Councils are formed whenever there are at least five sangha members who meet certain criteria. He or she:
has established a consistent daily sitting practice
has accurately and completely learned all key roles (monitor, timekeeper, jisha, chiden)
is actively and regularly working with a teacher
is a consistent participant in regular Appamada activities
has completed the Precepts Program or individual precept study with a teacher and taken the Precepts Ceremony
has participated in at least 4 intensives
has moved beyond solely self-centered practice toward support and care for the community
has requested or is interested in further training at Appamada
is psychologically and emotionally stable and mature
is agreed upon by previous Councils and approved by former head students and teachers.
is able to commit to a one-hour weekly meeting, with occasional unavoidable misses.
Note: We endeavor to balance as much as possible, men and women on any Council. We will endeavor to support diversity and equity on councils while meeting these criteria.
If you have any questions about Councils, please ask one of the teachers or a Council member.