2008 Novice Monk Candidates

[Jim Eubanks (Shi Yong Xiang)]

Dear Members and Friends of the Center for Pragmatic Buddhism:

As the Monastic Director of the Order of Pragmatic Buddhists (OPB), I
am pleased to announce OPB's 2008 Novice monk candidates: Paul Trotti
(Li Su), William Perkins (Li Rui), John Winter (Li Que), and Wayne
Hughes (Ren Cheng). They will join Margo DuVal (MaayaapraaNaashaka),
Allison Ramsaroop (Jiao Si), and Angela McCurry (Jiao Wei) as Novice
monks on Saturday, May 3. The public ordinations will be held at
Furman University in Greenville, SC.

The Novice monk ordination is extended to Formal Students of OPB who
have consistently demonstrated excellence in their study and practice
of Pragmatic Buddhism. Each candidate has completed a minimum of six
months of formal training as a lay member of OPB, which includes
weekly communication with the Monastic Director, a minimum of four
days of formal meditation practice per week, and weekly study of
Buddhist practice and thought. Skills gained during the Formal Study
interim include meditative aptitude and training in OPB's eight core
meditation techniques, development of proper meditative posture, a
basic understanding of early Buddhism and Buddhist ethics, and an
appreciation of socially engaged Buddhism.

Please join me in congratulating the 2008 Novice monk candidates for
their dedication to OPB's approach to the monastic path!

With palms together,

Jim Eubanks (Shi Yong Xiang)
Monastic Director, Order of Pragmatic Buddhists