Invitation to K.I.B.I.’s Public Meditation Course 2016

Dear Dharma friends, 

You are kindly invited to attend the annual Public Meditation Course (PMC16) at KIBI, to be held from December 24^th, 2016 to January 2^nd, 2017. The course will begin with an introduction to the program and Sojong practicein the afternoon and a celebration dinner on the evening of the 24^th.It will conclude with an aspiration prayer on the morning of January 2^nd. If you are doing the Sojong practice for the first time, please make sure to attend the afternoon session on the 24^th. 

PMC16 – Teachers and Teachings

We are happy to announce that HH Karmapa will once again bless us with his presence, and teach and guide meditation practices throughout the course. 

This year, Lama Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpochewill continue with the teachings and practices on Ngöndro. The focus will beon mandala offering, the 3^rdNgöndro practice. Every morning there will be an opportunity to take the Sojong vows, for those who wish to.

Once again, Ven. Dupon Nyigyam from Sharminub Retreat Centre in Kathmandu will teach on Shine (Shamatha). He is a highly qualified master in Mahamudra practice and the retreat master at the Karma Kagyu retreat centre in Pharping. His teachings will be translated into English.

The schedule will be uploaded onto the KIBI website closer to the commencement of the course. 

Registering for the PMC16/ KPC17

To register for the program, complete the online registration form and email a copy of your passport to public.courses@kibi-edu.org. (Please email us a copy of your passport even if you already did so when you registered last time). Please also email us a copy of your visa once you have received it. If applying for an online visa, you will get a confirmation email that includes your visa number. Email a PDF version of this email to us before you travel! 

We request that you kindly title the passport and visa files with your first name(s) followed by your family name(s). The names should be the same as in your passport. (e.g. Henry-Peter Di Caprio.jpg or Christina Lee.jpg). 

IMPORTANT: Registration of foreigners visiting India is mandatory. The government is now very strict about this. We must therefore register you on the first day of the course. Regrettably, if you do not send us a copy of your passport and visa in advance, we will not be able to accept you into the program! 

Unfortunately, we do not have enough beds to accommodate everyone at KIBI during the course, and therefore request that you reserve a bed only if you are certain you will attend. In the event that you have reserved a bed and your plans change, please do let us know immediately so that we can offer it to someone else. Thank you for your understanding and consideration of others. 

The common rooms (CR) accommodate 5 people on singles beds/mattresses. The common rooms with bunk beds (CR-bunk-beds) accommodate 8 people. The dormitory rooms (DR) accommodate 10-14 people on mattresses. 

Once finalized, we will email a list of hotels, B&B’s, and hostels close to KIBI that we recommend. 

The link for the online registration form will also be posted on KIBI’s Facebook page and the KIBI website. Registration opens on September 25^thand beds will be allocated according to the order in which registration forms are received. 

Registration for the Karmapa Public Course in March 2017 will open in January, and will likely follow the same procedure. The KPC17 will start on Sunday March 12^th and end on Friday March 17^th. 

Paying for the PMC16

You are required to pay for the course (including food and accommodation) at the KIBI office upon arrival. You will then receive a wristband that will grant you entry to the teachings, practice sessions, and dining hall. The KIBI office can be found on the first floor.If you arrive after the 24^th, please go to the office first.

Staying at KIBI before and after the PMC16

If you would like to stay at KIBI before traveling to Bodhgaya for the Kagyu Mönlam (or elsewhere), please email your request tothe Information Centre, outlining the days you want to stay: kibihostel@gmail.com. 

After the Mönlam, KIBI will be fully booked with PMC16 participants. So if you are not attending the PMC16, we will not be able to accommodate you. If you would like to stay additional days after the course, again, please email the Information Centre with your request. On the online registration form, please enter the entire length of your stay from when you will first arrive at KIBI and when you will last depart. In the “travel details” section, please note for example, if you plan to stay at KIBI before going to the Mönlam and are then returning for the course, please note which specific days you will be staying at KIBI.

For your information, the Kagyu Mönlam will take place from the 15^th to the 21^st of December. 

We encourage you to visit our website regularly for updates. We recommend you to register for the newsletter to receive information concerning KIBI and public courses. 

This is the link for your registration >>

We look forward to welcoming you to KIBI soon!