reviews
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From time to time the college of public preceptors reviews each private and public preceptor who wishes to continue with ordinations.
Reviews take place at 7-year intervals after appointment. For those who did not have an initial consultation process the college reviews them after 5 years, and after that at 7-year intervals
an opportunity
The idea of a review, as with an initial consultation process, is that each of us has the opportunity to review our own practice as a preceptor, to hear from others how they see us in this capacity and to ensure that we are in harmony with other members of the Order, and have their support. It is an ideal opportunity to have a good look at our own spiritual life.
Our experience shows that consultations and reviews can be very beneficial, helping us to reflect more deeply on our practice and on the nature of Kalyanamitrata. We have been carrying out these review for some years now, and in the past few years we have tried to make the procedure more constructive and less time consuming.
requisite
These reviews are requisite to preceptors being able to continue to ordain people, and when the time for a review comes round we ask preceptors not take on any new candidates for ordination until they are able to undertake the review. We understand of course that some preceptors may not want to undergo a review because they do not intend to ordain anyone else, and others may not wish to have a review just yet as they are planning a long retreat, or a prolonged time away. In such cases together we decide how best to proceed.
setting up a review
Once a preceptor has agreed to a review the first thing he or she needs to do is to find a public preceptor or, in consultation with a public preceptor, an experienced private preceptor who is willing to act as ‘correspondent’. This is someone who, along with the preceptor under review, writes to other members of the Order letting them know that the preceptor is being reviewed and asking for comments. This normally means the preceptor personally inviting a small group of order members who know him or her well to make comments, plus a notice in Shabda. The correspondent will discuss the details of the review process with the preceptor, and will decide, in discussion with him or her and other public preceptors, when the review is finished, and communicate that to the order through Shabda.