Bodhi Training Brazil
Jeanne Pilli shares her experience with facilitating the Brazilian Bodhi Training group
I’d love to share the experience we’ve had over the last three years, participating in and coordinating the involvement of many Brazilians in Bodhi Training.
Today, many things we experience feel normal—like receiving precious, authentic teachings from thousands of miles away in real time, right in the comfort of our homes. But when you think about it, it’s truly extraordinary.
At the beginning of 2022, when the first edition of Bodhi Training International was announced, I reached out to Victor Roithmann and Paula Rozin, coordinators of the Dharma Sun community in Brazil, to ask if they would help translate and spread the word. They enthusiastically agreed! My very first contact with Gomde was to request permission to translate the Bodhi Training for Brazilians. They immediately and joyfully opened the doors for us
With this wonderful news, we shared the opportunity with our Dharma friends, and almost 150 people joined us. Thanks to the immense kindness of our dear teacher, Erik, and an incredible network of supportive people and favorable conditions, we became part of the Gomde Denmark Sangha—across the Atlantic. This was how Bodhi Training Brazil was born!
Throughout the two years of this first edition, it often felt like we were sitting at Erik’s feet—and, through him, at the feet of all his teachers. Erik always kept us in his thoughts and heart, gazing at us through the screen. Extraordinary! The Gomde volunteers made everything seem effortless. Truly extraordinary!
Having been in close contact with nearly all the participants, I was privileged to witness their deep appreciation for Erik’s teachings—the gentle sigh, the four flowers, the mantra “what?”, and so many other piercing, kind, and soft words that resonated deeply.
In the next edition, through our new platform, Bodhi Activity, an additional 160 Brazilians joined—50 of whom were enthusiastic repeat participants! The dynamic of this group has been remarkable. We meet monthly online for group reflections, and many have volunteered to transcribe teachings. Some even gather in person for mini-retreats to watch the teachings together. Every day, our WhatsApp group is graced with “Erik’s little reminders,” shared by our friend Carol Steffen. And this year, it seems there will be a joyful “invasion” of Brazilians heading to Gomde Denmark’s pure lands for the final retreat in June. Extraordinary!
Bowing with all my love and gratitude,
Jeanne
Jeanne Pilli serves as Gomde Denmark’s Brazilian Translator and Program Coordinator. Since beginning to make Bodhi Training accessible in Portuguese, she has extended this effort to include every other retreat and teaching by Erik Pema Kunsang offered online. Alongside other dedicated volunteers, she has created a Portuguese-language Bodhi Training website and made recordings of all teachings available to the Portuguese-speaking community.
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