This manual was written to provide guidelines for sangha members who offer instruction to new members of the community, in order that all of the necessary information will be shared with them. It is not expected that an instructor will read this verbatim, but that, by hitting all of the topics contained in it, he or she will not forget to mention anything that students need to know. After the training class, the instructor may wish to give a copy of this manual to all of the students, so they can refer to it to refresh their memories on anything they've forgotten.
One note for instructors: You are providing a great service to our community by giving your time to teach and welcome new members. Your goal is to help people join our practice by telling them what they need to know as simply and clearly as possible, so please feel comfortable with your own practice and speak honestly and directly from your own experience. If someone asks a question and you don't know the answer, please say "I don't know" or "I don't know, but this is what I've read...".