Dear Julie,
I checked and it’s best for you to be in retreat or doing serious practice, like the Manis. Doing work like you are doing now and focusing on a career doesn't come out well. Later, not now, it’s good to think about being a nun. This comes out very good, I am saying it as a possibility.

There will be a 100 million mani retreat from time to time. If you can join the retreat, that would be very good, if you can manage it.

The most important thing is to have a good heart and live with bodhicitta regardless of what you do. Whatever you do, do it for others and always have a good heart. Always keep your mind close to bodhicitta. Keep your mind motivated in bodhicitta, so you are living your life with bodhicitta. This way your actions are the best Dharma. This is what makes your life meaningful and future lives always happy.

Read the Essence of Refined Gold a few times every day, then meditate. Also, at the same time you can read the bigger lam-rim texts like Middle Lamrim, Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand and Lamrim Chenmo.

As a way to organize your lamrim meditation you can do this:

• Seven months on guru devotion
• Two months on the lower path
• Eight months on the middle path
• Two months on bodhicitta
• Four months on emptiness

First begin with effortful experience, from perfect human rebirth through the entire lam-rim, so before you die there is a chance you will have some realizations and if not, a strong imprint for the next life. Thank you very much.

With much love and prayer ...