Stepping Into Freedom 2023

Date(s): 29. Jul, 2023 - 29. Oct, 2023 Time: 00:00 - 23:59
Language: English WebCal: webcal

Location:
Plum Village Thailand


Registration Announcement

“Stepping into Freedom”
Novice Nun Three-month Ordination
in Rain Retreat 2023

Dear young friends,

Stepping into Freedom” is a Three-month Ordination Program organized during the rain retreat 2023 for women between 18 – 35 years old at Thai Plum Village international Practice Center.

You are invited to be a novice nun for three months to deepen your practice in order to transform, heal your difficulties and to nourish happiness. You will learn the four aspects of practices, which are studying, playing, practicing and working.

You will have a chance to attend all schedules and learn basic practices. You will learn to live with a big community which is the opportunity to build brotherhood and sisterhood. You will be supervised by Mentor – Dharma teachers in order to understand the young monastic life which is a noble happy and simple life.

It is a novice ordination program for those who wish to walk on the path of understanding and love, to enrich the spiritual life, to strengthen the mind of love and open the door for monastic path.


Sample of the Daily Activities

4:00 Wake up
4:45 Sitting meditation and chanting
6:00 walking meditation
7:00 Breakfast
8:30 Classes*
11:30 Lunch
13:00 Rest
15:00 Working meditation:  Weeding, gardening, cleaning and etc
17:30 Dinner
19:30 Sitting meditation and chanting
21:00 Noble silence

Every Thursday will be a Day of Mindfulness for monastic and every Sunday will be a Day of Mindfulness for the fourfold community.

*Subject to change according to the Sangha schedule


Basic Requirements

  • Female age 18 – 35 years old with Thai nationality or any other Asian nationalities (Except Vietnamese nationality)
  • Practice with Plum Village regularly
  • Be able to communicate in English
  • Be able to join the whole program for three months
  • Willing to shave your head as a monastic
  • Your relationships with those close to you are settled, and your decision is in harmony with them, so that they will not be an obstacle to your training as a monastic.
  • No incurable disease or serious medical condition: Your mental stability and physical health should be sound enough not to be an obstacle or a challenge for your training and for that of the community. A medical and blood check will be required for you to enter the program.
  • Commitment to study, practice, and serve: Our training is to flow as a sangha. You commit to learn how to practice as a community and to follow the guidance of the sangha, including attending all sangha activities.
  • Be able to share bedroom with others and living space with many people.
  • As part of your training you will be asked to release items that do not support your training such as mobile phone and laptops

The Required Documents

All applicants are invited to send all documents below to noviceretreat@pvthailand.org
The registration will close on June 09, 2023

  1. Application Form for Stepping into Freedom with current photo
  2. Family background (included in the Application Form)
  3. Aspiration Letter (included in the Application Form)
  4. Background with Plum Village tradition
  5. Medical Health Check with physical examination, blood test, chest X-ray, urinalysis including HIV, Hepatitis B, C and TB with doctor approval letter in Englis
  6. Letter of recommendation from local sangha. Please send directly to e-mail above

Financial Support

You are invited to support this program 600 USD for your accommodation, food and monastic clothing and general expenses for these 3 months. (Excluded medical expense, visa and traveling cost)


Timeline of the Program

  • 09th June: Registration Closed
  • 16th – 18th June: On-site interview for Thai participants
  • 19th – 21st June: The non-Thai applicants will be interviewed via Zoom by appointment
  • 27th June: Announcement for the result
  • 29th July: Arriving Thailand for the applicants to practice as an aspirant
  • 31st July: Counting Stick Ceremony
  • 1st August: Rain Retreat Ceremony
  • 19th August: Ordination Ceremony
  • 25 October: Ceremony to leave the monastic life and return home for non-Thai applicants
  • 29 October: Ceremony to leave the monastic life and return home for Thai applicants

Download Documents