On 9 November in the Still Water Meditation Hall of the Dharma Cloud Temple (Plum Village, France), a group of eight young people shed their hair to become novice monks and nuns, as witnessed by their families, friends, and the entire Plum Village community. Coming from many different countries (Australia, Sweden, France, Taiwan, China, and Germany), they have committed themselves to embark on this path of healing, transformation and service in order to fulfill their deepest aspirations.
Shedding my hair completely,
I make the great vow today
To transform all my afflictions,
and bring happiness to all beings.
Their Dharma names, in the order of ordination are:
- Brother Chân Nhất Hữu 一 友 Brother True Friend of Oneness
- Brother Chân Nhất Hợp 一 合 Brother True Unity of Oneness
- Sister Chân Gia Hạnh 加行 Sister True Action of Empowerment
- Brother Chân Nhất Hộ 一 護 Brother True Protection of Oneness
- Brother Chân Nhất Trúc 一 竹 Brother True Bamboo of Oneness
- Brother Chân Nhất Tĩnh 一 靜 Brother True Stillness of Oneness
- Brother Chân Nhất Liệu 一 療 Brother True Healing of Oneness
- Brother Chân Nhất Diệu 一 妙 Brother True Wonder of Oneness
How wondrous is the robe of freedom!
It is the field of all good seeds.
I bow my head to receive it today
and to express my profound gratitude.
We invite you to enjoy these special moments from the novice ordination day.
Sharing from the heart (Novice Monks and Nuns)
The whole day was amazing. So much joy and happiness. So much gratitude for the whole journey that leads me to be here and all the conditions. I am very grateful for the sangha to welcome me and for my ordination family.
Sister Chân Gia Hạnh (True Action of Empowerment)
What struck me the most was the togetherness of the ceremony. I really felt that I’m in the center of a community and I feel so fortunate that I found the sangha jewel. I felt that the whole sangha – monastic and lay – was so happy to see us shave our hair. I cannot describe it. It is like nothing that I have ever experienced before. I really feel very, very connected and lifted by everyone’s happiness.
Brother Chân Nhất Tĩnh (True Stillness of Oneness)
Yesterday I was talking to a lay friend about how I relate to receiving a new name: that people, knowing me for some time and seeing my aspiration, actually thought about what they would like to nourish in me and what aspiration that they would like to give to me. I feel very, very grateful for the name I have received and for the people who put in the time to think about that and to see me. It’s very wonderful and it’s a wonderful name as well.
Brother Chân Nhất Diệu (True Wonder of Oneness)
Sharing from the heart (family members)
It has been a journey not only for Nick, but also for his family, and particularly for his parents. And for his parents, I think it has been a real practical lesson in a fundamental core concept of Buddhism: and that is letting go. Because I was reflecting this morning on how as parents, we have all sorts of hopes and wishes and expectations for our children, which perhaps over time we come to realize are not necessarily their hopes and expectations. And the journey that Nick has been on and that we have been on has brought us to this point today. The wonderful ceremony that we had this morning made me realize that ultimately what you want for your children, despite your own hopes and wishes and expectations, is happiness and fulfillment. And looking at Nick and being part of the ceremony that took place this morning, those two words just came back to me when I looked at Nick. That’s what I felt and realized: happiness and fulfillment. And I guess it’s summed up in other words in the Plum Village song that keeps on coming back to me in relation to Nick. This morning I felt truly that “he had arrived, he was home.”
Father of Brother Chân Nhất Hữu – Brother True Friend of Oneness
We’re quite amazed by your path. We’re very proud to be here and to be able to stay with you. It was very beautiful and moving and there was a lot of love in this hall and we could feel it. We feel that this decision to become a monk is an enrichment for all of our lives and we are very grateful for that. May your heart always be filled with love and your path be blessed.
Aunt of Brother Chân Nhất Hộ – Brother True Protection of Oneness
I feel very privileged to be here today. When Axel was first here, it was in spring last year, he sent me a text, and he said: “Mum, I’m home.” So I knew that this is his place. And from the very start, when Axel was so old that he could actually understand the meaning, I asked him: “what would you like when you get older?” And he said: “I want to help people.” So I think that’s why this is the best place for him.
Mother of Brother Chân Nhất Liệu – Brother True Healing of Oneness
Learn more
- Introduction to basic monastic training – “Stepping into Freedom“
- Becoming a monastic
Share with us your wishes for the new novices