We warmly welcome you to be present to support and serve the sangha during this very special week of ceremonies and ordinations.
The Great Ordination Ceremonies are a significant spiritual occasion where novices receive full ordination as Bhikshus (monks) and Bhikshunis (nuns), taking on the precepts that guide their lives as fully ordained monastics. These ceremonies occur only once every few years and will be presided over by respected and beloved Venerable Monks and Nuns from the U.S. and Vietnam. In Plum Village, this week will also include the transmission of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing, and transmissions of the Dharma Lamp.
Special Program
The ceremonies will take place every morning and afternoon throughout the week, and will include chanting and touching the earth (prostrations). The Lamp Transmission ceremonies will include the exchange of insight poems. The ceremonies will be in Vietnamese, English and French.
This week is considered a “great field of merit,” offering immense spiritual growth and celebration for the fourfold Sangha (monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen). We co-create the ceremonies with our energy of mindfulness, togetherness, and loving work.
Helping Hands
We warmly welcome lay practitioners to offer your presence, energy, and support. Your loving contributions will help make this special week a success. Your mindful, joyful help will be especially needed with tasks such as:
- Joyfully washing the pots, sanitizing, and keeping the dining areas clean
- Peacefully setting up the meditation hall for the different ceremonies
- Mindfully cleaning the toilets
Please Note: This is not a standard retreat week. While the ceremonies include moments of silent sitting and a profound collective energy, there will not be the usual schedule of daily sitting meditation, walking meditation, Dharma talks, silent meals, or noble silence. This is a “Dharma festival” and we welcome all hands on-deck to help with the smooth running of the ceremonies.
Join us in this sacred and transformative event, a unique opportunity to deepen your connection to the Plum Village tradition and witness the flourishing of the Dharma.
Please note: Only Lower Hamlet will be open to the public. This means it will not be possible to join as a single male as Upper Hamlet will be closed to the public (however if you are a single male and receiving the transmission in one of these ceremonies, please contact the Upper Hamlet office directly).