Monastic Life

In this heartfelt and intimate sharing, Brother Dinh Tuc reflects on his journey of ancestral healing, and on how taking refuge in the Sangha have supported and held him and his family throughout the five-year monastic training programme he completed this year.

We are delighted to offer this conversation with Sister Giac Nghiem, originally conducted in French by Sister Tai Nghiem, offering a glimpse into her journey of faith, transformation, and deep joy in service.

To honor Earth Day, we are delighted to share an article by Brother Troi Duc Niem, in which he reflects on his monastic journey and on the important role of Plum Village in supporting the climate movement.

In this article, we share some reflections by Brother Dinh Thanh about a recent pilgrimage in the footsteps of our beloved teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, in Vietnam.

In this reflection Sister Chan Trang Lam Hy shares about her practice of running in all kinds of weather as a new Dharma door.

Sister Boi Nghiem, known as True Pearl, was ordained in 2005. This article features an excerpt from a heartfelt interview for the Plum Village Newsletter in which she explores siblinghood and the art of building true community, drawing from her experience on the monastic path.

Sister Chân Đào Nghiêm reflects on her practice with a treasured friend that helps her on the path of healing, transformation and joy in the present moment.

In this article Sr. Chan Lac Hanh shares about the journey of reuniting with her beloved omma (birthmother), knowing the right thing to do and how becoming a monastic has opened up a clear path ahead, filled with compassion.

The editorial team had a chance to interview the Daffodil family after their ordination to learn about their journeys, transformations, challenges, and aspirations.

We are happy to announce that 19 novice monks and 38 novice nuns received the Revised Pratimoksha to become fully ordained bhikshus and bhikshunis at the "Trừng Quang" Great Precepts Transmission Ceremony in Thai Plum Village from 10-14 February.

In reflecting on her journey since ordaining as a Buddhist nun, Sister Tri Nghiem highlights the importance of a sense of family and belonging.

We interviewed Plum Village nuns and monks who have just received their full Bhikshuni/Bhikshu ordination in the recent transmission ceremony.

Plum Village is in the middle of celebrating Tet at this moment, in this two-part series, we explain some of the ways that we celebrate Tết or Lunar New Year in Plum Village. We see this occasion as a chance to deeply recognise our beloved one's presence.

Soon after their ordination ceremony, the Plum Village website team interviewed our new "baby" brothers and sisters of the Chestnut Ordination Family.

As we welcome the new novices of the Chestnut family into the Plum Village monastic sangha, elder brother, Brother Ngo Khong (Brother Freedom), abbot of Deer Park Monastery, recounts how he found his way to becoming a monk in the Plum Village tradition nearly ten years ago.