New Visitor Orientation Training

The Buddhist Monastic tradition from Asia has only recently found a footing in Western cultures, and for this reason our structures, protocols, rules, relationships, and ways of doing things can seem strange and perhaps mysterious. We welcome all sincere practitioners interested in training with our community and we want you to feel confident and comfortable with our ways. The New Visitor Orientation Training Course is a 3 1/2-day (3 nights) educational seminar intended to familiarize you with every important aspect of the monastery, our training, and our tradition.

We aim to offer this training once per month, May – December. Generally the course will start on a Friday afternoon and end on the following Monday AM. Please plan to stay for the entire course, arriving before the beginning and departing after the end.

The training runs from 4:30PM on Day 1 through 9:30 AM on Day 4. To sign up for this program please have a look at the scheduled trainings on the Calendar, have a look at the Visiting page, and make a booking.

Curriculum:

Day 1: Arrivals day.
Attendees are required to arrive before 4:30PM.
4:30PM Room assignment, brief house tour, schedule review
5:00PM Tea with the guest monk, Q&A
7:00PM – Standard schedule

Day 2: Tours and workshops day.
5:00 – 8:00AM: Standard monastery schedule including breakfast.
8:00 – 11:00 AM: Teaching sessions with the main steward, guest monk, novices. History, Precepts, monks’ rules, how-to workshops. Walking tour of buildings.
11:15 – 3:00 PM: Main meal, personal time
3:00 – 5:00 PM: Afternoon training session with resident trainer.
5:00 PM: Tea with senior monk(s), Q&A time
6:30PM – Standard schedule

Day 3: Work and integration day.
5:00 – 8:00 AM: Standard monastery schedule including breakfast.
8:00 – 11:00 AM: Teaching sessions with the main steward, office monk, novices. Walking tour of nature areas.
11:15AM – 5:00PM: Main meal, personal time.
5:00PM: Tea with senior monk(s), Q&A time
6:30PM – Standard schedule

Day 4: Graduation & Taking Leave
5:00 – 8:00 AM: Standard monastery schedule including breakfast.
8:00 – 9:00 AM: Open hour, final departure preparations
9:00 – 9:30 AM: ‘Graduation’ ceremony, including taking leave for those departing.