“The Path of Understanding and Love” Pre-Aspirant Program for women Rains Retreat 2026
- Feb 28
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 4
Annoucement for
“The Path of Understanding and Love”
Pre-Aspirant Program for women
Rains Retreat 2026
Dear friends,
“The Path of Understanding and Love” is a Pre-Aspirant program for women aged 18 to 40 who are interested in practicing within the monastic community of the Plum Village tradition. It will take place during the 2026 Rains Retreat at Thai Plum Village International Practice Center.
You are invited to live with the monastic community for three months, deepening your practice to transform, heal, and navigate your difficulties while cultivating happiness. You will learn the four aspects of practice: studying, playing, practicing, and working. You willhave the opportunity to attend all scheduled activities and learn the basic practices. Living in a large community, you will build bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood. Throughout the program, you will be guided by a Mentor - a Dharma teacher - to gain insight into early monastic life, a noble, happy, and simple way of living.
This Pre-Aspirant program is for those interested in walking the monastic path with understanding and love, enriching their spiritual life, strengthening their mind of love, growing, and cultivating stability.
Sample of the Daily Activities
Time Activity
4:00 : Wake up
4:45 : Sitting meditation and chanting
6:00 : Walking meditation
7:00 : Breakfast
8:30-10:30 : Classes (Subject to change according to the Sangha schedule)
11:30 : Lunch
13:00 : Rest
15:00-16:30 : Working meditation such as weeding, gardening, cleaning toilets and living quarters etc.
17:30 : Dinner
19:30 : Sitting meditation and chanting
21:00 : Noble silence
Every Thursday will be a Day of Mindfulness for monastic. Every Sunday will be a Day of Mindfulness for the fourfold community.
Basic Requirements
• Female age 18 – 40 years old with Thai or other nationalities
• Practice with Plum Village tradition regularly
• Able to communicate in English
• Able to join the whole program for three months
• Interest and wish to walk the monastic path
• Your relationships with those who are close to you, already settled. And your decisionis in harmony with them. So that they will not become an obstacle to your training
• No incurable disease or serious medical condition: your mental stability and physicalhealth should be sound enough not to be an obstruction for your training. A medical and blood check will be required for you to enter the program.
• Committed to study, practice, and serve: our training is to flow as a river in the sangha. You commit to learn how to practice and follow the guidance of the community, including attending all activities
• Able to share the bedroom and living space with other people
• As part of your training, you will be asked to release items that do not support your training, such as mobile phone, iPad, and laptops
The Required Documents
All applicants are invited to send the documents below to e-mail noviceretreat@pvthailand.org
• Application Form with current photo
• Family background (included in the Application Form)
• Aspiration Letter (included in the Application Form)
• Background with Plum Village tradition
• Medical Health Check with physical examination, blood test, chest X-ray, urinalysis including HIV, Hepatitis B, C and TB with doctor approval letter in English within three months, before registration close
• Letter of recommendation from local sangha. Please send directly to e-mail above
Financial Support
The Monastery is a non-profit practice center. Therefore, all activities are donation-basedonly. We look forward to receive your support of 650 USD for the daily expenses during yourstay in the Monastery like food, electricity, water, etc. (Excluded medical expense, visa fee and air ticket)
Note: The participant who have financial difficulty to join the program and need the financialsupport.
Please write to us, noviceretreat@pvthailand.org with the following points:
• Subject: Scholarship application for “Pre-Aspirant Program Rains Retreat 2026”
• Reasons to apply for scholarship
• Indicate the scholarship amount you request
Please attach this scholarship application with the Application form of the program, and wait for the organizing team’s reply.
Schedule
Date Event
10th June : Registration closed
8th-10th May : On-site interview for Thai applicants
May - June : Interview via Zoom on appointment when the document ready
June : Result Announcement
26th July : Arriving at the monastery
27th July : Counting Stick Ceremony
28th July : Rains Retreat Ceremony
23th October : Returning home for non-Thai participants
24th October : The End of Rains Retreat Ceremony and returning home for Thai participants
Please send the application, any inquiry, or further information at
The registration will be closed on June 10, 2026
A lotus for you, a Buddha to be
Organizing Team
Thai Plum Village International Practice Center
