Testimonials
Monk Life Project (MLP)
Real Lives. Real Transformation
The Monk Life Project has welcomed participants from diverse backgrounds—executives, creatives, parents, athletes, therapists, and truth seekers—each arriving with different stories, yet sharing a common intention: to understand themselves more deeply.
What follows are not dramatic claims or promises of instant enlightenment.
They are honest reflections from people who stepped into monk life—and returned changed in quiet, lasting ways.
Global Community
Countries Represented
Participants have joined the Monk Life Project from over 49 countries worldwide, forming a diverse and supportive international community.
This global mix enriches the experience, reminding participants that:
• Inner struggles are universal
• Wisdom transcends culture and background
• Silence and awareness are shared human experiences
Stories
MARK VAN OGTROP
59 years, Director, Beacon Sky Hospitality
The Netherlands
My dearest children,
I promised that I would share a little bit of my journey of the past month, which was indeed a life-changing experience. I am very grateful to be invited to join this programme. I now realise that I should have done this much earlier in my life, as it was so impactful, but as the saying goes: it’s never too late. Allow me to explain then the two journeys: the physical and materialistic one and the mental/spiritual one.
ANTHONY JUDE TAN
58 years, Chief Advisor, iRetreat and founder & managing director at AJT Wellity Asia
Singapore
Before my 9 years as an entrepreneur, I was the CEO of Thailand’s Top Hospital for Preventive Medical Wellness and numerous other senior positions in the Hospitality & Healthcare industries respectively. My life thus far has been a rollercoaster ride, having gone through 3 broken marriages, with the latest divorce 10 years ago leaving a deep scar on my children. Those were years when I prioritized work and social life, always leaving my family at the bottom of my list.
CHRISTOPHER SMITH BURANANONT
40 years, Founder & Owner of Gym Bangarang (Muay Thai Boxing Camp – Chiangmai)
United States of America
It’s been 18 years since we last met on the sands in the Middle East. Some of us never returned home and many of us came home broken and shattered much like me. Most of us don’t like to be reminded of our past and even today we cannot escape our fears. The brothers, widows, and children we left behind are always a constant reminder of why we keep pushing forward, to what end, and to what purpose.
CAMERON YARKER
Australia
Monk Life #20
“MonkLife gave me the tools to truly observe my mind instead of being controlled by it. The 30 days in the forest created the perfect environment to clear mental chatter through meditation, Buddhist teachings, and deep inner work. It was a masterclass in learning how to live life with more peace, awareness, and freedom.”
