OUR TRAINING PATHWAYS

The Monk Life Project offers a progressive path of training, allowing participants to begin gently, deepen naturally, and—if called—commit to long-term study and service. All programs are grounded in authentic monastic life at iMONASTERY, Chiang Mai, guided by experienced monks within the Theravāda Buddhist tradition.

You may begin with 30 days.
You may stay longer.
You may commit to a life of learning and service.

The path unfolds according to readiness, not pressure.

ONSITE PROGRAMS

ONLINE PROGRAMS

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A HELPFUL MINDSET TO HAVE

It is important to understand that this is a training program for monkhood, and so although meditation is a cornerstone of Buddhism, this program is stricter and different from a meditation retreat. So, to both support your practice and uphold the image of the Sangha, you must maintain humility, patience, openness to feedback, and a willingness to adjust.

Religious and Cultural Customs

There is a common belief that Buddhism is not a religion. This may be the case for those who apply its concepts in their daily life, but it is not so for a monk. When you become a monk, you are representing Thai Theravada Buddhism. This comes with a set of religious and cultural customs that you are expected to show respect for and abide by. This includes: properly bowing to Buddha images and more senior monks, holding hands in prayer position during blessings, taking off shoes before entering sacred spaces, not pointing your feet towards sacred images or other monks, taking good care of your robes, folding and wearing them in an appropriate manner, not touching the head or shoulders of another monk, are some examples.

The training staff will guide you on how to follow these religious and cultural customs. It is not necessary to identify as a Buddhist to become a monk however, you must abide by these outward gestures of respect. Not doing so may result in you being dismissed from the program.