Thinking of becoming a Buddhist monk or a nun? Wondering how to learn more? Exploring Monastic Life invites you to live, train, meditate, and explore in a Buddhist monastery.

Exploring Monastic Life (EML) is an intensive training program, offered annually, for people thinking about monastic ordination and for newly ordained monastics.

Venerable Thubten Chodron teaches from nearly 50 years of living as a Buddhist nun. You learn how and why the Buddha started the ordained sangha—the community of monks and nuns—and the ethical and behavioral guidelines for monastics.

Abbey monastics join in your daily discussions about family, career, romance, and “stuff,” to explore the issues you need to think about. Admission is by application.