Last Saturday, the 3rd of October, we once again experienced the beautiful novice ordination ceremony. Nine men and women were ordained as young monks and nuns. After nine months of training and practicing as aspirants, the had time arrived for their ordination into the Sangha of monks and nuns.
It was the beautiful and solemn moment in which they made their deep aspiration to walk on the monastic path, to understand deeply the way of practice and apply it right in their daily lives.
Altar before the ceremony. 
Just before the ordination ceremony. Sitting with the community and preparing to receive ordination. 
Just before the ordination ceremony. Sitting with the community and preparing to receive ordination. 
Br Nguyen Tinh and Sr. Chan Duc offering incense 
The whole community supporting as the incense is offered and chanting together. 
The community chanting the opening verse and Heart Sutra to begin the ceremony. 
The aspirants coming up before the Sangha to be ordained. 
Taking the water of compassion from the altar to be blessed by the elders. 
Blessing the water 
Blessing the water 
Offering the water of compassion to the aspirants. 
Offering the water of compassion to the aspirants. 
Offering the water of compassion to the aspirants. 
Offering the water of compassion to the aspirants. 
Offering the water of compassion to the aspirants. 
Cutting a symbolic portion of hair. 
Cutting a symbolic portion of hair. 
Cutting a symbolic portion of hair. 
Cutting a symbolic portion of hair. 
Cutting a symbolic portion of hair. 
Cutting a symbolic portion of hair. 
Cutting a symbolic portion of hair. 
The Sangahti robes that they will receive waiting on the altar. 
Our elder brothers and sisters taking the Sanghati robes from the altar to offer to the newly ordained monks and nuns. 
Receiving the Sanghati 
Receiving the Sanghati 
The new novices touching the earth to be in touch with their gratitude to be able to walk the path of a monk or nun. 
Our new brothers and sister with their certificate of ordination and their Sanghati. 
Hugging meditation after the ceremony has finished. 
Shaving their heads completely, after the formal ceremony has been completed all the newly ordained move down to the other end of the meditation hall to have their head shaved by the brothers and sisters, while the rest of the Sangha stands around them and chants. 
After having had their heads shaven, they walk to the altar to each offer incense. 
After having had their heads shaven, they walk to the altar to each offer incense. 
After having had their heads shaven, they walk to the altar to each offer incense. 
After having had their heads shaven, they walk to the altar to each offer incense. 
After having had their heads shaven, they walk to the altar to each offer incense. 
After having had their heads shaven, they walk to the altar to each offer incense. 
After having had their heads shaven, they walk to the altar to each offer incense. 
After having had their heads shaven, they walk to the altar to each offer incense. 
Our newly ordained novices with our elders and their mentors. Spending a few moments together in Thays (Thich Nhat Hanh) hut to drink tea just after the ordination.
See more photos of Plum Village here.
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