Photos from the Monastic Life Program in three monasteries in China, July 2015

This July, I had the chance to be part of the Woodenfish program: Together with 59 other students from over 20 different nations, plus wonderful staff, I stayed in China for a month. We were hosted by three different monasteries, one of them on one of China’s sacred mountains. We lived the life of monastics, which meant getting up at 5am, Tai Ji and meditation before breakfast, classes, silent mealtimes, hand-washing white uniforms, more meditation, little access to internet, cultural classes, chanting, praying, prostrating, talking, thinking and trying not to think too much, reflecting, wondering, doubting, rediscovering, stretching and more stretching, aching, realising that the only permanent thing is impermanence, weeding, cleaning, and fortunately, also some sleeping. Below some impressions of a time that was too intense just to be summed up in a blog entry, transformational, inspiring. For my fellow students: I am happy to share the pictures, but would just be glad if you would mention my name if you want to reuse them in your blogs, profiles, reports, etc. Thanks! 🙂