A Morning of Camaraderie: Novice Monks at Chorten Ningpo Monastery

Early morning at Chorten Ningpo Monastery in Punakha, Bhutan, was a truly memorable experience. I had the privilege of joining the novice monks for their morning prayers and was then invited to join them for breakfast. After the meal, I followed the monks outside as they cleaned their plates under a gushing stream of water. As they scrubbed their dishes, they chatted and laughed together, their strong sense of camaraderie evident. I was struck by how this sense of community seemed to permeate every aspect of their daily lives - Chorten Ningpo Monastery, Punakha, Bhutan