A quiet dawn in a mountain temple marks the start of a newcomer’s journey. First, an aspirant presents letters of recommendation from a sponsoring master or local temple. A background check unfolds more like an old–fashioned handshake deal than a bureaucratic formality, ensuring sincere intent. After a period of guest stay—sampling daily life, chores, simple meals—the community votes on acceptance.

Once approved, the formal ordination ceremony begins with three bows to Heaven, Earth and the Tao, then three to one’s master, and three to fellow disciples. Taking the Three Refuges and Five Precepts anchors the novice in ethical restraint: no taking life, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no false speech, no intoxicants. A ritual bath cleanses both body and spirit, followed by donning the grey robe—an emblem of equality and humility.

Early training resembles a boot camp for body and mind but flows with Taoist elegance. Dawn brings silent meditation facing the rising sun, then recitations of the Tao Te Ching and the Nei Jing (Inner Classic), verse by verse. Work periods involve sweeping courtyards, tending vegetable plots or preparing alms bowls—chores that ground lofty ideals in everyday action. Midday meals follow strict “three–five” vegetarian guidelines, while evenings might focus on qigong sets or basic Neidan exercises, each movement echoing a cosmic rhythm.

Scripture study revolves around the 160–question catechism, a living quiz that sharpens doctrinal understanding through dialogue with senior monks. It feels a bit like joining a book club—only this one explores inner alchemy rather than the latest bestseller. As modern life seeps into even the most remote monasteries, novices often learn to host online chanting sessions or virtual tours, responding to a surge of global interest in mindful living apps.

This probationary phase usually spans one lunar year, a stretch that tests perseverance more than speed. By its end, a young monk or nun has woven the basics of ritual, meditation and manual labor into daily rhythm—proof that true transformation is a marathon, not a sprint.