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Dhammavavro separates madrone bark from the initial, weak dye solution before moving it to the reduction bath.
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Dhammavavro stirs madrone bark in the steeping pot as Ajahn Ñaniko looks on.
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Dhammavaro wears heavy gloves to manipulate cloth soaking in the boiling reduction bath, which helps to saturate the garment with dye. Beginning with two 40-gallon barrels of madrone bark, the resulting dye would fill only a single, 10-gallon pot.
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Dhammavavro pulls his jiworn from the final dye solution, where it soaked for two hours. The number and duration of baths determine color density and uniformity in a robe - often cloth must be saturated in dye many times for a rich and even color.
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Dye drips from Dhammavavro's arm as he hangs his jiworn from a clothesline outside the monks' utility building.
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In a process developed at the time of the Buddha, a robe will be flipped in three steps so the natural dye settles evenly on the cloth. This rotation also prevents "racing stripes" as dye drips down the sides.
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The robe is refolded over the clothesline in the second stage of flipping to avoid drip marks and ensure even color saturation.
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In the third stage of flipping, the dye is massaged into the cloth with the hands so that it remains in the center of the robe.
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Dressed in his triple robe set, Dhammavaro, center, receives his monk ordination from Luang Por Pasanno in the presence of the Abhayagiri monastic community on May 17, 2020.
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With his head freshly-shaved and robes newly-dyed, Dhammavaro prepares to approach his Preceptor with his requisites and an offering of gifts while his parents Don and Terri look on.
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Newly-ordained monk Tan Dhammavaro bows to Luang Por Pasanno, his Preceptor.
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Ven. Dhammavaro poses with his triple robe set - the sabong at his waist, the jiworn across his upper body, the sanghati over his left shoulder. Multiple dyeings yielded a rich brown color distinct to madrone trees and thus unique among Buddhist monks.
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