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Long lines of dinning monks during lunch time have become photogenic opportunities for tourists (below).
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About half a million of monks regularly reside
in the tens of thousands of monasteries scattered across the country.
The cause of such phenomenon is two-folded. Being a social norm in this
most devoted Buddhist country, all Myanmar males are expected to spend
some monkshood during their adolescence and adulthood, as an accruement
of merit. Those who chose to ordain for life pride themselves as devotees
of Buddha, living in a serene and secluded life distant from the secular
world, and earning prestige from the local community. On the other hand,
hardship and poverty have given some no choice but taking shelters from
monasteries and becoming monks. At least, two meals per day should not
be in limbo.
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Contrary to the collective food distribution in
Maha Ganayon Kyaung, a majority of monks in Myanmar receive elms directly
from the community in their monastery precincts. Each morning, scores
of monks carrying their black lacquer bowls walking down the streets,
as portrayed in this sculpture, have been a scene all too common to the
landscape of Myanmar. |
As worshipping in payas, feeding and giving donation
to monks is another process of accruing merit, which supposely leads to
a better future life. A woman knees while a monk accepting her elms. Buddhist
precepts prevent physical contact between a monk and a woman. Thus elms
must be placed within the reach of monks, as oppose to a direct hand-over.
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Monastic life does not necessarily lead to the loss of naivety to the youngster monks. In Maha Ganayon Kyaung, a teenager monk is operating a computer (above), while a group of child monks in Bagan is enjoying a volleyball game (below).
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