Working hard today, life is good – just popping in to post this.
“nothing even matters
except love and human connection
who you loved
and how deeply you loved them
how you touched the people around you
and how much you gave them”.
~~ Rupi Kaur, Milk and Honey
It’s a very ambiguous picture for me. I don’t know what’s happening here or what’s likely to happen next. It was tagged “monks praying prayer bangkok asia believe buddha” but who is she and is some ritual about to happen, are they unhappy with her, this lovely kneeling girl? What is she thinking or feeling, alone on her knees in front of these seven barefoot monks in robes? What are they holding? Jars, I think, but empty or full? And what is that in front of her? I don’t know…
It may just be my own cultural ignorance. Does anyone else know? What do you think?
{Check the comments for some actual information about the picture and the ritual involved. Thanks to Nate and Fondles!}
Olivia 
Love the quote Olivia. Interesting pic, I have no idea but it looks like some ritual?d
Hugs
Roz
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So glad you liked it! And yeah, it does have a ritual feel, doesn’t it? Thanks for weighing in! 💜
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This website explains the practice depicted in the photo: https://www.chasingtravel.com/giving-alms-to-monks-thailand/
Nate
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Omg, Nate, thank you soooo much!! Do you mind if I go back and edit my post so it links to your website in the morning? I guess you already know i found the photo from Pixaby and didn’t link to it because – well, because this is an “adult” site and people can be weird about that. But I loved this picture so much. Thank you again for explaining it!!! 💜
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It’s your blog – edit away! Happy to help out!
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Though the link is not mine, just a good site I found that explained the practice succinctly.
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And thanks for clarifying that (for me.) I don’t know why I jumped to the conclusion that it was your blog! But still lots of thanks for linking to it! 💜
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Just to add to the alms-giving ritual – traditionally women remain kneeling when giving offerings of food to the monks as 1) they are required to keep their heads lower that that of the monks, and 2) to maintain a respectful distance as it is considered offensive for a female to touch a monk (something to do with maintaining the purity of the celibate monks). When the women are kneeling during the offering it is a reassurance that they will not move forward to accidentally touch the monks. Hope that helps.
Men may stand while placing their food offerings into the begging bowls.
Also, in some countries, the monks wear hats that obscure, somewhat, their faces and vision, so that there is no “giver” or “receiver”, only the act of giving and receiving.
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Thank you, Fondles!! I was hoping that you had insight to share. That gives me even more perspective. Very interesting. I think somehow the photo conveys all of that too, you know? 💜
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it definitely does!
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