Latest news with #monks
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Cheap alms bowls imports hit Sri Lanka makers, monks
The alms bowl is a symbol of monks, yet in Sri Lanka artisans are struggling as cheap substitutes flood the market, igniting a debate over Buddhist tradition and quality. The village of Panvila has long been associated with craftsmen who produce the humble "paathra", the special bowl that forms part of the eight essentials donated to monks and which is used to ask for food. Thenuwara Badalge Sarath, 65, says he is the only blacksmith left in a village that once supplied much of the country. "When I learnt the craft from my father, there were more than 10 families in the neighbourhood who made these bowls," Sarath told AFP, while hammering a piece of scrap metal into a holy utensil. "Today, I am the only one keeping up the tradition. My son died recently in a road accident, and there is no one to carry on this line of work after I am gone," said the fourth-generation craftsman. He spends about a week producing a batch of five to six bowls from discarded steel barrels. He sells each for 600 rupees ($2), but competition from cheap imports is tough. "There are aluminium bowls that come from abroad. They are cheaper and lighter -- we can't compete," Sarath said at his village smithy, near the southern tourist resort of Hikkaduwa. - Karma drives demand - The Buddhist-majority nation of some 22 million people has just over 42,000 monks, but the demand for bowls is disproportionately high because of the positive karma attached to offering them to temples. Kirinde Assagi, a leading Buddhist monk, said the alms bowl forms part of the eight items for a monk to lead an ascetic life and spread the teachings of Buddha, along with two robes, a razor, a straining cloth, a needle and thread, and a belt. "The bowl is his livelihood. When a monk goes out begging with his bowl, he gets sustenance", Assagi said. "Because gifting 'ata pirikara' to monks brings enormous good karma, devotees clamour to donate this," said the monk, in reference to the eight-item package. At his Gangaramaya temple in the capital Colombo there were nine such packages donated within an hour one weekend. - 'Mountain' of discarded pots - Assagi says most of the bowls however are of poor quality, made out of aluminium and unfit to serve food in. In a storeroom at the back of his temple, there is a huge pile of bowls that monks say are not suitable even for offering food to household pets. "I will show you a mountain of begging bowls that we have discarded. We make holes at the bottom and repurpose them for potted plants." Monks in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos traditionally seek alms every morning, underscoring their simple life and demonstrating that their livelihood depends on others. But the influx of cheap bowls is impacting the dawn ritual. "We see the practice of monks begging slowly dying off as the quality of the bowls goes down," he said. The Gangaramaya temple in Colombo has campaigned to improve the quality of utensils offered to monks and revive the ritual of seeking alms. Assagi said the Thai royal family has in recent years gifted more than 27,000 high qualitiy stainless steel bowls to Sri Lankan monks, most of whom are followers of the Siam sect of Buddhism practised in that nation. Unlike the financially well-off Gangaramaya, smaller temples are known to sell their excess bowls back to the market in a move that undermines traditional craftsmen such as Sarath. "When the bowls go back to the shop from a temple, we find it difficult to sell our produce," Sarath said. He is trying to convince devotees that there is less merit in offering bowls that are being regifted. aj/rsc/pjm/ecl
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Cheap alms bowls imports hit Sri Lanka makers, monks
The alms bowl is a symbol of monks, yet in Sri Lanka artisans are struggling as cheap substitutes flood the market, igniting a debate over Buddhist tradition and quality. The village of Panvila has long been associated with craftsmen who produce the humble "paathra", the special bowl that forms part of the eight essentials donated to monks and which is used to ask for food. Thenuwara Badalge Sarath, 65, says he is the only blacksmith left in a village that once supplied much of the country. "When I learnt the craft from my father, there were more than 10 families in the neighbourhood who made these bowls," Sarath told AFP, while hammering a piece of scrap metal into a holy utensil. "Today, I am the only one keeping up the tradition. My son died recently in a road accident, and there is no one to carry on this line of work after I am gone," said the fourth-generation craftsman. He spends about a week producing a batch of five to six bowls from discarded steel barrels. He sells each for 600 rupees ($2), but competition from cheap imports is tough. "There are aluminium bowls that come from abroad. They are cheaper and lighter -- we can't compete," Sarath said at his village smithy, near the southern tourist resort of Hikkaduwa. - Karma drives demand - The Buddhist-majority nation of some 22 million people has just over 42,000 monks, but the demand for bowls is disproportionately high because of the positive karma attached to offering them to temples. Kirinde Assagi, a leading Buddhist monk, said the alms bowl forms part of the eight items for a monk to lead an ascetic life and spread the teachings of Buddha, along with two robes, a razor, a straining cloth, a needle and thread, and a belt. "The bowl is his livelihood. When a monk goes out begging with his bowl, he gets sustenance", Assagi said. "Because gifting 'ata pirikara' to monks brings enormous good karma, devotees clamour to donate this," said the monk, in reference to the eight-item package. At his Gangaramaya temple in the capital Colombo there were nine such packages donated within an hour one weekend. - 'Mountain' of discarded pots - Assagi says most of the bowls however are of poor quality, made out of aluminium and unfit to serve food in. In a storeroom at the back of his temple, there is a huge pile of bowls that monks say are not suitable even for offering food to household pets. "I will show you a mountain of begging bowls that we have discarded. We make holes at the bottom and repurpose them for potted plants." Monks in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos traditionally seek alms every morning, underscoring their simple life and demonstrating that their livelihood depends on others. But the influx of cheap bowls is impacting the dawn ritual. "We see the practice of monks begging slowly dying off as the quality of the bowls goes down," he said. The Gangaramaya temple in Colombo has campaigned to improve the quality of utensils offered to monks and revive the ritual of seeking alms. Assagi said the Thai royal family has in recent years gifted more than 27,000 high qualitiy stainless steel bowls to Sri Lankan monks, most of whom are followers of the Siam sect of Buddhism practised in that nation. Unlike the financially well-off Gangaramaya, smaller temples are known to sell their excess bowls back to the market in a move that undermines traditional craftsmen such as Sarath. "When the bowls go back to the shop from a temple, we find it difficult to sell our produce," Sarath said. He is trying to convince devotees that there is less merit in offering bowls that are being regifted. aj/rsc/pjm/ecl
BBC News
13-06-2025
- BBC News
'Good karma': Laos' new monk-led travel experiences
Laos' spiritual heart, Luang Prabang, has seen a surge in tourism. Now, a series of immersive monk-guided experiences are educating visitors about the city's Buddhist heritage. The city of Luang Prabang is Laos' spiritual heartland, renowned for its rich Buddhist heritage, ornate temples and a significant population of saffron-robed monks. In fact, the 50,000-person spiritual hub is said by many to have the highest population of monks per capita anywhere in the world. This was once one of Southeast Asia's more off-the-beaten-track destinations, but the opening of the high-speed Laos-China Railway in 2021 has seen a sharp surge in visitors to the Unesco World Heritage-listed city. In recent years, locals say this tourism boom has heavily affected the city's ancient traditions and caused greater commercialisation of sacrosanct Buddhist rituals such as the morning alms-giving. "Tourism has its pros, but also plenty of cons," says Anat Khamphew, a former monk at Wat Xieng Mouane monastery. "We see people behaving very disrespectfully towards the monks. Historic Buddha statues have been stolen from monasteries, and important symbols of devotion are used as backdrops for an Instagram selfie." In response, Kamphew set up a YouTube channel to show travellers coming to Luang Prabang how to have a more positive impact, encouraging them away from over-touristed hotspots and underlining the importance of the city's Buddhist roots. "I wanted to help play a part in recovering Luang Prabang's spiritual heart and soul," he says. Khamphew isn't alone. A handful of other former monks in the city have also set up tour-guiding companies, like Orange Robe Tours and Spirit of Laos, to help promote a better understanding of Luang Prabang's traditional Buddhist culture and customs. One of Khamphew's former monastery classmates also established the artisan store LaLaLaos to help girls from poor rural areas get a secondary education, and another ex-monk created Kaiphaen, a highly regarded vocational restaurant that trains marginalised youths from local villages. "These businesses not only give you a more authentic and ethical experience, but the chance to give back," Khamphew says. "It's how travel should be: thoughtful and beneficial to all. And that's good karma." World capital of monks Located at the confluence of the Mekong and Khan rivers at the foot of jungle-swathed Mount Phou Si ("Sacred Mountain"), Luang Prabang is the former royal capital of Laos. Established in the 14th Century, it soon became a centre of Buddhist learning and monastic life, a role that continues to this day. Some 33 opulently decorated wats (Buddhist monasteries or temples) are scattered across the city, many dating to between the 16th and 19th Centuries, and the city is home to an estimated 1,000 monks. Centre of spirituality Luang Prabang takes its name from the golden Phra Bang, the country's most sacred Buddha icon, which is housed in the city's National Museum complex in a dedicated temple. "It represents Buddhism coming to Laos and is believed to protect the nation; it's why the city is so venerated," says Khamphew. Visiting wats, performing pujas (devotional acts), offering alms and cultivating merits with good deeds form a key part of daily life among Luang Prabang's largely Buddhist population. The tourism paradox Luang Prabang's profound and omnipresent spirituality, coupled with its eclectic architectural styles – a blend of Laotian, Buddhist and French colonial – have made it increasingly popular with visitors, including Instagrammers and influencers. More like this:• Bhutan's 350-year-old recipe for wellbeing• Canada's tiny town of huge monsters• The rise and fall of Vang Vieng, Laos' notorious party town "The problem is that what was once a spiritual place has now been transformed by the digital world," says Khamphew. "Many people are led by 'Top-10' or 'Most-Instagrammable' lists; they go to the same places, experiencing the exact same things – all through their phones. They end up missing the essence of Luang Prabang and ultimately spoiling what they came to enjoy." Cultural erosion One of the rituals affected by the city's tourism growth is the Tak Bat, a solemn daily ceremony dating back more than 600 years, where hundreds of barefoot monks file through the streets before dawn collecting alms. Despite signs requesting appropriate behaviour from onlookers, these are often ignored. "It hurts my heart to see such disrespect,' says Parn Thongparn, a local nun-turned-tour guide who avoids the ceremony and takes her guests elsewhere for a more peaceful experience. "We love visitors, but if they took a little time to understand our culture better, it would help protect our beautiful traditions." Food for thought One particular problem is the offering of inappropriate alms by tourists, such as plastic-wrapped junk food or leftovers. "Food eaten by monks must be fresh, clean and pure; any dishes should be vegetarian, avoid spices and ideally be prepared at home that same morning," explains Linda Heu, a cook at the city's Wat Munna monastery. "Most importantly, it should be a meaningful gesture, not just something for a photo opportunity." Travel the monk's way Former novice monk Bounthan Sengsavang set up his guiding business Spirit of Laos in 2024 to ensure a more respectful approach towards Luang Prabang's monks, as well as a chance to take visitors on a deeper journey into Buddhism. "The people most closely related to the subject should be the ones who guide you," says Sengsavang. "If you haven't been a monk and lived in a monastery yourself, you don't know what it's like. Buddha himself taught from experience. I like to do the same." A simple life Rather than offer a long checklist of temples to visit on a whirlwind city tour, Sengsavang prefers to spend quality time in a small handful to show the monks' daily lives to his guests in detail. "The monks live very simply," he says. "Wealth and possessions are seen as the roots of suffering. Without them, monks can dedicate themselves to meditation, study and ethical living. And by relying solely on alms from the community for food, they practice humility and gratitude." Together in harmony Sengsavang can also facilitate sessions of prayer, chanting and meditation in the company of monks upon request. He tells me that meditation can be learned in one or two days; be performed walking, sitting, standing or sleeping; and that its benefits include stilling a stressed mind and overcoming depression. "The monks are always happy for us to join them," he says, noting that they often enjoy interacting with visitors afterwards. "It's a great way to connect with them and find out who they are, why they joined the monastery and help them practice their English." Mother love The majority of boys in Laos spend time in a monastery, from a few weeks up to a lifetime. As well as receiving a free education, their ordination is considered vital for their parents' spiritual wellbeing and reincarnation – particularly that of their mother. "In the Lao Buddhist tradition, when a boy becomes a monk, the merit helps elevate the mother's karma," Sengsavang explains. "That improves her chances of a good and happy rebirth after death." Circle of life Sengsavang's tours don't shy away from life's realities, and can include a visit to a Buddhist cremation. (Visitors are welcome to attend as long as they remain at a respectful distance.) "Everything ends; we just don't know when," he says. "Seeing a cremation is important; it reminds people of the value of the short life we have. Perhaps it will also help them find their purpose or inspire them to live their own lives better. If that happens, it's a form of enlightenment." -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
CNA
10-06-2025
- General
- CNA
Fire near South Korea's Jogye temple contained, treasures spared: officials say
SEOUL: A fire broke out on Tuesday (Jun 10) in a building housing some of South Korea's national treasures, neighbouring the historic Buddhist Jogye temple in Seoul, but it was later extinguished and there was no damage to the artefacts or injuries, fire officials said. More than 300 monks and officials from the Jogye order, who were meeting in the building's conference hall, were evacuated safely, Jongno district fire department official Kang Kyung-chul told a briefing. Some three dozen fire trucks were deployed to the complex after clouds of smoke were seen billowing from the building, which is used by the Jogye order, the largest in the country, and also by a Buddhist museum that houses two national treasures and several cultural heritage artefacts. It was not immediately clear what national treasures were in the building. Firefighters were able to prevent the fire in the concrete building from spreading to the temple's main hall, a largely wooden structure. The cause of the fire was under investigation, Kang said.
South China Morning Post
09-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
NBA star Victor Wembanyama joins Shaolin Temple, Game of Death, Airbender memes follow
Victor Wembanyama has ditched the chaos of the NBA court for some peace at a Shaolin Temple in China, and basketball fans are losing their minds. The San Antonio Spurs power forward, sporting a freshly shaved head and wearing robes, has been spotted with monks in Zhengzhou. While other players were letting off steam, the 21-year-old Frenchman has been journeying around mainland China, visiting the Great Wall, and even taking in some of the Volleyball Women's Nations League in Beijing last week, before a 10-day change of pace. Wembanyama has reportedly been meditating, training and sticking to the monk's strict lifestyle while among them, and fans wasted no time in wondering what that meant for the rest of the league. On one reddit thread, a Los Angeles Lakers fan said he was 'truly terrified of Wemby now'.
