Monks Protest Agian!

Today Burma's monks protest again! Pretty amazing considering the violent response from the military over the last protests. Many monks went missing and their temples were raided during the night in attempts to stop them. They really are probably some of the bravest people in the world. They own nothing and accept a life of poverty to learn self discipline. It's too bad that Burma's regime can not respect and honor them the way the Burmese people do. Then again they wouldn't be a regime if they did. I guess it is just proof that they are not really human.

When we were in Asia we were able to learn some things about a buddhist monks life. Before then I didn't really know very much. We were able to talk with many monks because they are always eager to practice their English. We learned that they wake every day at 4:30am to walk through the town barefoot to collect offerings in silence. They do not beg, they just walk quietly and slowly. The offerings are normally rice. Monks are never to ask for anything. They shave their heads every full moon and only on the full moon. It is supposed to symbolize the shedding of worldly attachment. The thing I found the most interesting was that they can leave the monk-hood whenever they like. It is not looked down upon. One can be a monk for 2, 3 or 20 years and decide to leave to begin another life if they wish. We met a young novice (they are called a novice when they are still learning to become a monk) in Laos that said one day he would like to drive a van. He is studying now so maybe he will have a change of mind later on.