Notes on a Burmese Monk

Robert Hirschfield finds a juncture in between Burma as well as India, past as well as present, East as well as West, whilst articulate to a priest during a Bodhi Tree.

Photo: Man Bartlett

THEY SIT similar to saffron pigeons on a mill edge across from a Bodhi Tree.

If we clap my hands, will they scatter? Or similar to a great Theravadan monks which they are, will they record a unclothed fact of hearing in minds discriminating with a spirituality of perception?

I find myself drawn to one immature priest in particular. His lean bodyhas a some-more inhabited demeanour than those of a comparison monks.

Noticing me eyeing him, he makes a space for me subsequent to him.

Sunlight bounces off a gold front tooth.

Encounters with monks in Bodh Gaya customarily consist of precise little bows as well as farewells.

You have been from? he asks. Another staple of a encounter.

The US.

Ah, a US. He repeats after me, as if it is a code name he cant have up his thoughts about.

And you?

Burma.

I consider of serious imagining masters as well as murderous generals. we consider of a overpower of a pagoda as well as a overpower of a prisoner.

How prolonged have we been a monk?

Since we was twelve.

His smiles indicates he knows how tough which is for a Westerner to absorb. The surrender of experience for experiencing.

Even as a boy, Id ask myself how is it probable to achieve inner peaIn a monastery, we was taught how to meditate, we was taught a suttas.

What have been we doing in India?

He laughs. we am investigate Hinduism.

A lady in a sari is approaching a monks with a pile of ten rupee notes so frail as well as clean they demeanour fake. She hands out four tens to each monk. we am meditative maybe she coaxed them out of a air similar to Sai Baba manifesting charcoal out of ether.!

T he Burmese thanks her with a deep wordless bow.

I am not a initial in my family to be a monk, but we am a initial to investigate Hinduism.

Why Hinduism?

It is a sacrament a Buddha was born into of course. He pauses.

Over our heads leaves have been rattling around in a wind. The priest clears his throat. It is additionally critical for us to be open to what others believe.

A question is kicking in my belly. we try to omit it. But how do we omit what is inside of we kicking?

When Burma rose up opposite a generals in 2007, where were you?

I was. . . a difference come solemnly . . .in a street. My initial time in a transport over politics.

What happened?

The soldiers ran after me. No one ever ran after me prior to wanting to kick me.

The priest laughs during a thought. we giggle since a priest is laughing, as well as since this isnt Burma, as well as since here in Bodh Gaya only a Bodhi leaves get chased.

Suddenly, he falls silent, closes his eyes. Enough difference for a day. we climb as well as begin solemnly to round a hulk Mahabohdi Temple which a tree nuzzles.

Community Connection

For those interested in learning some-more about transport to India, heres a beam to 10 Indian etiquette we should know about.


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