Thursday, March 10, 2011

Blessing

Cambodia is a Buddhist country; there are numerous pagodas around Phnom Penh. Monks take a vow of poverty and receive food and money from the general population.

Monks can only eat in the morning, up until 11:00. In the morning I see monks on the street providing blessings for people. Monks will quietly walk up to the front of a house or business, most do not have any footwear, stand there waiting for someone to ask for a blessing. If someone asks for a blessing, the monk will chant the blessing. Then the person receiving the blessing will either give the monk food or money.

I have been told that your head should always be below the monk's head, hence the position of the people being blessed. 
My landlord's shop


Notice that the boy has stepped out of his shoes to receive the blessing. 

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