monks' ritual

A Cambodian Buddhist monks has is head and eyebrows shaved, a ritual that takes place every 15 days, at a pagoda on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A step into monk hood is not only a step closer to seeking enlightenment, but possibly a step up ‘the ladder of success’, for a better future. According to a western monk, who has been residing in Phnom Penh for many years, “Most of the Khmer monks would have been moto (motorcycle taxi) drivers, when they old enough, if they had not become monks. “Now they are in a position for a period of time to have a good clean lifestyle, food and money when they need it and the opportunity for a great education, something that would not be possible as a moto driver--one of the lower forms of employment in Cambodia.” A monk’s everyday life is far from a dreary one and is not just praying to Buddha and the regular street walk, armed with their begging bowls in search of alms (food and money). Cambodia Buddhist monks are keeping busy doing what some would consider in layman’s terms, ‘normal things in life’. Apart from spending large amounts of time studying, not only Buddhism but normal school and university level subjects, they also wash their robes, do dishes, shave their heads, attend ceremonies and do hard manual labor when required around the pagodas. Their code of ethics does not allow them to smoke, drink alcohol or have sex, however it is common knowledge that the code is somewhat stretched at times. Socially, every Buddhist male is expected to become a monk for a short period in his life, optimally between the time he finishes school and starts a career or marries.© Robert James Elliott

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