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English with Buddha
After early morning prayers when
sun rises, monks and novices of Wat Xieng Thong,
one of the major centres of Laotian Theravada-Buddhism,
start their daily procession to collect rice and
other offerings in the streets of Luang Prabang.
This collection is one of the most important rituals
of Buddhist life in Laos.
One gets the impression that Buddhist
life in Luang Prabang has remained the same for
centuries, but when looking underneath the surface
things are changing.
For the young monks and novices of
today it is not just spiritual enlightenment that
draws them to a monastery. Coming mostly from
poor families, the monks and novices acquire a
good education and the chance to learn English.
For some, this is a prerequisite for starting
a business after their life in the monastery.
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