Alms for the monk

We started out the new decade with a deeply spiritual and moving experience by offering alms to a Buddhist monk.  You don't have to be Buddhist to participate in and appreciate the act of giving alms to a monk.  Buddhist monks cannot go out and buy their own food, but rely on lay persons to give them food.  Each monk typically has a route that he travels every morning to receive alms to bring back to the temple and share with the other monks.  We had the great opportunity of giving alms to a monk to start the new decade.  Please do not mistake the hands-together pose as saying prayers or something otherwise religious; it is one of the Thai ways of showing respect.  (NOTE: I added one more photo of the kids on New Years Eve in the previous post).

At our hotel, we enjoyed a nice breakfast next to the Mae Khlong River.

We got alms to give to the monk, which consisted of a bag of various food items, water, and flowers.

We waited until around 7:45 for the monk to arrive in his boat.

The students and Shanon waited their turn to give alms to the monk.  There are certain protocols of etiquette and respect to be followed.  So, we let some Thai people go first and we did what they did.

Julia and Maddie.

Ally and Shanon.

Liz and Dani.

Hanna and Kelsey.

Cam and Sabrina.

Alexis and Hannah.

Claire and Charlie.

Grace and Elena.

After everyone gave alms to the monk, he chanted some prayers and  offered good wishes to us all for a few minutes.  What a deeply gratifying and moving way to begin a new decade.  Yet another experience the kids will remember forever.