food for thought (open collection - borderless print) · Laos · 2015

Austerity is a narrow gateway. Most material possessions are too bulky to fit through. The flood of overindulgence is too wide to pass it whole. Merely a humble iota of societal diversions makes it to the other side and accompanies the Buddhist monk on his path to raw consciousness and spiritual enlightenment. Only after shaving off all distractions delivered by the senses, the innermost mind is sharpened into necessary focus for the journey inwards. But concentration goes only as far as the belly is full. The blossoming mind can’t escape its organic roots. And so the monk’s quest is nourished by the alms giving lay people, who in return feed off good Karma and the Buddhist teachings. A mutual exchange of food for thought. 
 
 
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tags: Luang Prabang, Laos, Southeast Asia, Buddhism, Buddhist, monk, temple, pagoda, architecture, street photography, cityscape, culture, heritage, tradition, historic, serene, peaceful, scenic, scenery, picturesque, morning, dawn, ceremony, travel, bedroom, horizontal