Buddhist Monks - Andrei Iliescu

Buddhist monks

The following images depict the Buddhist monks and novices that I’ve met during some trips in Asia between 2008 and 2016. I didn’t have the time, the information or the logistical possibilities for a broader approach so I just limited to capture some moments from the colorful monastic life of these communities with all its rituals and traditions.

In the northern side of Nepal I visited Kopan Temple where there happened to be an assessment day for a class of novices. In Luang Prabang I watched the daily ritual of collecting their alms as well as different aspects of the daily tasks of novice monks. In northern Thailand I photographed some Buddhist schools from the rural area. In Dharamshala I met the largest Tibetan refugees community. I visited the most important temple where believers come from all over the world to take Buddhist teachings as well as a local Tibetan school, and finally I had the privilege of meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself. Regarding Myanmar, a country where the Buddhism is the central to the way of life I saw maybe the most beautiful scenes of monastic life, wherever the road taken me, either in Yangoon, or in other places like Inle Lake, Mandalay or Bagan.

What I understood after these trips was that, eventually, being a Buddhist is rather a way of life, a mindful attitude in life where meditation is more important and dogma plays just a secondary role. Now I see Buddhism more as an education system, a bunch of teachings or philosophy than a religion.

Looking back on these small and simple fragments of life, I realize once again how everything in this world is so transient. Nothing stays the same, everything lives, dies and then gets resurrected. The Buddhists don’t believe and don’t fear eternity and ultimately this idea of perpetual lack of durability is the very essence of this belief.