Buddhism way of life: Monks and novices in Myanmar
Myanmar is one of the most devout Buddhist countries in the world. About 89% of the people in Myanmar are Buddhist. No one really knows, but experts estimates that in Myanmar live about half a million monks. It's customary for a male in Myanmar to enter a monastery twice in his life. Once as asamanera, a novice monk, between the age of 10 and 20, and again as ahpongyi, a fully ordained monk, sometime at the age of 20. Some might remain a monk for just a few days, while others stay for life. Monks hold the highest status in the society of Myanmar. The overwhelming majority of the monks and novives in Myanmar wear maroon-colored robes.
In the morning the monks and novices go out carrying a bowl to get offerings like rice, curry or other food. Usually a monk has his own family where he goes everyday. It is not begging, since the family invited the monk to come to their house. It is a ritual that expresses a profound bond between the monks and the ordinary Buddhist and give the locals the chance of doing the deed ofdhana and to acquire merit.