The first full day of our time in Burma we went to have breakfast with a thousand monks who live at the Mahaganayon Monastery in Amarapura, near Mandalay. The Monastery is quite lovely with many buildings under the shade of huge trees. It feels like a campus, which indeed is what it is, a place of Buddhist study, a peaceful place.

At about 11:00 every morning, the monks gather to have their last meal of the day. After this, they can only drink water, until they arise early the next morning. Visitors can watch as the monks have their meal in total silence. At least that’s how it is promoted on the tour circuit. Continue reading →