Life in Tirana: Myanmar Adventures

Buddhism is part of the very fabric of the culture, as I saw it. Many decisions are made in daily life, by the monks. For many rural people, life begins and ends with a Buddhist monk. Before birth, prospective moms and dads will go to the shrines and ask for a boy or girl. Often the head monk of the village names the child and gives a prediction for the child''s future. In the city, many families wait to name their child until they visit an astrologer. When the children reach 5 or 6 years of age, parents send them to the monasteries to begin their free eduction. Parents supply books and pencils and the Monks teach the students the basics and some Buddhist prayers. Children are also expected to help at home. Children in the rural areas bring lunch out into the fields, search for grass for cows to feed on and assist in harvesting rice paddy or other crops. Children's games do not need props. At 7 years of age, Buddhist children have traditionally undergone one of two major ceremonies" boys join the monkhood for at least a week and sometimes much longer. The girls have their ears pierced. Guides, hotel staff and beach massage people, all proudly showed photos of their children on their phone, with shaved head going into the monkhood. Celebrations occur around these milestones, depending on the parent's income level. When a villager dies, family members ask monks to come and pray for the person in order to earn merit and enjoy a good life in their next incarnation.

The first night we arrived in Yangon was a full moon and we were taken to the Shwedagon Monastery. This was an amazing sight of gold, jewels, spirituality, Buddha figures everywhere. As darkness fell, the parade of 300 people began to celebrate the Festival of Light.

These pagodas were done in gold leaf with big rubies, sapphires and jade adorning the tops.

There were these water places. You went to the one for the day of the week you were born. Everyone knows their day. In fact, there are 8 days of the week here. Wednesday has a morning and afternoon. You go up to the water container and pour water over the Buddha figure.


Pouring water, praying and lighting candles is the focus of the evening


This is the temple with the jewels at the top

Truly an amazing sight!

During the day in Yangon we went to this immense reclining statue of Buddha


I think this is two football fields long

Buddha has had 547 lives as animals and human. These are symbolized on the bottom of the feet

Here is one place to come, bring offerings of money or food and ask for a boy or a girl. Our guide did that for his child.

This is where one comes to ask for good grades. You pick up this stone. It is heavy. Then you pray. Again you pick up the stone and if you are going to do well in the exam, it feels lighter.

Asking for donations from the locals to support the monastery and give thanks to Buddha

Shoes or socks are never permitted within the monastery. Being like a little village, you walk barefoot over tiles, dirt, and cement. Forget about those who worry about germs, you need to be careful not to slip after the rain.

Telling one of many tales that teach lessons

These money wheels are real new bills, folded to be either given as thanks at the monastery or for party favors at celebration times

We visited an orphanage in Yangon.

After leaving books, crayons and crafts, this head Monk had us bow and said a nice prayer for our future.

The nuns, young or old wear pink. Here they pulled up in a truck at the apartment where I was staying and got out to collect money or food from the residents for the monastery.

Monks, nuns and citizens frequently go from store to store, apartment to apartment asking for donations to Buddha and the various monasteries. The belief is that the more you give, the better your next life will be.