Scholarships for monks
By Hanna: Handing over the scholarships to the monk students goes a little different, but just as official. We wait for the temple leader and the two eldest monks. After a lot of bowing we are invited into one of the little monk houses. Take off our shoes, more bowing in honor of the monk and the many Buddha’s which are standing inside, and the ceremony can start.
Antoinette will hand over the scholarships. Because just one student has arrived yet, the other is still busy with something, an orange cloth is lay down in front of the boy. On this we have to lay down our envelopes with the money. “How to do this?” Antoinette whispers, I guess and say: “Walk to the student, kneel down, bow, lay down the envelopes on the orange cloth, and bow once more…
Normally Lee would advise us what to do, but since he’s not with us, this time we will have to decide for ourselves. I know that in a temple it isn’t allowed to walk on shoes, and that once a monk or Buddha images are present you shouldn’t walk at all. Furthermore you should never point at a monk or a Buddha image with your feet, and when possible, leave by walking backwards, not forgetting to make some more bows. And finally never hand over or take presents, gifts or lucky amulets directly, always use a special cloth or something else for that. It seems we are doing ok this time.
We stop to take pictures and stop filming, and vow our hands together because the monks are starting to chant. It sounds very beautiful and I am tempted to start my video camera, to record this very special penetrating sound. Glad that I didn’t do it, but just recorded the voices of the monks in my head, I go outside with the others. Just one picture outside then, with the three monks on the stairs! Before leaving everybody gets a lucky amulet, to watch over us the rest of our trip.
