The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-20

men in the monastcries. or moro than 4
per cent. OF the whole population.
It must be remembered. however,
that the personnel OF tho monastery Is
constantly changing. Men come, In ana
so out Boys put on the yellow robso OF
the priesthood and lay It aside in order
TO marry. According to the faith, as
taught here. every Buddhist man or
boy must be a monk before hts soul
can be born. Until then he 10 BEATS.
and. II he dies. Is sure TO be reborn In
some filthy body in his next transmi-
grafton.
When boy enters a monastery ha
lays aside his good clothes and puts on
a single sheet OF rough, yellow cotton.
Fills head is now shaved and he goes
forth to beg. No matter what his cir-
cumstances may have been. white ha
Is in tho monastery he must live upon
tho gifts OF the people. and he goes
forth daily with his begging bowl and
takes WHAT'S offered. He does this.
no matter how high he rises nor how
long he stays.
The usual time for entering the mon
astery Is at the approach oc manhood.
The youth are admitted on probation,
and they first act as servants. OF chel-
abs, for the monks. having about the
same place as Kim had with the old
abbot In Rudyard kipling's delightful
novel Of Indian life. Once admitted.
tho boys are supposed to devote them
selves to holy living. thinking and do
ing. They arc taught the principles OF
Buddhist faith and are urged to spend
their lives going about doing good.
Some OF them take the priesthood as a
profession. and others stay but a short
time, for they can come and go at
will.
Life in the Moasstesies.
have visited some Of the monster
les during my stay In Burma The lie
lin them is by no means exciting. The
monk ara awakened at daybreak by q
wooden bell, and are supposed to be
at their prayers as early as $50 In the
morning As soon as he rises, every
monk washes his hands and face and
rinses his mouth. He then smoothes
,out the robe In which he has slept over
night and goes into prayers. After
that he takes up his duties about tho
monastic establishment; he may sweep
the doors OF the temple or water tho
garden or-do odd jobs Of various kinds.
The work OF the institution Is divided
and each man has his own Job.
| After o short while the monks all
meet together and staH out to beg.
Headed by the chief priest, they walls
In company through the main streets
OF the town with their begging bowls
in their hands. They do not ask aims
nor call at tho houses. but merely walk
along single file in the middle Of each
street, having their eycs flxed on the
ground. Each priest holds bis heEsins
bowl in front OF him. and the people
come and pour in their offerings. The
priests do not give thanks. believing
that they confer favor In allowing the
people to give. The begging process
sion lasts for an hour or SO. When II
LIS completed the monks go back to the
monastery. whore they lay q part OF
their gifts before the statues OF Budd-
Ia ana spread the rest out for break
fast. hear It whispered, however, that
most OF tho monasterles have q hot
break fast as well. The monks eat an--
other meal about noon and dinner
toward evening. Those have seen
look tat and healthy and none appears
any tbs worse for the fasting and wear,
OF his religious profession.
(CopyriEht. 1909. by, Frank g. Car'
penter.)