Buddhist monks in southeast Asia (and maybe other places as well) make a procession every morning in their communities to accept food from their neighbors. According to their practice, the food must be simple, nutritious and purposefully without rich flavors or beauty. It should sustain life, but not stimulate desire.

One morning I went out for a sunrise view from one of the ancient temples, and heard the 6 am chanting starting at the Ananda Temple just a 3 minute walk from my front door. I went over and discovered a group of older monks making a line to receive their day's sustenance. I watched the proceedings while the chanting was echoing hauntingly around the temple complex. And I also made these pictures of course.

The next morning I went in search of a procession of young monks that always make their way around Old Bagan, and found them on one of the dirt roads just 2 blocks from my front door. 

They walk around the village in a line usually with the younger boys leading the way and the older ones perfectly paced behind them. They look especially striking in their burgundy robes as they walk the hard-packed roads under the sheltering trees during the soft morning light.

I couldn’t think of a lovelier way to start my day.