The Begging Bowl

Buddhist monks, in practicing their call to holiness, rely upon the alms of the lay faithful to provide them with food, clothes, and other needs. Often, these alms come in exchange for spiritual services the monks perform for the laity such as weddings and funerals. The posture a monk observes when receiving alms is holding the empty bowl in hand so that the almsgiver may place the alms in the bowl. However, when a monk turns the begging bowl upside down, rendering the possibility of giving alms impossible, the monk is withdrawing consent from the the spiritual practice of the community.

In Burma, the upside down bowl became a powerful symbolic action in response to the military junta's repression of the pro-democracy movement. In a devoutly Buddhist country, the withdrawal of the monk's begging bowl represents the denunciation of the systemic violence and oppression of the country's military leaders.

30 December 2007

partyin' peeps

i spent the evening at an umphrey's mcgee concert. they are a band that, according to most people, falls within the jam band crowd. i was surrounded by lots of drugs, alcohol, apathy, and ridiculousness tonight. it is very troubling because i found myself being sucked into the lifestyle and attitudes of the music scenes and did not like it. my prayers, my fears, my hopes, are being answered and it is difficult to see a new me emerging out of the fresh ashes, if not still burning, old me. im scared life will not be as fun without the constant pleasure of music and party. i fear losing friends, family even, because now im considered "too cool." my will is being torn, pulled in different directions, but ultimately, my broken heart will yield and give way to the nonviolent life and love of god.
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