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  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: DHAMMAVANNA, a female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani, leads other female monks through the community on their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks041.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: DHAMMAVANNA, a female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani, leads other female monks through the community on their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks038.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  A female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani serves milk before breakfast after the monks' morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks045.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: DHAMMAVANNA, a female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani, leads other female monks through the community on their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks040.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: DHAMMAVANNA, a female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani, leads other female monks through the community on their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks039.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: DHAMMAVANNA, a female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani, leads other female monks through the community on their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks034.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: DHAMMAVANNA, a female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani, leads other female monks through the community on their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks033.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: DHAMMAVANNA, a female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani, leads other female monks through the community on their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks028.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: DHAMMAVANNA, a female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani, leads other female monks through the community on their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks022.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: DHAMMAVANNA, a female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani, leads other female monks through the community on their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks044.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: DHAMMAVANNA, a female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani, leads other female monks through the community on their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks043.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: DHAMMAVANNA, a female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani, leads other female monks through the community on their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks042.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: DHAMMAVANNA, a female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani, leads other female monks through the community on their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks037.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  Female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani chant after a man in the community gave the monks bottled water on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks036.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: DHAMMAVANNA, a female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani, accepts bottled water from a man during the monks' alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks035.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: DHAMMAVANNA, a female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani, leads other female monks through the community on their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks032.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  A family prays while the female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani chant after the family gave the monks alms during the alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks031.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: DHAMMAVANNA, a female monk at Wat Songdhammakalyani, leads other female monks through the community on their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks029.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  A boy gives food to female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani on the monks' alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks016.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: Female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani chant after a man in the community gave the monks food on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks015.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  Female monks at Wat Songdhammakalyani pray before their breakfast after their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks050.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  Female monks at Wat Songdhammakalyani pray before their breakfast after their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks049.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  Female monks at Wat Songdhammakalyani get breakfast after their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks048.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  Female monks at Wat Songdhammakalyani line up for breakfast after their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks047.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  Female monks at Wat Songdhammakalyani line up for breakfast after their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks046.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: Female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani line up to receive alms on their morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks030.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  A couple prays after giving alms to the female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks027.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: A man gives food to female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks025.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: A woman gives food to female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks024.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  A woman prays after giving alms to female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks023.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: A man gives food to female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.      PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks021.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: A man gives food to female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.      PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks020.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  A woman prays after giving alms to female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks019.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: A man gives food to female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.      PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks018.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  A woman prays after giving alms to female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks017.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: Female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani chant after women in the community gave the monks food on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks014.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: Female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani accept food from women in the community on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks013.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: Female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani walk through the darkness on their early morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks012.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  Female monks at Wat Songdhammakalyani participate in a chanting service before going out on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks009.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  Female monks at Wat Songdhammakalyani participate in a chanting service before going out on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks006.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  Female monks at Wat Songdhammakalyani participate in a chanting service before going out on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks005.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  Female monks at Wat Songdhammakalyani participate in a chanting service before going out on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks004.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  Female monks at Wat Songdhammakalyani participate in a chanting service before going out on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks003.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  Female monks at Wat Songdhammakalyani participate in a chanting service before going out on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks002.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  Female monks at Wat Songdhammakalyani participate in a chanting service before going out on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks001.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: Ven. DHAMMANANDA, the Abbess of Wat Songdhammakalyani, leads prayers before breakfast at the temple. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks051.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND: Female monks from Wat Songdhammakalyani walk through the darkness on their early morning alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks011.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  Female monks at Wat Songdhammakalyani participate in a chanting service before going out on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks008.jpg
  • 13 JANUARY 2019 - NAKHON PATHOM, THAILAND:  Female monks at Wat Songdhammakalyani participate in a chanting service before going out on their alms rounds. The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are about 270 women monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WomenMonks007.jpg
  • 12 DECEMBER 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: Thai-Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Monks file out of a chanting service during a mourning service for the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand in a  at Wat Bowon Niwet in Bangkok. Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, who headed Thailand’s order of Buddhist monks for more than two decades and was known as the Supreme Patriarch, died Oct. 24 at a hospital in Bangkok. He was 100. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1933 and rose through the monastic ranks to become the Supreme Patriarch in 1989. He was the spiritual advisor to Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand when the King served as monk in 1956. There is a 100 day mourning period for the Patriarch, the service Thursday, on the 50th day, included members of the Thai Royal Family. Although the Patriarch was a Theravada Buddhist, he was the Supreme Patriarch of all Buddhists in Thailand, including the Mahayana sect, which is based in Chinese Buddhism.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    SupremePatriarchMourned022.jpg
  • 12 DECEMBER 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: Thai-Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Monks participate a chanting service during a mourning service for the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand in a  at Wat Bowon Niwet in Bangkok. Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, who headed Thailand’s order of Buddhist monks for more than two decades and was known as the Supreme Patriarch, died Oct. 24 at a hospital in Bangkok. He was 100. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1933 and rose through the monastic ranks to become the Supreme Patriarch in 1989. He was the spiritual advisor to Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand when the King served as monk in 1956. There is a 100 day mourning period for the Patriarch, the service Thursday, on the 50th day, included members of the Thai Royal Family. Although the Patriarch was a Theravada Buddhist, he was the Supreme Patriarch of all Buddhists in Thailand, including the Mahayana sect, which is based in Chinese Buddhism.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    SupremePatriarchMourned021.jpg
  • 12 DECEMBER 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: Thai-Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Monks participate a chanting service during a mourning service for the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand in a  at Wat Bowon Niwet in Bangkok. Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, who headed Thailand’s order of Buddhist monks for more than two decades and was known as the Supreme Patriarch, died Oct. 24 at a hospital in Bangkok. He was 100. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1933 and rose through the monastic ranks to become the Supreme Patriarch in 1989. He was the spiritual advisor to Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand when the King served as monk in 1956. There is a 100 day mourning period for the Patriarch, the service Thursday, on the 50th day, included members of the Thai Royal Family. Although the Patriarch was a Theravada Buddhist, he was the Supreme Patriarch of all Buddhists in Thailand, including the Mahayana sect, which is based in Chinese Buddhism.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    SupremePatriarchMourned020.jpg
  • 12 DECEMBER 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: Thai-Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Monks participate a chanting service during a mourning service for the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand in a  at Wat Bowon Niwet in Bangkok. Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, who headed Thailand’s order of Buddhist monks for more than two decades and was known as the Supreme Patriarch, died Oct. 24 at a hospital in Bangkok. He was 100. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1933 and rose through the monastic ranks to become the Supreme Patriarch in 1989. He was the spiritual advisor to Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand when the King served as monk in 1956. There is a 100 day mourning period for the Patriarch, the service Thursday, on the 50th day, included members of the Thai Royal Family. Although the Patriarch was a Theravada Buddhist, he was the Supreme Patriarch of all Buddhists in Thailand, including the Mahayana sect, which is based in Chinese Buddhism.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    SupremePatriarchMourned019.jpg
  • 12 DECEMBER 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: Thai-Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Monks participate a chanting service during a mourning service for the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand in a  at Wat Bowon Niwet in Bangkok. Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, who headed Thailand’s order of Buddhist monks for more than two decades and was known as the Supreme Patriarch, died Oct. 24 at a hospital in Bangkok. He was 100. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1933 and rose through the monastic ranks to become the Supreme Patriarch in 1989. He was the spiritual advisor to Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand when the King served as monk in 1956. There is a 100 day mourning period for the Patriarch, the service Thursday, on the 50th day, included members of the Thai Royal Family. Although the Patriarch was a Theravada Buddhist, he was the Supreme Patriarch of all Buddhists in Thailand, including the Mahayana sect, which is based in Chinese Buddhism.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    SupremePatriarchMourned015.jpg
  • 12 DECEMBER 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: Thai-Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Monks participate a chanting service during a mourning service for the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand in a  at Wat Bowon Niwet in Bangkok. Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, who headed Thailand’s order of Buddhist monks for more than two decades and was known as the Supreme Patriarch, died Oct. 24 at a hospital in Bangkok. He was 100. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1933 and rose through the monastic ranks to become the Supreme Patriarch in 1989. He was the spiritual advisor to Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand when the King served as monk in 1956. There is a 100 day mourning period for the Patriarch, the service Thursday, on the 50th day, included members of the Thai Royal Family. Although the Patriarch was a Theravada Buddhist, he was the Supreme Patriarch of all Buddhists in Thailand, including the Mahayana sect, which is based in Chinese Buddhism.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    SupremePatriarchMourned014.jpg
  • 12 DECEMBER 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: Thai-Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Monks participate a chanting service during a mourning service for the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand in a  at Wat Bowon Niwet in Bangkok. Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, who headed Thailand’s order of Buddhist monks for more than two decades and was known as the Supreme Patriarch, died Oct. 24 at a hospital in Bangkok. He was 100. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1933 and rose through the monastic ranks to become the Supreme Patriarch in 1989. He was the spiritual advisor to Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand when the King served as monk in 1956. There is a 100 day mourning period for the Patriarch, the service Thursday, on the 50th day, included members of the Thai Royal Family. Although the Patriarch was a Theravada Buddhist, he was the Supreme Patriarch of all Buddhists in Thailand, including the Mahayana sect, which is based in Chinese Buddhism.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    SupremePatriarchMourned013.jpg
  • 12 DECEMBER 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: Thai-Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Monks participate a chanting service during a mourning service for the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand in a  at Wat Bowon Niwet in Bangkok. Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, who headed Thailand’s order of Buddhist monks for more than two decades and was known as the Supreme Patriarch, died Oct. 24 at a hospital in Bangkok. He was 100. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1933 and rose through the monastic ranks to become the Supreme Patriarch in 1989. He was the spiritual advisor to Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand when the King served as monk in 1956. There is a 100 day mourning period for the Patriarch, the service Thursday, on the 50th day, included members of the Thai Royal Family. Although the Patriarch was a Theravada Buddhist, he was the Supreme Patriarch of all Buddhists in Thailand, including the Mahayana sect, which is based in Chinese Buddhism.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    SupremePatriarchMourned012.jpg
  • 11 MARCH 2013 - LUANG PRABANG, LAOS: A woman drops a serving of sticky rice into a monk's alms bowl during the tak bat in Luang Prabang. The "Tak Bat" is a daily ritual in most of Laos (and other Theravada Buddhist countries like Thailand and Cambodia). Monks leave their temples at dawn and walk silently through the streets and people put rice and other foodstuffs into their alms bowls. Luang Prabang, in northern Laos, is particularly well known for the morning "tak bat" because of the large number temples and monks in the city. Most mornings hundreds of monks go out to collect alms from people.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    LuangPrabangTakBat0311046.jpg
  • 11 MARCH 2013 - LUANG PRABANG, LAOS: A woman drops a serving of sticky rice into a monk's alms bowl during the tak bat in Luang Prabang. The "Tak Bat" is a daily ritual in most of Laos (and other Theravada Buddhist countries like Thailand and Cambodia). Monks leave their temples at dawn and walk silently through the streets and people put rice and other foodstuffs into their alms bowls. Luang Prabang, in northern Laos, is particularly well known for the morning "tak bat" because of the large number temples and monks in the city. Most mornings hundreds of monks go out to collect alms from people.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    LuangPrabangTakBat0311023.jpg
  • 07 JUNE 2014 - YANGON, YANGON REGION, MYANMAR: A Burmese hermit monk walks around Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. Shwedagon Pagoda is officially called Shwedagon Zedi Daw and is also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda. It’s a 99 metres (325 ft) gilded pagoda and stupa located in Yangon. It is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar with relics of the past four Buddhas enshrined within: the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Koṇāgamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa and eight strands of hair from Gautama, the historical Buddha.   PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    ShwedagonPagoda2014017.jpg
  • 07 JUNE 2014 - YANGON, YANGON REGION, MYANMAR: A Burmese hermit monk walks around Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. Shwedagon Pagoda is officially called Shwedagon Zedi Daw and is also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda. It’s a 99 metres (325 ft) gilded pagoda and stupa located in Yangon. It is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar with relics of the past four Buddhas enshrined within: the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Koṇāgamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa and eight strands of hair from Gautama, the historical Buddha.   PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    ShwedagonPagoda2014008.jpg
  • 22 JULY 2013 - PHRA PHUTTHABAT, THAILAND: A monk receives flowers from the crowd during the Tak Bat Dok Mai at Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi province of Thailand, Monday, July 22. Wat Phra Phutthabat is famous for the way it marks the beginning of Vassa, the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada monks and nuns. The temple is highly revered in Thailand because it houses a footstep of the Buddha. On the first day of Vassa (or Buddhist Lent) people come to the temple to "make merit" and present the monks there with dancing lady ginger flowers, which only bloom in the weeks leading up Vassa. They also present monks with candles and wash their feet. During Vassa, monks and nuns remain inside monasteries and temple grounds, devoting their time to intensive meditation and study. Laypeople support the monastic sangha by bringing food, candles and other offerings to temples. Laypeople also often observe Vassa by giving up something, such as smoking or eating meat. For this reason, westerners sometimes call Vassa the "Buddhist Lent."     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    TakBatDokMaiSaraburi052.jpg
  • 22 JULY 2013 - PHRA PHUTTHABAT, THAILAND: A monk receives flowers from the crowd during the Tak Bat Dok Mai at Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi province of Thailand, Monday, July 22. Wat Phra Phutthabat is famous for the way it marks the beginning of Vassa, the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada monks and nuns. The temple is highly revered in Thailand because it houses a footstep of the Buddha. On the first day of Vassa (or Buddhist Lent) people come to the temple to "make merit" and present the monks there with dancing lady ginger flowers, which only bloom in the weeks leading up Vassa. They also present monks with candles and wash their feet. During Vassa, monks and nuns remain inside monasteries and temple grounds, devoting their time to intensive meditation and study. Laypeople support the monastic sangha by bringing food, candles and other offerings to temples. Laypeople also often observe Vassa by giving up something, such as smoking or eating meat. For this reason, westerners sometimes call Vassa the "Buddhist Lent."     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    TakBatDokMaiSaraburi046.jpg
  • 22 JULY 2013 - PHRA PHUTTHABAT, THAILAND: A girl looks to her parents before presenting a monk with flowers during the Tak Bat Dok Mai at Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi province of Thailand, Monday, July 22. Wat Phra Phutthabat is famous for the way it marks the beginning of Vassa, the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada monks and nuns. The temple is highly revered in Thailand because it houses a footstep of the Buddha. On the first day of Vassa (or Buddhist Lent) people come to the temple to "make merit" and present the monks there with dancing lady ginger flowers, which only bloom in the weeks leading up Vassa. They also present monks with candles and wash their feet. During Vassa, monks and nuns remain inside monasteries and temple grounds, devoting their time to intensive meditation and study. Laypeople support the monastic sangha by bringing food, candles and other offerings to temples. Laypeople also often observe Vassa by giving up something, such as smoking or eating meat. For this reason, westerners sometimes call Vassa the "Buddhist Lent."     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    TakBatDokMaiSaraburi045.jpg
  • 22 JULY 2013 - PHRA PHUTTHABAT, THAILAND: A monk receives flowers from the crowd during the Tak Bat Dok Mai at Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi province of Thailand, Monday, July 22. Wat Phra Phutthabat is famous for the way it marks the beginning of Vassa, the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada monks and nuns. The temple is highly revered in Thailand because it houses a footstep of the Buddha. On the first day of Vassa (or Buddhist Lent) people come to the temple to "make merit" and present the monks there with dancing lady ginger flowers, which only bloom in the weeks leading up Vassa. They also present monks with candles and wash their feet. During Vassa, monks and nuns remain inside monasteries and temple grounds, devoting their time to intensive meditation and study. Laypeople support the monastic sangha by bringing food, candles and other offerings to temples. Laypeople also often observe Vassa by giving up something, such as smoking or eating meat. For this reason, westerners sometimes call Vassa the "Buddhist Lent."     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    TakBatDokMaiSaraburi044.jpg
  • 22 JULY 2013 - PHRA PHUTTHABAT, THAILAND: A monk receives flowers from the crowd during the Tak Bat Dok Mai at Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi province of Thailand, Monday, July 22. Wat Phra Phutthabat is famous for the way it marks the beginning of Vassa, the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada monks and nuns. The temple is highly revered in Thailand because it houses a footstep of the Buddha. On the first day of Vassa (or Buddhist Lent) people come to the temple to "make merit" and present the monks there with dancing lady ginger flowers, which only bloom in the weeks leading up Vassa. They also present monks with candles and wash their feet. During Vassa, monks and nuns remain inside monasteries and temple grounds, devoting their time to intensive meditation and study. Laypeople support the monastic sangha by bringing food, candles and other offerings to temples. Laypeople also often observe Vassa by giving up something, such as smoking or eating meat. For this reason, westerners sometimes call Vassa the "Buddhist Lent."     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    TakBatDokMaiSaraburi043.jpg
  • 22 JULY 2013 - PHRA PHUTTHABAT, THAILAND:   A senior monk leads novices in a chanting service during the Tak Bat Dok Mai at Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi province of Thailand, Monday, July 22. Wat Phra Phutthabat is famous for the way it marks the beginning of Vassa, the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada monks and nuns. The temple is highly revered in Thailand because it houses a footstep of the Buddha. On the first day of Vassa (or Buddhist Lent) people come to the temple to "make merit" and present the monks there with dancing lady ginger flowers, which only bloom in the weeks leading up Vassa. They also present monks with candles and wash their feet. During Vassa, monks and nuns remain inside monasteries and temple grounds, devoting their time to intensive meditation and study. Laypeople support the monastic sangha by bringing food, candles and other offerings to temples. Laypeople also often observe Vassa by giving up something, such as smoking or eating meat. For this reason, westerners sometimes call Vassa the "Buddhist Lent."   PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    TakBatDokMaiSaraburi026.jpg
  • 11 MARCH 2013 - LUANG PRABANG, LAOS: A woman drops a serving of sticky rice into a monk's alms bowl during the tak bat in Luang Prabang. The "Tak Bat" is a daily ritual in most of Laos (and other Theravada Buddhist countries like Thailand and Cambodia). Monks leave their temples at dawn and walk silently through the streets and people put rice and other foodstuffs into their alms bowls. Luang Prabang, in northern Laos, is particularly well known for the morning "tak bat" because of the large number temples and monks in the city. Most mornings hundreds of monks go out to collect alms from people.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    LuangPrabangTakBat0311041.jpg
  • 11 MARCH 2013 - LUANG PRABANG, LAOS: A woman drops a serving of sticky rice into a monk's alms bowl during the tak bat in Luang Prabang. The "Tak Bat" is a daily ritual in most of Laos (and other Theravada Buddhist countries like Thailand and Cambodia). Monks leave their temples at dawn and walk silently through the streets and people put rice and other foodstuffs into their alms bowls. Luang Prabang, in northern Laos, is particularly well known for the morning "tak bat" because of the large number temples and monks in the city. Most mornings hundreds of monks go out to collect alms from people.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    LuangPrabangTakBat0311038.jpg
  • 11 MARCH 2013 - LUANG PRABANG, LAOS: A woman drops a serving of sticky rice into a monk's alms bowl during the tak bat in Luang Prabang. The "Tak Bat" is a daily ritual in most of Laos (and other Theravada Buddhist countries like Thailand and Cambodia). Monks leave their temples at dawn and walk silently through the streets and people put rice and other foodstuffs into their alms bowls. Luang Prabang, in northern Laos, is particularly well known for the morning "tak bat" because of the large number temples and monks in the city. Most mornings hundreds of monks go out to collect alms from people.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    LuangPrabangTakBat0311040.jpg
  • 11 MARCH 2013 - LUANG PRABANG, LAOS: A woman drops a serving of sticky rice into a monk's alms bowl during the tak bat in Luang Prabang. The "Tak Bat" is a daily ritual in most of Laos (and other Theravada Buddhist countries like Thailand and Cambodia). Monks leave their temples at dawn and walk silently through the streets and people put rice and other foodstuffs into their alms bowls. Luang Prabang, in northern Laos, is particularly well known for the morning "tak bat" because of the large number temples and monks in the city. Most mornings hundreds of monks go out to collect alms from people.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    LuangPrabangTakBat0311036.jpg
  • 11 MARCH 2013 - LUANG PRABANG, LAOS: A woman drops a serving of sticky rice into a monk's alms bowl during the tak bat in Luang Prabang. The "Tak Bat" is a daily ritual in most of Laos (and other Theravada Buddhist countries like Thailand and Cambodia). Monks leave their temples at dawn and walk silently through the streets and people put rice and other foodstuffs into their alms bowls. Luang Prabang, in northern Laos, is particularly well known for the morning "tak bat" because of the large number temples and monks in the city. Most mornings hundreds of monks go out to collect alms from people.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    LuangPrabangTakBat0311024.jpg
  • 11 MARCH 2013 - LUANG PRABANG, LAOS:  A Buddhist monk walks through the streets of Luang Prabang during the tak bat. The "Tak Bat" is a daily ritual in most of Laos (and other Theravada Buddhist countries like Thailand and Cambodia). Monks leave their temples at dawn and walk silently through the streets and people put rice and other foodstuffs into their alms bowls. Luang Prabang, in northern Laos, is particularly well known for the morning "tak bat" because of the large number temples and monks in the city. Most mornings hundreds of monks go out to collect alms from people.   PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    LuangPrabangTakBat0311017.jpg
  • 11 MARCH 2013 - LUANG PRABANG, LAOS:  A Buddhist monk walks through the streets of Luang Prabang during the tak bat. The "Tak Bat" is a daily ritual in most of Laos (and other Theravada Buddhist countries like Thailand and Cambodia). Monks leave their temples at dawn and walk silently through the streets and people put rice and other foodstuffs into their alms bowls. Luang Prabang, in northern Laos, is particularly well known for the morning "tak bat" because of the large number temples and monks in the city. Most mornings hundreds of monks go out to collect alms from people.   PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    LuangPrabangTakBat0311014.jpg
  • 11 MARCH 2013 - LUANG PRABANG, LAOS:  A Buddhist monk walks through the streets of Luang Prabang during the tak bat. The "Tak Bat" is a daily ritual in most of Laos (and other Theravada Buddhist countries like Thailand and Cambodia). Monks leave their temples at dawn and walk silently through the streets and people put rice and other foodstuffs into their alms bowls. Luang Prabang, in northern Laos, is particularly well known for the morning "tak bat" because of the large number temples and monks in the city. Most mornings hundreds of monks go out to collect alms from people.   PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    LuangPrabangTakBat0311013.jpg
  • 11 MARCH 2013 - LUANG PRABANG, LAOS:  A woman drops a serving of sticky rice into a monk's alms bowl during the tak bat in Luang Prabang. The "Tak Bat" is a daily ritual in most of Laos (and other Theravada Buddhist countries like Thailand and Cambodia). Monks leave their temples at dawn and walk silently through the streets and people put rice and other foodstuffs into their alms bowls. Luang Prabang, in northern Laos, is particularly well known for the morning "tak bat" because of the large number temples and monks in the city. Most mornings hundreds of monks go out to collect alms from people.   PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    LuangPrabangTakBat0311008.jpg
  • 07 JUNE 2014 - YANGON, YANGON REGION, MYANMAR: A Burmese hermit monk walks around Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. Shwedagon Pagoda is officially called Shwedagon Zedi Daw and is also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda. It’s a 99 metres (325 ft) gilded pagoda and stupa located in Yangon. It is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar with relics of the past four Buddhas enshrined within: the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Koṇāgamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa and eight strands of hair from Gautama, the historical Buddha.   PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    ShwedagonPagoda2014016.jpg
  • 22 JULY 2013 - PHRA PHUTTHABAT, THAILAND: A monk receives flowers from the crowd during the Tak Bat Dok Mai at Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi province of Thailand, Monday, July 22. Wat Phra Phutthabat is famous for the way it marks the beginning of Vassa, the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada monks and nuns. The temple is highly revered in Thailand because it houses a footstep of the Buddha. On the first day of Vassa (or Buddhist Lent) people come to the temple to "make merit" and present the monks there with dancing lady ginger flowers, which only bloom in the weeks leading up Vassa. They also present monks with candles and wash their feet. During Vassa, monks and nuns remain inside monasteries and temple grounds, devoting their time to intensive meditation and study. Laypeople support the monastic sangha by bringing food, candles and other offerings to temples. Laypeople also often observe Vassa by giving up something, such as smoking or eating meat. For this reason, westerners sometimes call Vassa the "Buddhist Lent."     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    TakBatDokMaiSaraburi042.jpg
  • 22 JULY 2013 - PHRA PHUTTHABAT, THAILAND:  A monk receives an offering from an woman during the Tak Bat Dok Mai at Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi province of Thailand, Monday, July 22. Wat Phra Phutthabat is famous for the way it marks the beginning of Vassa, the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada monks and nuns. The temple is highly revered in Thailand because it houses a footstep of the Buddha. On the first day of Vassa (or Buddhist Lent) people come to the temple to "make merit" and present the monks there with dancing lady ginger flowers, which only bloom in the weeks leading up Vassa. They also present monks with candles and wash their feet. During Vassa, monks and nuns remain inside monasteries and temple grounds, devoting their time to intensive meditation and study. Laypeople support the monastic sangha by bringing food, candles and other offerings to temples. Laypeople also often observe Vassa by giving up something, such as smoking or eating meat. For this reason, westerners sometimes call Vassa the "Buddhist Lent."    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    TakBatDokMaiSaraburi024.jpg
  • 11 MARCH 2013 - LUANG PRABANG, LAOS: A woman drops a serving of sticky rice into a monk's alms bowl during the tak bat in Luang Prabang. The "Tak Bat" is a daily ritual in most of Laos (and other Theravada Buddhist countries like Thailand and Cambodia). Monks leave their temples at dawn and walk silently through the streets and people put rice and other foodstuffs into their alms bowls. Luang Prabang, in northern Laos, is particularly well known for the morning "tak bat" because of the large number temples and monks in the city. Most mornings hundreds of monks go out to collect alms from people.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    LuangPrabangTakBat0311035.jpg
  • 11 MARCH 2013 - LUANG PRABANG, LAOS:  A Buddhist monk walks through the streets of Luang Prabang during the tak bat. The "Tak Bat" is a daily ritual in most of Laos (and other Theravada Buddhist countries like Thailand and Cambodia). Monks leave their temples at dawn and walk silently through the streets and people put rice and other foodstuffs into their alms bowls. Luang Prabang, in northern Laos, is particularly well known for the morning "tak bat" because of the large number temples and monks in the city. Most mornings hundreds of monks go out to collect alms from people.   PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    LuangPrabangTakBat0311016.jpg
  • 20 OCTOBER 2012 - BANGKOK, THAILAND:  A Buddhist monk chants and prays at a special alms giving ceremony. More than 2,600 Buddhist Monks from across Bangkok and thousands of devout Thai Buddhists attended the mass alms giving ceremony in Benjasiri Park in Bangkok Saturday morning. The ceremony was to raise food and cash donations for Buddhist temples in Thailand's violence plagued southern provinces. Because of an ongoing long running insurgency by Muslim separatists many Buddhist monks in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, Thailand's three Muslim majority provinces, can't leave their temples without military escorts. Monks have been targeted by Muslim extremists because, in the view of the extremists, they represent the Thai state.         PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    MassAlmsGivingCeremony035.jpg
  • 20 OCTOBER 2012 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: A monk with tattoo on his fingers cradles his alms bowl during an alms giving ceremony in Bangkok. More than 2,600 Buddhist Monks from across Bangkok and thousands of devout Thai Buddhists attended the mass alms giving ceremony in Benjasiri Park in Bangkok Saturday morning. The ceremony was to raise food and cash donations for Buddhist temples in Thailand's violence plagued southern provinces. Because of an ongoing long running insurgency by Muslim separatists many Buddhist monks in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, Thailand's three Muslim majority provinces, can't leave their temples without military escorts. Monks have been targeted by Muslim extremists because, in the view of the extremists, they represent the Thai state.        PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    MassAlmsGivingCeremony029.jpg
  • 02 JANUARY 2016 - KHLONG LUANG, PATHUM THANI, THAILAND:  A Buddhist monk passes out amulets before the pilgrimage at Wat Phra Dhammakaya on the first day of the 5th annual Dhammachai Dhutanaga (a dhutanga is a "wandering" and translated as pilgrimage). More than 1,300 monks are participating pilgrimage through central Thailand. The purpose of the pilgrimage is to pay homage to the Buddha, preserve Buddhist culture, welcome the new year, and "develop virtuous Buddhist youth leaders." Wat Phra Dhammakaya is the largest Buddhist temple in Thailand and the center of the Dhammakaya movement, a Buddhist sect founded in the 1970s. The monks are using busses on some parts of the pilgrimage this year after complaints about traffic jams caused by the monks walking along main highways.         PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    DhammakayaPilgrimage008.jpg
  • 02 JANUARY 2016 - KHLONG LUANG, PATHUM THANI, THAILAND:  A Buddhist monk passes out amulets before the pilgrimage at Wat Phra Dhammakaya on the first day of the 5th annual Dhammachai Dhutanaga (a dhutanga is a "wandering" and translated as pilgrimage). More than 1,300 monks are participating pilgrimage through central Thailand. The purpose of the pilgrimage is to pay homage to the Buddha, preserve Buddhist culture, welcome the new year, and "develop virtuous Buddhist youth leaders." Wat Phra Dhammakaya is the largest Buddhist temple in Thailand and the center of the Dhammakaya movement, a Buddhist sect founded in the 1970s. The monks are using busses on some parts of the pilgrimage this year after complaints about traffic jams caused by the monks walking along main highways.         PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    DhammakayaPilgrimage007.jpg
  • 12 JUNE 2015 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: A Buddhist monk on his rounds Khlong Toey Market in Bangkok. The men around the monk were watching the Thai women's football (soccer) team play in the Women's World Cup on television. Khlong Toey (also called Khlong Toei) Market is one of the largest "wet markets" in Thailand. The market is located in the midst of one of Bangkok's largest slum areas and close to the city's original deep water port. Thousands of people live in the neighboring slum area. Thousands more shop in the sprawling market for fresh fruits and vegetables as well meat, fish and poultry.          PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    KhlongToey0612008.jpg
  • 20 JUNE 2014 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: Thais kneel and pray in Wong Wian Yai train station after presenting alms to a Buddhist monk. The monk then prayed for them.   PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    MeritMakingWongWianYai003.jpg
  • 20 JUNE 2014 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: Thais kneel and pray in Wong Wian Yai train station after presenting alms to a Buddhist monk. The monk then prayed for them.   PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    MeritMakingWongWianYai002.jpg
  • 20 JUNE 2014 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: Thais kneel and pray in Wong Wian Yai train station after presenting alms to a Buddhist monk. The monk then prayed for them.   PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    MeritMakingWongWianYai001.jpg
  • 07 JUNE 2014 - YANGON, YANGON REGION, MYANMAR: A Burmese hermit monk and a regular monk walk around Shwedagon Pagoda. Shwedagon Pagoda is officially called Shwedagon Zedi Daw and is also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda. It’s a 99 metres (325 ft) gilded pagoda and stupa located in Yangon. It is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar with relics of the past four Buddhas enshrined within: the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Koṇāgamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa and eight strands of hair from Gautama, the historical Buddha.   PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    ShwedagonPagoda2014007.jpg
  • 20 OCTOBER 2012 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: A woman bows her head in prayer after making a donation to a Buddhist monk during an alms giving ceremony in Bangkok. More than 2,600 Buddhist Monks from across Bangkok and thousands of devout Thai Buddhists attended the mass alms giving ceremony in Benjasiri Park in Bangkok Saturday morning. The ceremony was to raise food and cash donations for Buddhist temples in Thailand's violence plagued southern provinces. Because of an ongoing long running insurgency by Muslim separatists many Buddhist monks in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, Thailand's three Muslim majority provinces, can't leave their temples without military escorts. Monks have been targeted by Muslim extremists because, in the view of the extremists, they represent the Thai state.        PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    MassAlmsGivingCeremony060.jpg
  • 20 OCTOBER 2012 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: A monk cradles his alms bowl during an alms giving ceremony in Bangkok. More than 2,600 Buddhist Monks from across Bangkok and thousands of devout Thai Buddhists attended the mass alms giving ceremony in Benjasiri Park in Bangkok Saturday morning. The ceremony was to raise food and cash donations for Buddhist temples in Thailand's violence plagued southern provinces. Because of an ongoing long running insurgency by Muslim separatists many Buddhist monks in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, Thailand's three Muslim majority provinces, can't leave their temples without military escorts. Monks have been targeted by Muslim extremists because, in the view of the extremists, they represent the Thai state.        PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    MassAlmsGivingCeremony030.jpg
  • 20 OCTOBER 2012 - BANGKOK, THAILAND:  A man bows his head in prayer before making a donation to a Buddhist monk during an alms giving ceremony in Bangkok. More than 2,600 Buddhist Monks from across Bangkok and thousands of devout Thai Buddhists attended the mass alms giving ceremony in Benjasiri Park in Bangkok Saturday morning. The ceremony was to raise food and cash donations for Buddhist temples in Thailand's violence plagued southern provinces. Because of an ongoing long running insurgency by Muslim separatists many Buddhist monks in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, Thailand's three Muslim majority provinces, can't leave their temples without military escorts. Monks have been targeted by Muslim extremists because, in the view of the extremists, they represent the Thai state.       PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    MassAlmsGivingCeremony028.jpg
  • 20 OCTOBER 2012 - BANGKOK, THAILAND:  A Buddhist monk with a Hanuman tattoo on his shoulder at an alms giving ceremony in Bangkok. More than 2,600 Buddhist Monks from across Bangkok and thousands of devout Thai Buddhists attended the mass alms giving ceremony in Benjasiri Park in Bangkok Saturday morning. The ceremony was to raise food and cash donations for Buddhist temples in Thailand's violence plagued southern provinces. Because of an ongoing long running insurgency by Muslim separatists many Buddhist monks in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, Thailand's three Muslim majority provinces, can't leave their temples without military escorts. Monks have been targeted by Muslim extremists because, in the view of the extremists, they represent the Thai state.       PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    MassAlmsGivingCeremony013.jpg
  • Sept. 25, 2009 -- PATTANI, THAILAND: A Buddhist monk gets into a Thai Army HUMVEE assigned to protect him during his morning rounds. Soldiers and police officers accompany Buddhist monks on their rounds soliciting alms in Pattani, Thailand. Monks have been the targets of Muslim insurgent assassins who kill representatives of Thai Buddhist culture include monks and teachers. Thailand's three southern most provinces; Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat are often called "restive" and a decades long Muslim insurgency has gained traction recently. Nearly 4,000 people have been killed since 2004. The three southern provinces are under emergency control and there are more than 60,000 Thai military, police and paramilitary militia forces trying to keep the peace battling insurgents who favor car bombs and assassination.  Photo by Jack Kurtz / ZUMA Press
    DeepSouth2047.jpg
  • 15 NOVEMBER 2018 - BANGKOK, THAILAND:  A monk carries the red cloth that will be used to wrap the chedi at the top of Wat Saket, also called the Golden Mount, during the red cloth ceremony. Wat Saket is on a man-made hill in the historic section of Bangkok. The temple has golden spire that is 260 feet high, which was the highest point in Bangkok for more than 100 years. The temple construction began in the 1800s during the reign of King Rama III and was completed in the reign of King Rama IV. A  red cloth (reminiscent of a monk's robe) is placed around the chedi at the top of  Golden Mount during the weeks leading up to the Thai holy day of Loy Krathong, which is November 22 this year.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WatSaketBlessing015.jpg
  • 15 NOVEMBER 2018 - BANGKOK, THAILAND:  The hands of a praying monk during the red cloth ceremony at Wat Saket, also called the Golden Mount. Wat Saket is on a man-made hill in the historic section of Bangkok. The temple has golden spire that is 260 feet high, which was the highest point in Bangkok for more than 100 years. The temple construction began in the 1800s during the reign of King Rama III and was completed in the reign of King Rama IV. A  red cloth (reminiscent of a monk's robe) is placed around the chedi at the top of  Golden Mount during the weeks leading up to the Thai holy day of Loy Krathong, which is November 22 this year.      PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WatSaketBlessing013.jpg
  • 25 AUGUST 2016 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: A monk on his morning alms rounds solicits a donation from a vendor in the flower market in Bangkok. Most Thai males enter the monastery and become monks or novices (young monks) at some point in their lives.         PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    0825FlowerMarket002.jpg
  • 28 SEPTEMBER 2015 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: A monk walks to the Wat Kalayanamit pier to catch a ferry to go to the Bangkok side of the Chao Phraya River.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    BKKFeatures0928004.jpg
  • 31 MARCH 2015 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: A monk with a walker at Wat Benchamabophit in Bangkok waits for Buddhist lay people to bring alms to the temple. Wat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram, a Buddhist temple (wat) in the Dusit district of Bangkok, Thailand. Also known as the marble temple, it is one of Bangkok's best known temples and a major tourist attraction. It typifies Bangkok's ornate style of high gables, stepped-out roofs and elaborate finials. Monastic life at Wat Bencha differs from most other temples in that lay people come to the temple to present food and alms to the monks rather than the monks going out and walking through the community as they do at most other Thai temples.     PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    WatBencha0331015.jpg
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Jack Kurtz, Photojournalist & Travel Photographer

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