Monk Lunch in Mandalay

Yes even monks have to eat. Striving and searching for enlightenment all the time can make one very hungry. All joking aside yes the monks do eat and at this particularly large monastery we visited, Mahagandhayan Monastery, it is quite the ordeal. After their morning meditation the monks hit the town with their alms bowl and go from home to home and business to business soliciting food donations from people. This is the only way monks receive their food - from the charity of others. Good karma. Anyway, after making their rounds they line up all at once and make their way to the chow hall to partake in their mid day meal. We were told during our monk chat in Chiang Mai that monks only eat once or twice a day. It all depends on the food they receive from others. Check out the videos below to see how quiet it was.