Sunrise over rice fields and monks feeding

Aleksey Terentiev aka rider7 writes: “Myanmar, Inle Lake, our cottage is located on the shore of the lake, the windows overlook rice fields, a small village located behind them, and bluish mountains.”

(Total 16 photos)

Source: Journal/rider7

1. Everything from the moment we saw the lake was an aesthetic shock in the good sense of the word. But the early morning was something special. In general, Inle is a paradise for landscape photographers, the sun has not yet risen, and it is already light outside, light long before the first rays of the sun appear from behind the tops of the low mountains surrounding the lake. The situation is the same with the sunset, about an hour after sunset it is light on the lake and you can shoot.

2. I have never photographed landscapes, I have always been more interested in people, and then, seeing that it was already light, I pulled on my pants, put on my shoes, grabbed the camera, without a bag, just in my hands, ran across the field to the neighboring village, hoping to catch the monks, who collect food from the locals every morning.

3. This process, the so-called feeding of the monks, has not been preserved in all countries considered Buddhist. Despite the fact that this is not just a tradition, for me this is the most important indicator that religion in the country has retained its content, and has not turned into a beautiful ritual, devoid of meaning. The monks depend on the food that the locals give them, this gives the right attitude to the monks, which is very important. This is an opportunity for local people to donate and take care of the monks. This is the closest connection between religion and ordinary people, maintained every day and transmitted from parents to children.

4. I think many of our church workers would benefit from walking barefoot through the homes of their parishioners in the early morning, collecting food, and understanding that it depends on whether they will have food or not today. But these are already dreams and retreats ...

5. From the bungalow in which we lived, to the village about a kilometer through the rice fields. At that moment, I suddenly suddenly understood landscape photographers, when it’s impossible not to shoot such beauty around. And somehow I decided for myself that on my next trip I would take a tripod, gradient and other filters with me ... again, not so much for the result, but for the sake of the process, which is akin to meditation. Especially when it's so beautiful all around. I would like not only to convey what I saw, but to express my attitude, to confess my love for the world around.

6. These are my reflections were rudely interrupted by a mosquito bite. It is in the rice fields that they are the most, even when it is already dawn. And no one canceled malaria, and once again I didn’t want to risk my health, even for the sake of such beauty. So I run through the rice fields, jumping up and down and brushing off mosquitoes, periodically clicking the shutter.

7. Approximately in this form, I ran to the monastery. It needs to be said on time. The monks were just lining up to go get food. My appearance clearly attracted attention. And almost magical. I was obviously something exotic for them, and even with a stupid happy smile on my face. It was almost impossible to make any of the young monks look away from me and the camera. But my appearance did not affect their daily routine in any way, and at the appointed moment, having divided into two parts, the monks left for the village for food. Here another discovery awaited me. From the side it seemed that the monks were walking very calmly and relaxed. And indeed it is. But the speed with which they move is very high. Trying to overtake them in order to photograph the young monks walking in front, I had to almost run, which amused them a lot.

8. In general, almost anyone can go to the monastery, often for a while, to get rid of passions and problems, put their soul and heart in order, find harmony before an important event in life. I heard that there are monasteries where Europeans can come. For children, the monastery often turns out to be something like a theological school. This once again shows the close connection between religion and the life of ordinary people.

9. Religion is not a material concept. Its quality cannot be seen, touched, evaluated by the methods we are accustomed to. You can only feel. You come to the monastery and feel your own harmony, peace in your soul, lightness and joy. It is so simple, and it is so difficult to come to this in ordinary life.

10. In Myanmar, I felt this in so many monasteries. After all, Buddhism is one of the three world religions, and with all the differences with Christianity close to us, in fact the difference is not so great. It is hardly possible in any African or other pagan country. Perhaps that is why I subconsciously choose countries where one of the world religions is professed for trips. And for a long time I can’t decide on Africa and India.

11. On the way back, I met an elderly European from our hotel, he arrived with his wife, and now, just like me, he went out alone to walk to the village and back. He looked to be in his 70s, but he held himself perfectly. The first rays of the sun have already appeared from behind the mountains. We said hello, he winked at me as if he knew some secret that only the two of us in the whole world knew, and went on. And I went back to the hotel. Took a shower. Changed clothes. And went to enjoy breakfast overlooking the lake.

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