Just as you would stand to greet someone in any formal setting, try to remember to stand up when a monk or nun enters the room. Ask permission before taking pictures. Make sure it's okay to use your camera, especially when taking photographs inside a temple with statues.
Yes, monks in Thailand are brilliantly photogenic, but snapping photos without asking isn't nice. You're in their home and place of work. Assuming they aren't busy or worshipping, some will be fine with you taking a photo. Be polite and ask first.
Probably the one question people who take our photography workshops in Chiang Mai ask is: “Is it okay to photograph monks?” Yes, is the short answer. Yes, and be respectful and polite is the slightly longer answer.
Monks are forbidden to divine either good fortune or future tragedy by observing heavenly omens, thereby deceiving both the tennō and the people. They are also forbidden to possess and study military tracts; to commit murder, rape, robbery or other crimes; and to feign enlightenment.
In most temples in Thailand, taking photographs is permitted. However, you can still cross the line if you don't keep in mind these rules: (1) never take photos of worshipers; (2) never take a selfie with a Buddha statue; and, (3) don't pass in front of prayers.
Under no circumstances should you ever touch a monk. If you decide to approach a seated monk, make sure to sit down yourself before speaking. And keep in mind that it's a sign of disrespect to sit at a higher elevation than a monk. Avoid eating in the temple; monks aren't allowed to eat after noon.
Cover yourself: Shoulders should be covered and long pants should be worn rather than shorts. Respect the Buddha Statues: Never touch, sit near, or climb on a Buddha statue or the raised platform. Get permission before taking photographs and never do so during worship.
We generally avoid hugging monks and nuns and lamas, especially if they are of the opposite gender. For greeting, it is common to put our hands together, with thumbs tucked inside, and bow our heads. The bow in the image (above) is a normal one, while for a very high lama, we would bow more deeply.
Buddhism encourages nonattachment in romantic relationships. In order to follow the path of enlightenment, Buddhism teaches people to discard all things in life that can cause pain, so one must detach from the idea of a perfect person and instead accept a partner unconditionally.
“There are no restrictions for the monks to use cell phones, but in the Buddha sanctuary there was no modern technology,” he said. “When the world develops, monks also have to adapt to society and modern world. But the thing is, when they adapt to the changing world, they should not change their main principles.
Respect The Monks And Do Not Touch Them
Monks are highly respected and revered in Thailand and are expected to be respected by visitors to Thailand as well. Please do not touch a Monk, especially if you are a woman.
That's not to say that you can't photograph Buddha images because you can, but you have to display some respect and courtesy. As photogenic as some of the giant Buddha images are, don't let your children or anybody else climb onto them.
The Amish religion does, however, prohibit POSING for photographs. The Amish community is known for their strong beliefs and traditions, one of which is their refusal to pose for photographs. They believe that photos show a distinction between themselves and God's creation, which goes against their humble nature.
People will be grateful if you refrain from taking pictures during rituals with priests and guests, in front of the offertory box or while they are doing a prayer.
Learn More About the Pennsylvania Amish. They want to be remembered by the lives they lived and the examples they left, not by physical appearance. Just as the Amish do not carry personal photographs or display them in homes, they do not want others to take photographs of them.
According to the Buddhist monastic code, monks and nuns are not allowed to accept money or even to engage in barter or trade with laypeople. They live entirely in an economy of gifts.
The buddhist monk's daily schedule consists of going on alms round in the village, doing our chores as a mindfulness practice, meditation, and chanting. The monk's life is small paced and we have time to reflect and contemplate.
Sleeping on the floor is actually the ninth precept of Buddhism. The precepts are commitments to abstain from killing living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxication. With the ninth precept, Buddhists refrain from lying in a high or luxurious sleeping place.
A number of monks have over the years given a variety of excuses why alcohol is not a problem, likening it to medicine or saying it is permissible if one drinks only 'just a little bit', or 'as long as you don't get drunk'. Many Buddhists would disagree, but the matter is not as clear-cut as we might suspect.
The feminine form of a monk is 'Nun'.
The most commonly used expression of body language in the monastery is the añjali. The hands are held palm-to-palm in front of the heart and are sometimes raised to the lowered forehead. It is a gesture of respect that can be used as a greeting, a goodbye, a thank-you or when speaking with one of the monastics.
Don't touch Buddhist monks, especially if you are female.
Women are not supposed to hand items to monks, either. Men who need to hand something to a monk, or take something from a monk, should try to use their right hands.
To do this, place your hands together in a prayer-like gesture and give a slight bow when greeting a monk. To show more respect, you can hold your hands higher than usual, like near your forehead. Nearly every temple has a small metal box for receiving donations from the public.
Buddhism. In Buddhism (Theravada or Hinayana) menstruation is viewed as "a natural physical excretion that women have to go through on a monthly basis, nothing more or less". However, in certain branches of Japanese Buddhism, menstruating women are banned from attending temples.