Joe Louis attends a class for young monks

 

Our elementary educations are dictated by extensive curricula and standards determined by the government. By the end of each grade a child should have a certain mastery in mathematics, reading comprehension, and writing. Standardized tests are used to measure abilities. Some kids move on, others receive additional help, and yet others are held back. Schooling can be very stressful.

While in Myanmar, I wondered what classes were like for monks. Surely some students were more capable than others. Were they tested on material? Were they rewarded or punished accordingly. What were parent-teacher conferences like? Did they also play hopscotch during breaks?

While there may be overlapping in methods of relating information to young students, the goals between a typical education and a monastery’s education are much different. One is building skills to be applied in a professional sense with the primary goal of building a lucrative career. The other is trying to build a heightened spirituality. But in both I would imagine passion and grit are the paths to success.

 

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See what other blogs are saying about the Bagaya Monastery:

“I had heard about a famous monastery completely built out of teak wood. I found it right in time before a big downpour started flooding the streets of Mandalay. It took shelter inside the main hall and just lay on the floor listening to the rain hitting the roof. All by myself, it was an almost meditative moment and I think I fell asleep for a short while. After a bit the rain stopped and the sun came out. Perfect for checking out the monastery from the outside with its intricate carvings.”
–Escapology