Almsgiving

[Maledicta]

Hi all,

I will be in bangkok coming august...I have heard that monks go on their round for alms..Want to know how and what goes into getting this done? Is there a particular time and place where they go about?

[sunholidaysun1]

You will see the monks collect from about 5 or 6am onwards to maybe 8am (speaking of here in the North), maybe different times in other parts of the country , but all done early in the morning. The Monks walk bare foot and on giving to them it is customary to take off your shoes to be intouch with the earth. They will chant a blessing but will generally not respond to you if you try and talk with them, and do not touch them. Anything food wise is acceptable to be given. What they get they eat before 12 mid day , one time a day for eating. Not sure if thats followed everywhere as I have seen a monk in my temple noshing on a banana after hours.

[thaihome]

You need to more specific about where in Bangkok you are located. Bangkok is something like 1,500 square kilometer in size, so it would be hard to tell you everywhere the monks go to collect alms.

The monks will usually be at the local commercial area or market around 6:00-7:00AM. You can prepare your own food or items to give or vendors will sell you little food packs to give to them. In some areas, the monks will walk along streets near the wat, but that is not all that common compared to just gathering at a market area.

TH

[phetaroi]

I am not alive at that time of day. Fortunately, I know of a temple where you can take your food around 10-10:30 a.m. and even sit down with the monk and chat while he eats the meal you brought him. However, you almost always need to know Thai or have someone to translate.