What's a more (perhaps) correct term for the bowls that monks carry around to put their donations in? Not being Buddhist (though have always been fascinated by it), I called the receptacle "begging bowl" to the disapproval of a few Buddhists. I must admit my ignorance but can someone help me with a better term in ENglish as well as Myanmar?
"begging bowl" of monks in Myanmar
Yes. one should not call it as begging bowl. In sanscrit language a monk is called a Bikshu. Also it is not a begging bowl in the strict sense. Monks (whatever religion they belong to) have renounced the wordly life and always in search of truth or highest attainment of goal in life. During the process they acquire some powers with which they can, if they want to, obtain their daily food. However they have been ordined by religion to obtain their daily food from normal people so that people will have chance to do good things in life... like offering food for instance.
I would call that "offering bow" like offering plates used in Christian services. Or "donation bowl", as the people give what they want to give out of their hearts. These monks don't go and beg for food. They just walk down along people's front doors. People would stop them and give whatever they want to give. At the end of the trip, the monks would get back to the temple and consume what they receive for that day!
I would call that "offering bow" like offering plates used in Christian services. Or "donation bowl", as the people give what they want to give out of their hearts. These monks don't go and beg for food. They just walk down along people's front doors. People would stop them and give whatever they want to give. At the end of the trip, the monks would get back to the temple and consume what they receive for that day!