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Řħǿđě İșŀǻňđ Pųbŀįč Řǻđįǿ
ČĿǺİŘĚ Ǿ'ŇĚİĿĿ
Ever wondered what goes on inside those tuckedaway Himalayan monasteries? As
you might imagine, not too much.
But Kaushal Parikh was drawn to that simplicity. Last year, the Mumbaibased
photographer was attending a workshop in India when he stumbled across a small
monastery and "immediately hit it off with the head monk." The result of his five days
in that monastery is a simple "day in the life" photo story — and some valuable life
lessons.
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http://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2010/09/17/129930953/monks 1/9
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Kaushal Parikh
Parikh was most surprised to discover that not everyone in a Tibetan monastery is
male. "There was a nun," he writes in an email. "Her husband died shortly after her
second child was born. She needed a place of refuge and the monastery took her in. ...
Her most repeated phrase was 'I happy!'"
Anila, a Tibetan nun, lights candles at the monastery in Manali.
Kaushal Parikh
In fact, according to Parikh, monasteries in India are a twofold source of refuge: for
Tibetans, estranged by Chinese control; and for social pariahs, who have "been
ostracized by their families or whose families [are] no more." At the monastery, monks
and nuns find a new family. Parikh responded to a few more questions:
Picture Show: What did you learn about the monk lifestyle?
The most obvious thing I learned ... was detachment. They lead simple lives and are
attached to no material pleasures. They are content with what they have and they
http://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2010/09/17/129930953/monks 2/9
5/1/2017 A Day In The Life Of A Tibetan Monk : The Picture Show : NPR
derive their happiness through prayer and serving others. Their food is simple — often
consisting of just some Tibetan bread, a simple vegetable and loads of Tibetan tea
(doused with butter!).
What was really amusing was to see the monks joking with each other and teasing
each other. ... The nicest thing was that they all seemed to have chosen and accepted
this life, and none of them looked like they were forced to do anything in particular, or
feel a certain way.
What did you take away from this project?
Professionally, I learned how to slowly gain the trust of my subjects and how to
become a part of their lives — to shoot with respect and always maintain the dignity of
my subjects.
Personally, I realized that our material obsession is unhealthy and leads to an
unsatisfying and incomplete life. Our cynicism and obsessive natures are what make
us an unfriendly people today. These monks are not allowed into their own country —
and live in a small monastery in a foreign land — and yet they open their home to
everyone, and treat everyone with equal respect. When I started shooting, my focus
was getting the photographs; but somehow, slowly, because of the kind nature of my
hosts, my focus shifted to getting to know the monks better. The photographs were
just a natural byproduct
See more of Parikh's work on his website.
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