Tourists, cameras, monks and alms in Luang Prabang, Laos

Luang Prabang is a city famous for its numerous temples and pagodas, and for the daily ceremony of the sunrise alms procession by monks. This is a ritual valued by many local people as a part of their heritage and spiritual tradition, but seen also by tourists as a photo opportunity. During a June 2014 visit to Luang Prabang, I witnessed the alms ceremony, and met a group of young Lao people determined to educate tourists to their town about the importance of respecting the traditions of their hosts.
For another example of insensitive behavior by tourists, see my video of a 'Long neck village' (as the tour cmpanies cll it) near Chiang Mai in Thailand ( • Visit to a 'Long-Neck ... )

[@roxwilson7166]

Many thanks for the upload. Thanks for showing the ugly side of the tourists behaving badly, kudos!! I was in LP this past January (my third time) and never in my life have I encountered such rude tourists from China during the morning alms offering. Such a solemn religious ritual that the Chinese completely disregard and absolutely disrespect by talking loudly and taking selfies whilst giving rice to the monks, not to mention, the obnoxious flash from their cameras. Absolutely appalling and infuriating! Glad to see that there are local people there patrolling (kinda) the horde. So sad that this ritual became a huge tourist attraction, the tour guides should do their part by patrolling their group and really prep them on what not to do to preserve the solemnity of this custom.

[@ElenaZoro]

This is a great video. I used it to show my friends, why I don't want to visit the alms procession, while we stayed in Luang Prabang. We should leave things like this to the people of the country and actual buddhist people. I really don't like, how those tourists act here.

[@itisalways1]

Unfortunate to read from the comments this nice video-shot of everyday ritual interpreted by some Western viewers as a cultural scorn against a group of tourists from China, for two reasons: First, the tourists are Korean, not Chinese. Second, the Korean tourists are attempting to show respect to the monks, in their own way. It might seem rude, but the joviality in their relationship with the locals is intended to create a harmony, a sense of community. Being a Korean myself, I can't imagine that non-Buddhist Koreans will simulate the alms-giving participants -- the Korean tourist-participants are more likely to attempt to show respect, crossing over the gap between the Mahayana (Korean Buddhism) and the Theravada (Laos's) traditions. Also, being quiet/solemn, a sign of sacredness in Judeo-Christian traditions, is often not an essential feature of Buddhist practices in many Asian cultures. I imagine Laos citizens would be happy, rather than felt frustration for being mocked, to see foreigners endeavor to participate. I would rather suspect based on this KZbin post that the false dichotomy of "authentic locals" vs. "harmful tourists" is imagined and popularized by the filmmaker and the following reactions in the West.

[@Cyberphunkisms]

The "help us respect the ceremony" people are sooooo awesome!! Thank you so much to these spiritual protectors of ritual.

[@mitchelllee1339]

What beautiful country Loas.. I move there is so peaceful

[@tanapholroochirachagon1704]

Sadhu. Sadhu. Sadhu

[@sayparis282]

it's a shame... Chinese and most of tourists are so rude. They stand so close. Can't understand why do Lao authorities allow such behavior...

[@allanmoore4840]

This was an informative video and it was nicely videoed too....

[@BetterBurma]

Do you know about the problems at Maha Gandayone Monastery in Amarapura, Myanmar?

Why do people act up so badly when they are told the rules? It's like ok, no flash photography....dont be loud, dont be a nuisance. This sounded like a market. I dont get the need for so many photos. These are monks who observe a lifestyle that 99% of us couldn't make it past 48 hours in. They deserve to be respected and they aren't a novelty to gawk at. Some things are sacred and alms is something to be admired from afar, not up close, in the way and snapping pics of yourselves for your instagrams.

[@bigdhongmannaidhamma9485]

👍👍👍👍

[@swamychidanand7796]

Om om om

[@602Laoguy]

LPB is a beautiful city

[@jeevankumargurung2438]

So nice culture offering foods for monks.plz offer them pureveg foods only.buddha said if you don't have any food to eat then you can eat meat. This comment is from the land of buddha lumbini nepal south Asia.

[@spacenodus7959]

Monastery Rule 7: do not offer street food to monks Tourists: procedes to buy street food

[@user-hu2zj9vi8k]

每天努力發願會產生強大的願力。頂禮尊者達賴喇嘛，祈請尊者達賴喇嘛長久住世，弘法利生，感恩。乃至有虛空，以及眾生住，願我住世間，盡除眾生苦。我趨皈依於三寶，一一懺悔所造罪，隨喜尊者弘法利生一切有情諸善業，內心記取佛菩提。隨喜大眾一切善行，普皆回向共成佛道。願我生生世世從小落髮為僧做喇嘛僧人，長住正信佛寺道場，親近善知識。諸佛正法眾中尊，直至菩提我皈依，我以布施等資糧，為利有情願成佛。願我每日所修布施福報功德資糧，迴向十方法界眾生開悟成佛。願所有眾生少疾苦而終、無疾苦而終、預知時至而終。

[@corrina9830]

If you ever go, Don’t talk and don’t be close its rude to shove cameras in peoples face

[@allenyu4054]

Those chinese were so rude, talking so loudly

[@KK-jo2uf]

Its called Bhikhsa in sanskrit/Hindi . Very blessing from India .

[@thanhminhhoang3309]

Attention all mankind! The Maitreya the King-Buddha or The Almighty Father has descended onto the East to open The Great Assembly Of Glorious Dragons/ The Final Judgement. Please hurry up for Grand Amnesty before it too late!!! See you there.