2007-08-14, City of the Golden Buddha 千年佛都—琅勃拉邦（在线收听）

In the city of the Golden Buddha, the day begins as it has for hundreds of years. Throughout the town, Buddhist monks put on their braid orange robes and begin to gather in temples to pray and meditate. With dawn comes / the call to morning alms. A ribbon of young monks carrying begging bowls winds slowly through the quiet streets. They pause along the way to collect bits of food and rice from women waiting on the roadside. This silent procession provides the men with a simple communal breakfast, eaten with thanks.

These timeless rituals play out everyday in Luang Prabang, the ancient royal capital of Laos. But along the lazy Mekong River, and surrounded by misty emerald hills, it's home to 16,000 people, including more than 1000 monks of all ages. They live in dozens of beautiful temples scattered throughout the city. Being a monk is no longer just about religion. These days, temples teach modern subjects like math, history and foreign languages. But while more and more boys are entering these holy places, fewer are choosing to dedicate their lives to being monks. Ironically there are many more men choosing to become monks very late in life. They leave behind families, children and the comforts of home, opting for days of meditation and prayer, dedicating / their final years to Buddhism.

Despite these subtle changes, Buddhism continues to play a central role in people’s lives. And in Luang Prabang, many of the ancient traditions continue as they always have.