Mae Chanya keeps an eye on the protected Tor Soro fishes

photo rights reserved by B℮n

Female monks, also known as bhikkhunis or mae chees, play an important role in Thailand's Buddhist community. In the Thai Buddhist tradition, there are both male monks bhikkhus and female monks bhikkhunis. Although Buddhism has been around for thousands of years, the formal recognition of female monks in the Theravada tradition was not reestablished in Thailand until 2003. This happened through a historic revival of the bhikkhuni order with the ordination of 10 female monks in Sri Lanka, after which they returned to Thailand. Female monks generally follow the same teachings and discipline as male monks, including adherence to the five precepts and the monastic rules known as the Vinaya. They wear traditional orange robes and often live in monasteries or temples, where they devote themselves to meditation, study and the practice of Buddhist teachings. Like male monks, female monks are respected as spiritual teachers and are expected to lead exemplary lives. They can serve the community through spiritual direction, education, and ritual. The number of female monks in Thailand is still relatively small compared to male monks. However, they are becoming increasingly visible and their role in the Thai Buddhist community is increasingly recognized and valued.

Mae Chanya is a female monk from the remote Buddhist temple Wat Si Rattanaram in the province Nan. The temple is surrounded by lush greenery and soothing sounds of nature. She is a spirit guide and was constantly looking for ways to deepen her connection with nature. She recounted sitting by the waterfall one day and noticed a group of protected fish known as "Tor Soro". These beautiful fish with their silvery scales and elegant movements were invaluable to the local ecosystem. But Mae Chanya realized they were under threat too. Driven by compassion and respect for all living beings, she returned to the Buddhist temple and spoke to the monastic community about the need to preserve the protected fish and protect their habitat. Together they organized awareness campaigns and educational programs to raise awareness among the local population of the value of the Tor Soro fish and the importance of conservation. Since then no fishing is allowed. The local people have come to appreciate more and more how the efforts of Mae Chanya and the monastic community have contributed to the preservation of the Tor Soro fish at the waterfall. They were amazed and delighted to see how the fish population had grown and thrived in the protected area. The waterfall and the protected fish are now a symbol of pride and community spirit for the local population.

Vrouwelijke monniken, ook wel bekend als bhikkhunis of mae chees, spelen een belangrijke rol in de boeddhistische gemeenschap van Thailand. In de Thaise boeddhistische traditie zijn er zowel mannelijke monniken bhikkhus als vrouwelijke monniken bhikkhunis. Net als mannelijke monniken worden vrouwelijke monniken gerespecteerd als spirituele leraren en worden ze geacht een voorbeeldige levenswijze te leiden. Mae Chanya is een vrouwelijke monnik van de afgelegen Boeddhistische tempel Wat Si Rattanaram in de provincie Nan. De tempel is omringd door weelderig groen en rustgevende geluiden van de natuur. Ze is een spirituele gids en zocht voortdurend naar manieren om haar verbinding met de natuur te verdiepen. Ze vertelde dat ze op een dag bij de waterval zat en merkte een groep beschermde vissen op die bekend stonden als Tor Soro. Deze prachtige vissen met hun zilverkleurige schubben en elegante bewegingen waren van onschatbare waarde voor het lokale ecosysteem. Maar Mae Chanya besefte dat ze ook bedreigd werden. Gedreven door compassie en respect voor alle levende wezens keerde ze terug naar de Boeddhistische tempel en sprak met de monastieke gemeenschap over de noodzaak om de beschermde vissen te behouden en hun leefgebied te beschermen. Samen organiseerden ze bewustmakingscampagnes en educatieve programma's om de lokale bevolking bewust te maken van de waarde van de Tor Soro-vissen en het belang van behoud. Sindsdien mag er niet gevist worden bij de Tat Luang waterval. De lokale mensen zijn steeds meer gaan waarderen hoe de inspanningen van Mae Chanya en de monastieke gemeenschap hebben bijgedragen aan het behoud van de Tor Soro-vissen bij de waterval. Ze waren verbaasd en verheugd om te zien hoe de vispopulatie was gegroeid en gedijde in het beschermde gebied. Inmiddels zijn de waterval en de beschermde vissen een symbool van trots en gemeenschapszin voor de lokale bevolking.

Taken in: Thailand / Changwat Nan / Ban Thung Hao (show map)

Taken on: July 17, 2022

Tags:

Female

monks

Mae

Chees

Women

Buddhism

Thai

Buddhist

nuns

monasticism

Ordination

Theravada

tradition

practice

Meditation

Vinaya

rules

Spiritual

leaders

Dhamma

study

monastic

community

Gender

equality

philosophy

religious

traditions

Empowerment

growth

dedication

Contemplative

life

Rituals

ceremonies

Mindfulness

education

Social

impact

service

Role

models

practitioners

Women's

Thailand

Orange

Nan

Wat Si Rattanaram

วัดศรีรัตนาราม

Tat Luang waterfall

Namtok

Tat

Luang

waterfall

Fish

Tor Soro

carp

carps

habitat

river

stream

water

fresh

nature

ecosystem

preservation

50+Faves

top-f50 « less

Sets appears in: • Thailand - Nan • Freshwater more » • Waterfalls « less

Groups appears in: • Thailand Images • top-f [ 25+ faves ] more » • 50-100 Faves • Favorites: 80 • *GreatPixGallery 50 Faves+ • Awesome Nature • The Magic of Nature • TRAVEL Photography! • The Worlds Best Nature, Wildlife, And Macro Photography • We travel the World • Travel beyond words • Beautiful Mother Nature • Treasured Water • WONDERFUL WATERFALLS (Geotagged) • Traveler's Photos • Thailand's Photographers • De Doka • NATURE ♥ unlimited ♥ (Public Group Forever) • Het Doka Archief • Aficionados con ganas de mostrarse - Fans with desire of would. • Totally Thailand • 50+ Fav LANDSCAPE GEOTAGGED (Invited only) • Travel Pixes • el manicomio • as beautiful as you want • Tell me a story... (Show & Tell) • Thailand Travel Photo • EXISTentialism -- Emotions, People, Portraits • 24-70mm f/2.8 Shooters • People love their life! • Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 VC Di USD XR • Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD • Feminine Beauty 2 • Your Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD • Canon 6D User Group • Canon EOS 6D - Official Group • Canon EOS 6D • Forests - All types, from landscape to macro • Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD - Full Frame / Vollformat • Tamron SP AF 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD • Ancient Forests - The Biodiversity Group • Tamron SP 24-70mm f2.8 Di VC USD • The Traveler's Bucket List • HD Travel • 50, 100, 200, 500, 1.000 favoritas • Brain Vision. Art. • Beach & Women • Hiking in nature • General photographs • Travel Sights • ! with people -in colour • people renmen hito • Asian people young old male female family friendly!!! « less

Camera: Canon EOS 6D, f/4.0, 1/60 sec, 24mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 6D
Aperture:	f/4.0
Exposure Time:	0.017 sec (1/60)
Focal Length:	24mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	PaintShop Pro 24,00
Show full info

Stats: 10,439 views / 36 comments