[Buddha-l] Bowing to the monk

[Randall Jones]

"jkirk" (I think) writes:

 > So a renowned lay preacher (or professor of Buddhism) is
 > different from a monk sweeping the floor in a mountain monastery.
 > I treat them both with respect but of different kinds. Even though the
 > latter may be far less knowledgeable (or even practiced) than the former,
 > while I would warmly shake the hand of the former, I would bow my
 > head to the latter.

I am reminded of a friend who said to me with respect to a particular 
monk, I wai the robes, not the man.  I have thought about this and I 
think this is probably what I always do.  In fact, I almost cannot 
imagine how it could be otherwise.

Randall
rjones at cm.ksc.co.th