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Koyin

Photo Credit - www.imgrum.org

It is the custom of Buddhist families to send the sons to the kyaung (monastery) where they stay for a few days as koyins (novices) receiving religious instruction under the phongyis (monks).

One of the duties of koyins is to go on daily alms round in the early morning. The faithful of the village put their offering of rice curries and sweets in the alms bowls. Often a phongyi kyaung tha (a boy from the monastery) follows the monk and koyin with two three-legged trays carried on the ends of a pole balanced on his shoulders. Small cup on the two trays receive all the food that cannot go into the thabeik (alms bowls) carried by monks and koyins. As might be expected. the family of the koyins will take special care to prepare alms food. The sister. anxious for her brother who has to stay away from home. harkens to the sound of the triangular gong that heralds the coming of the koyin on his alms round.

Hark! from the village's brow
comes ting-a-ling of the triangular gong.
Our novice of the bamboo grove kyaung
on his alms round he'll come;
Hurry. please with the alms food bowl.
Little boy away from home
The young sister. eyes sharpened by love and absence. looks at her brother and asks: "Our brother koyin. why so pale and wan? Aren't you well We all ask:" The koyin answers. "I'm all right. little sister. pray tell them all I'm only a bit tired;
walking on alms rounds
down the village lane."
The young sister still has more anxieties for her koyin. Monasteries are often ruled under the iron discipline of a kapiya a lay disciple usually an old man who is the general factotum to the presiding monk - a regular sergeant-major of the institution.
Anxious young sister
The littlest sister fears that the old tyrant might rap on her koyin's shaven head.
The old kapiya
They say he's a terror.
Oh. I fear he"ll rap
On my koyin's shaven head.
The doting sister. in concern for her brother cooks hit favourite dish and puts it on the tray carried by the phongyi kyaung tha. the boy from the monastery. As ill luck would have it. the clumsy boy supped on the road and all the cups were broken.
"Yestermorn. I cook'd with care your
favourite curry for you. dear koyin.
Alas. the boy slipped on the village
lane and all the bowls were broken!"

The simple songs give us a sidelight on Lenten activities. A season for doing meritorious deeds. people often take the opportunity to do what is considered one of the highest and noblest deeds. namely. to give one's own flesh and blood to the Order of the Buddha. They may not be able to give away their sons for the whole life time. but at least they can let them stay for a few days at the monastery.
Whilst willing to do their duty as good Buddhists. to deny themselves the company of their loved brother is not easy for the women of the family. Their feelings find expression in ardent enquiries and overzealous attentions. Such little things enhance their good deed and add human touch to the solemn religious activities.

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