By SUSAN TRIMBLE

Praetorian Gameboy

MONKS come in all sizes and all ages. Generally monks are defined as members of a community of men living together under vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Monks live together in surroundings that encourage easier spiritual development. A simple lifestyle encourages inner peace and meditation.

A monk's life is a simple one. Their clothing is rough but warm, the brilliant colours contrasting sharply with the often-barren landscape in which they live. Their food is plain while providing the necessary nutrients for good health. Their homes vary from tiny, mud huts to quite comfortable and attractive houses. Young monks sometimes live together with their teachers, with others live with fellowstudents, and yet others have small rooms in yards around the monastery. The lifestyle of a monk often depends on the financial contribution to him by his family. Some may have better accommodation, others will have a better variety of food. And still others may have more in the form of worldly goods.

In the Amdo area of Gansu and Qinghai, some monasteries have boys as young as seven years old beginning their studies to become monks. Those boys have been sent happily by their family to receive a good education and perhaps to pursue a religious life forever within the monastery. That will depend on the boy's personality and talents. In either case, the monks are brought up in an atmosphere of camaraderie, developing an ability to exist happily in a group, sharing responsibilities, caring for and respecting each other.

Waffles and Pizzas

Family members often visit or even stay for several days. Out of town friends are welcome to visit, and the monk does return to his family home for vacations. Monks are wonderful hosts, sharing their food with guests and with each other. The monks sometimes eat together, and sometimes alone in their homes. Community life requires that they share the cooking, the care of the temples, halls, and other buildings that make up the monastery. In addition, there are administration duties, and the general upkeep required for the vast monastery grounds is never-ending. The monastery buildings are heavily decorated with tapestries, embroideries, statues, and frescoes. The continual burning of butter lamps leaves a smoky smudge on every surface; the cleaning and care is therefore endless.

Rigorous study is the main part of a monk's life. As they progress through the first few years of study in philosophy, astronomy, medicine, meditation, theology, and in the arts of sculpting, painting, and printing, most find a direction for their talents. The more promising students will enter a college in the monastery that specializes in a particular area of study. Others will advance in administrative roles within the monasteries. The whole system reminds one very much of a long-term boarding school coupled with a small university. Most aspects of one's life are there, a home and a larger family, a social system, a varied education system, all combined with a shared religion.

Thanka Talk

For five years now I've been on my own kind of pilgrimage. I'm still not sure of its purpose, or really if there even is one. Perhaps it is to avoid the January blues, the winter doldrums, or to satisfy spring fever or my wanderlust. All I do know is that when winter is entering the final weeks I am attracted to monasteries! I'm not searching for solitude. I'm not looking for the true meaning of life, nor am I seeking religion. I'm not looking for an issue. I think I'm just crazy about monks! They have attitude - great attitude!

Buddhism teaches that "one shouldn't harm animals, the earth or his fellow man". The ritual and ceremony, studied diligently over a period of many years at many different levels, is complicated and seems mysterious, even eerie to us. But the basic beliefs are the same ones that are common throughout the many religions of the world.

Monks smile real smiles, they laugh and play like you and I, and they read newspapers and books, write letters, collect stamps and watch television. They are friendly, slightly shy, but very inquisitive. They want to learn as much about you, as you do about them.

Why not consider wandering around a monastery, checking out the open doorways, peeking in on prayers, peering at the mysterious, sometimes spooky-looking paintings, running your hands over butter polished railings and stone floors. The monks don't mind. You'll find the atmosphere is very casual, unhurried and practical. Buddhism is a tolerant religion, and Buddha has never seemed to mind my blundering ways; and certainly those monks are always welcoming me back!

So I feel totally comfortable wandering around the monasteries, sipping tea and breaking bread with the monks. I feel genuinely welcome to their homes, their prayer meetings, their ceremonies and their temples. I'm sure you will too.

One old, one young

Monks sometimes drink coke and eat ice cream, kick soccer balls, wrestle, play Gameboy, use Walkmans, talk on mobile phones and surf the net. Some wear sandals, some wear boots made of yak hide, some wear Nikes or rubber boots.

Monks work hard, they study hard. And they love life, and it really shows. Part of their life is a mystery to me, but the part that I know is that they are monks with an attitude that I like a lot!

I will continue to return each year to make more friends, to deliver more photos I've taken of monks who pose, and of monks who have hidden their smiles behind their soft hands.

And I hope that some of their attitude rubs off on me.