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Not shopped: Buddhist monks during a lantern lighting ceremony to celebrate Makha Bucha day - Bangkok (imgur.com)

submitted ago by Proteon

all 162 comments
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[–]DEINSTITUTIONALIZED 112 points113 points ago

My favorites are the "deal with it" monk in the sunglasses, and the one facepalming two to the left of him.

[–]Seriouslysoftpillow 45 points46 points ago

Found it!!! What's next?

[–]Kn1ght21 31 points32 points ago

T-800 in the top left. What role do these monks play in skynet???

[–]tryp09 26 points27 points ago

Token black guy

[–]TheresTheBlackGuy 6 points7 points ago

There I am.

[–]Aschebescher 3 points4 points ago

And he is allowed to sit in the front.

[–]DEINSTITUTIONALIZED 9 points10 points ago

There are two with their eyes (visibly) open. GO!

[–]Seriouslysoftpillow 8 points9 points ago

Second back on the far right and second back on the left towards the middle!!

I'm bored at work

[–]DEINSTITUTIONALIZED 8 points9 points ago

Good! Now, how many unlit candles can you find? I see eight that I can definitely tell are unlit, but I'm sure there are more. GO!

[–]Seriouslysoftpillow 5 points6 points ago

Damn! I could only count six, but I'm on my phone, so that'll be my excuse.

[–]Funk_Munki 2 points3 points ago

Well, what did you win?

[–]Seriouslysoftpillow 6 points7 points ago

I think 3 karma

[–]Funk_Munki 5 points6 points ago

Make it four buddy.

[–]maximellen 3 points4 points ago

I can only see the one (the one with the long neck)

[–]DEINSTITUTIONALIZED 2 points3 points ago

Look three to the right of him.

[–]Intuition17 1 point2 points ago

Where god damn it

[–]poop_squared 10 points11 points ago

Or the "One with my cellphone" meditation.

http://i.imgur.com/QC0f0.png

[–]angrywords 2 points3 points ago

That monk in the center at the front is really making me twitch. He's not centered perfectly on that square he's sitting on dammit! ಠ_ಠ

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

you just ruined a perfectly serene picture by pointing this out...:(

[–]Morbanth 1 point2 points ago

Elven monk three spots left from the facepalmer.

[–]gnomechompskey 1 point2 points ago

Great finds.

[–]lazyink 0 points1 point ago

I would imagine that the ones in sunglasses are probably blind.

[–]nehpets96 2 points3 points ago

What? Where? Fuck.

[–]maximellen 71 points72 points ago

I remember this. This is where Shao Khan appeared from Outworld to challenge the Earth to Mortal Kombat.

[–]LolerCoaster 2 points3 points ago

Providing real-world soundtrack.

[–]CowplusCowequalsCows 4 points5 points ago

What does Scorpion say to a friend he hasn't seen for a long time in the bar?

GET OVER HERE!

[–]palanoid 69 points70 points ago

In case somebody wants to know the background.

These monks belong to the new "evangelical" Buddhist movement called Dhammakaya Movement. They arrange these massive ceremonies that look good. They also collect lots of money and imply that donating money is way to make merit (good karma). There has been accusations of aggressive fundraising, the cult of personality of its leader and fraud and corruption.

More good looking photos:
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/01/20/close_encounters_of_the_buddhist_kind

ps. If somebody finds something familiar in these pictures, it's not accidental. They actually took inspiration to the visual imaginary from National Socialism. This of course don't mean that they have anything to do with it ideologically. They just found the old pictures from Nuremberg powerful and incorporated some visual aspects to their own movement.

[–]poop_squared 14 points15 points ago

Donations and positive Karma. This has Reddit written all over it

[–]palanoid 8 points9 points ago

Did you notice that each monk is actually holding a tiny kitten in his hands.

[–]nevercore 5 points6 points ago

They don orange robes to symbolize the manifestation of the upvote on earth

[–]IamA_Big_Fat_Phony 31 points32 points ago

Westerners do not believe Buddhists can be corrupt. Little do they know.

[–]palanoid 15 points16 points ago

There are many relatively new Buddhist sects that are organized and work very similar way as Evangelical Christians or Charismatic Movements. They actively convert people and have similar ceremonies, etc. Often their teachings diverge significantly from traditional Buddhism.

The biggest one is Sōka Gakkai

[–]peakness 2 points3 points ago

Thanks for this. I've been terrified of this sect for years having family members fall porters into the scheme.

[–]whyufail1 3 points4 points ago

This picture is suddenly less awesome ):

[–]roundtree 0 points1 point ago

Welcome to the world of organized religion.

[–]ncm3t4l 0 points1 point ago

At least two retarded fundies read your post.

[–]grapids -2 points-1 points ago

Not sure why you're being downvoted. I guess the /r/atheism hasn't seen this thread yet.

[–]ohgeronimo 0 points1 point ago

Nah, it's just the same as it's always been. Pictures don't lie, but the person taking the picture, photoshopping the picture, organizing the content on the picture, they lie out their ass.

Still a neat picture, much like photos from the civil war were neat. Neat and sad.

[–]poop_squared 1 point2 points ago

Check out the guy on his cellphone on the 15th photo - bottom right.

Classic Snake is an ancient form of meditation

[–]smokinDND 0 points1 point ago

does anyone know what the hell is being build in the background!? looks massive, just wondering if it's part of the same movement. if it is this just got 10X scarier.

[–]palanoid 0 points1 point ago

it's a stupa

[–]canada_dryer -2 points-1 points ago

Try telling this to /r/athiesm.

[–]StewieBanana 31 points32 points ago

That's a little depressing the title has to be preceded with "Not shopped."

[–]CheesesofNazzerath 6 points7 points ago

Looks a little HDR is the reason I think. Mostly in the shadows around the lamps.

Note: Not saying it is HDR.

[–]LeonProfessional 6 points7 points ago

Yeah, not really sure why that was needed in the title, but whatever.

[–]RufusMcCoot 3 points4 points ago

I was thinking "those monks are so disciplined to be sitting that precisely". Then I realized they're sitting on a grid.

[–]CheesesofNazzerath 1 point2 points ago

You have never been in the military I see. It is pretty amazing the precision a group of trained guys can get in lining up on each other.

[–]RufusMcCoot 1 point2 points ago

Though I was in some pretty hardcore marching bands.

[–]CheesesofNazzerath 1 point2 points ago

Then you know !

[–]Goranora -3 points-2 points ago

Well to be fair, most titles are pretty shir.

[–]hot_skillet 17 points18 points ago

i think you misspelled 'shirt'

[–]jonnyrotten7 -1 points0 points ago

*proceeded

[–]StewieBanana 2 points3 points ago

I'm pretty sure preceded is right.

[–]Caloooomi 8 points9 points ago

Why are there two lights in front of the monks?

[–]happytrees 0 points1 point ago

There... are... four... lights!

[–]brickwall5 4 points5 points ago

This is stunning.

[–]12288 6 points7 points ago

NEAT

[–]Anonymous-Ninja 2 points3 points ago

Looks like the glasses are having an Anonymous meeting.

[–]Funkin-Around 2 points3 points ago

Fabulous find

[–]Magic_is_the_answer 2 points3 points ago

I have a buddhist monk question if anyone happens to know the answer. What is the difference between these buddhist monks and these buddhist monks? Do they have different beliefs or values? They wear different outfits, is this just because they are in different countries?

[–]Anti-Flag-Pro-Vegan 4 points5 points ago

I'm pretty sure the latter (yellow and red) is a Tibetan Buddhist monk. They follow Mahayana, Tantrayana and Dzogchen teachings.

I think the first one (orange robe) is a monk that follows Theravada Buddhism, which is Hinayana from what I know. It's very popular in Cambodia, Thailand and those areas. I don't know much about it except that they follow the Dhammapadha pretty strictly, which are the literal teachings given by the Buddha over 2500 years ago.

Both paths strive for enlightenment. Only the method is different. Visit /r/Buddhism is have any further questions. I'm really not qualified to answer you in length and great detail.

[–]Magic_is_the_answer 0 points1 point ago

Thank you for your response.

[–]UnearthlyStew 5 points6 points ago

Any idea why some of the monks have to lamps and some have one?

Or do they all have two and there are single lamps placed almost randomly?

[–]redditor-for-2-hours 5 points6 points ago

What lens was used on this photo? Looks like a subtle fisheye effect.

[–]Bytes_U 21 points22 points ago

Short Answer: 35mm Full Answer: Original image with EXIF data found here...

http://timelightbox.tumblr.com/post/19005419511/rungroj-yongrit-epa-march-7-2012-thousands-of

Camera Maker: Canon Camera Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Image Date: 2012-03-07 19:35:35 -0500 Focal Length: 35.0mm Aperture: f/2.8 Exposure Time: 0.025 s (1/40) ISO equiv: 1250 Exposure Bias: none Metering Mode: Matrix Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto) White Balance: Auto Flash Fired: No Color Space: Adobe RGB GPS Coordinate: undefined, undefined Photographer: RUNGROJ YONGRIT City: PATHUM THANI Province/State: PATHUM THANI Country: THAILAND Title: Makha Bucha Day celebrations Caption: epa03135453 Thousands of Thai Buddhist monks chant during lantern lighting to celebrate Makha Bucha day at Dhammakaya Temple in Pathum Thani province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand, 07 March 2012. Makha Bucha or Magha Puja also known as the day of the Fourfold Assembly is one of the holiest day celebrate on the full moon night of the third lunar month to commemorate the day that Lord Buddha gave the first sermon on the essence of Buddhism in to his ordained 1,250 monk disciples assembled all by spontaneously gathered without an appointment. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

[–]hyperboleblues 4 points5 points ago

The best way to tell that is to look at the lines of the stairs, tiles-- since there isn't that much curvature I would say this is a slightly wide-angle lens, but not fisheye. The monks must make the curvature themselves by where they sit.

[–]kccricket 2 points3 points ago

Picking from Canon's current lineup, the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM is a likely contender.

That said, there are many lenses sold in the past and by other companies that could have been used.

[–]Cybertrash 1 point2 points ago

It's a moderate wide-angle lens (35mm as /u/Bytes_U said). Fisheyes will bend straight lines, whereas this lens is rectilinear (i.e. straight lines stay straight)

[–]Toshiro_Mifune 7 points8 points ago

Buddhism is fucking sweet.

[–]wtfratheism 17 points18 points ago

These are Buddhists like I am a dinosaur.

[–]Toshiro_Mifune 0 points1 point ago

DMRB.

[–]SuttonWho 3 points4 points ago

And of course had they been Christian monks, this comments section would be overflowing with idiotic hatred and venom.

[–]HurricaneHurdler 1 point2 points ago

a christian...monk?

[–]SuttonWho 0 points1 point ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_monasticism

[–]Lostcory 0 points1 point ago

You sound a bit upset. Need a hug?

[–]pukesickle 6 points7 points ago

This is an awesome picture.

[–]kiwifever2000 1 point2 points ago

I love how in the sea of Asian monks, there is a black monk in the front row. For some reason, I find it very touching.

[–]ooo0ooo 13 points14 points ago

The soul has no skin color.

[–]atman_brahman 2 points3 points ago

There is no lamp

[–]thekingoflapland 1 point2 points ago

Then why are black people so much better at making soul food?

[–]jonnyrotten7 -1 points0 points ago

They want to keep their eye on him, make sure he doesn't steal their lamps.

[–]Retlin 1 point2 points ago

I wish this picture was taken half a foot to the right.

[–]truthie 1 point2 points ago

People are very confused about what photoshop is actually used for. There is nothing to suggest that photoshop wasn't used for color correcting this at some point, or one of the other million uses it has. Photoshop is not only used for image compositing, it's used on almost any professionally shot image that you've ever seen in some respect.

[–]negativerad 0 points1 point ago

hey guy! third row from the front, one over to the right, stop itching your brow!

[–]porter7o -1 points0 points ago

I totally read the first words as "nut shaped" buddhist monks. Still not disappointed.

[–]murfburffle 1 point2 points ago

What could possibly be accused of being shopped in this photo?

[–]eamantite 1 point2 points ago

That took so much cobblestone to craft.

[–]King_Ding_A_Ling 0 points1 point ago

Just noticed the black monk on the bottom left. That's pretty cool

[–]cnicdrv 0 points1 point ago

I don't think he is black. I think its just a really dark thai guy.

[–]Nezperdia 0 points1 point ago

I didn't even know there are black people in thailand.

[–]naewpaks 1 point2 points ago

Dam this is epic

[–]banditandrew 1 point2 points ago

They seem sooo peaceful

[–]deltron3030 1 point2 points ago

is there a Higher Quality file for wallpaper purposes?

[–]turtleslikeyoutoo 0 points1 point ago

please...correct...tilt...

[–]ajgator7 0 points1 point ago

When you see it...

[–]sloppie_00 0 points1 point ago

New wallpaper!

[–]Highwayman 0 points1 point ago

I wish they'd shop out the camera on the tripod on the top left.

[–]shobb592 1 point2 points ago

If anyone's interested about learning about Buddhism What the Buddha Taught is a fantastic book that really explains the religion.

That said, Thai Buddhism has some very strong Hindu influences and has some interesting qualities like animism that aren't found in a lot of other practicing Buddhist countries .

[–]football2106 1 point2 points ago

What is this a PF Changs?

[–]Poncyhair -1 points0 points ago

Are these the same Makha Bucha mushroom people? Sitting around all day?

[–]eddward 0 points1 point ago

interesting lens

[–]homestargunner -1 points0 points ago

The hint of racism in the title is what makes it clickable

[–]IByrdl 0 points1 point ago

They allow cameras?

[–]PureBlooded -1 points0 points ago

How nice, how peaceful!

Oh wait...Burma

[–]GrandMasterMara 0 points1 point ago

I say shopped.

[–]STEFOOO 0 points1 point ago

I FOUND THE BLACK GUY

[–]FUCITADEL 0 points1 point ago

Thanks. Got a new wallpaper.

[–]meatwad75892 0 points1 point ago

Morpheus.

[–]theGuatemalanYMCA 0 points1 point ago

so this isn't shopped? did you take this photo yourself?

[–]KitchitiKipi 0 points1 point ago

token black monk..front row.

[–]fallingapartart 0 points1 point ago

Beautiful.

[–]kyrax 0 points1 point ago

And then it all changed when the fire nation attacked

[–]Defunct_geranium 0 points1 point ago

Aang!

[–]tomsfoolery 0 points1 point ago

and when buddha was on his deathbed he said its not about rituals, do not worship me for i am but a raft to get you to the other side. once you reach the other side, you dont carry a raft on your back wherever you go.

i always thought it was funny how the monks must have been like, fuck that shit! look at all this crazy stuff we have to do now that i just invented!

[–]Xa3HaTa 0 points1 point ago

The fire nation

[–]Bikenutt 0 points1 point ago

Lovely.

[–]thatwasntababyruth 1 point2 points ago

The guy in the center needs to move about 6 inches stage left.

[–]Eddie_The_Brewer 1 point2 points ago

I have an explanation...

Monk, he see - monk, he do.

[–]2hot2sexy4u -1 points0 points ago

shopped

[–]zonearc 0 points1 point ago

Stupid question, but is the glowing orb in the back the sun, or something on a wall? I'm assuming wall painting and those are lights in the back?

[–]Crackerpool 0 points1 point ago

Shopped, monks float when they do that

[–]UsedToBeBored 0 points1 point ago

Does anyone else see the skeleton scheme in the background behind that one lamp on the left?

[–]Bagel_snatcher 0 points1 point ago

But that all changed when the Fire Nation attacked

[–]SirHumanoid -1 points0 points ago

Oh, how peaceful they look while committing genocide in Burma...Amazing...

[–]TuesHard 1 point2 points ago

What is this Big glowing ball in the back?

[–]dzudz 0 points1 point ago

One of the monks at the back achieved nirvana and went thermonuclear

[–]jai07 0 points1 point ago

those looked like masks for like 10 seconds

[–]BigToach -1 points0 points ago

This bugs me...

http://i.imgur.com/OU0T9.jpg

[–]hardrider2k4 0 points1 point ago

bottom right monk is sitting wrong

[–]jlees88 0 points1 point ago

killer party!!

[–]eshoemaker3 1 point2 points ago

Is it just me, or do the lanterns towards the back look like faces?

[–]tuniga123 0 points1 point ago

Buddhists are freakin bosses. They can be calm as a turtle yet quick as a ninja!

[–]incredible-ninja 0 points1 point ago

when I see buddihst on a picture like this I allways imagine them singing in harmony... but when I think of singing in harmony I think of the lion sleeps tonight... those things dont go together.

[–]TehMushy 0 points1 point ago

Line up a sniper mag with penetration rounds and you could wipe the middle row off the bat.

[–]luciustulliusatellus -1 points0 points ago

What would happen if you posted this in /r/atheism?

[–]magdalenian 0 points1 point ago

It's stuff like this where I'm like...wasn't it awkward taking this picture? Let them do their shit un-photographed, man!

[–]ykhan95 0 points1 point ago

i love how this goes against all the tenants of goetma the buddha.

[–]therealsouthflorida 0 points1 point ago

Fish-eye lense, the original photoshop.

[–]I_I_II_III_IIIII 0 points1 point ago

Buddhism is so ridiculously self-indulgent.

[–]Tgoode3 0 points1 point ago

Where's Waldo?

[–]frittykittycat -2 points-1 points ago

Don't let r/atheism see this. I would hate for something this beautiful to get shat on by the internet.

[–]CookedPork 8 points9 points ago

But this has nothing to do with Christianity, they'd be cool with it.

[–]Nezperdia 7 points8 points ago

/r/atheism really likes buddhism for some reason.

[–]shobb592 2 points3 points ago

Buddhists doesn't believe in a god

[–]thatwasntababyruth -1 points0 points ago

That's not entirely true.

[–]Anti-Flag-Pro-Vegan 2 points3 points ago

Some Buddhists view their imagination as a separate reality. And just like how a nightmare might affect you in this current reality by making you sweat or suddenly wake up (even-though whatever occurred in that nightmare was just imagination), so do deities also affect your performance in the current reality. So it's more like a psychological help than as a means for extraordinary miracles.

I don't do this type of practice myself, but from what I've read and heard, it's vastly different than the typical Christians, Jews or Muslims who think that god rules the universe.

[–]thatwasntababyruth 0 points1 point ago

Oh for sure, I just think too many people hold the belief that buddhism is naturally above the ideas of gods and mysticism that other religions hold. Most people that I've met who only know the very basics of buddhism that you learn in public school think that, and thus have a distorted view of the subject.

[–]Nezperdia 0 points1 point ago

Unless you're off the mahayana branch.

[–]SkullyKitt[!] 2 points3 points ago

It may have something to do with buddhist's not telling their children they'll go to hell if they don't have the same beliefs, or that they're full of an invisible disease that they can only cure by submitting completely to a guy they've never met nor can confirm to be real aside from feelings in their 'heart' and in turn support a religious system that has become synonymous with hating pretty much anyone that isn't a straight male.

Also the fact that the more secular (non-mystic) branches of Buddhism encourage skepticism.

...Also the fact that when you're not personally experienced with something to the point of it being mundane you tend to view it neutral/good, as opposed to say, Catholicism, where everyone hears about any scandal that makes it into the news and if they don't have personal experience with the 'good' aspect of it, their thoughts on it tend towards neutral/bad.

[–]freedoomed -1 points0 points ago

but everything changed when the fire nation attacked

[–]gilesfarnaby -2 points-1 points ago

If they spent their time on science instead of this religious nonsense Ron Paul would be president right now.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]frittykittycat -4 points-3 points ago

Seriously. The anti-religion circlejerk is not being thorough.

[–]90brabus -2 points-1 points ago

Was this before or after they killed innocent people ?

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