The baby was stroked its head by a Buddhist monk in front of the gate

Monk stroking baby's head
Buddhist monk patting a baby's head
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A Buddhist monk stood in front of the gate of Kogan-ji Temple in Sugamo. He was wearing a kesa (priest's robe) and a deeply woven hat. The hat cast a shadow over his face, making it almost impossible to see his face. The monk was standing in front of the gate, begging for alms.

Many worshippers walked past the monk as if nothing had happened. Some, however, stopped. The elderly woman in the photo was one of them. She was holding her young grandson in her arms and quietly approached the monk and began to speak to him. The monk listened for a moment, then quietly held out his hand and began to gently stroke the baby's head.

The baby's face as he was being stroked had a look of pure joy on it that was hard to describe. The expression on his face seemed as if he was receiving some special blessing. The monk's hand touching the baby's head was very soft and quiet. It was more than a mere gesture; it was somewhat like a prayer.

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日本語
May 2017 PEOPLE TOKYO

PHOTO DATA

No

10140

Shooting Date

Oct 2007

Posted On

May 13, 2017

Modified On

December 6, 2024

Place

Sugamo, Tokyo

Genre

Street Photography

Camera

CANON EOS 1V

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