1.
LS (TILT DOWN) DOME OF TEMPLE TO TEMPLE ENTRANCE
4 ft

2.
MS MONKS TOWARDS TEMPLE
9 ft

3.
MLS MONKS INTO TEMPLE
12 ft

4.
MLS MONKS MEETING INSIDE TEMPLE
15 1/2 ft

5.
MCU HEAD MONK GIVING INSTRUCTIONS TO SELECTED MONKS
18 ft

6.
MS (PAN) MONKS JOTTING DOWN NOTES
23 1/2 ft

7.
MS MONKS PRAYING BEFORE ALTAR
27 1/2 ft

8.
MS MONKS OUTSIDE TEMPLE (TILT UP) TEMPLE DOME
31 ft

9.
MS WOMEN HELPERS AT FEAST FOR MONKS
33 ft

10.
MS MONKS EATING (TWO SHOTS)
38 ft

11.
MS MONKS TOWARDS VILLAGE
41 ft



Initials CAR/VS/MK/CA/RBI



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THAILAND'S PATHOM CHEDI TEMPLE IN NAKORN PATHOM PROVINCE, WAS SWARMED WITH BUDDHIST MONKS YESTERDAY (FRIDAY). THEY MET TO SELECT MONKS FOR MISSIONARY WORK IN THE REMOTE AREAS OF THAILAND WHERE MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE ATHEISTS..
THE MEETING, ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDDHIST RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, WAS PRESIDED BY VENERABLE SOMDEJ PHRA WANARAT, WHO GAVE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE 616 SELECTED MONKS, THE KNOW-HOW OF PREACHING BUDDHISM. THEY HAVE BEEN DIVIDED INTO GROUPS OF SEVEN. THEIR MISSION IS EXPECTED TO TAKE THEM TO THE BORDER PROVINCES.

BEFORE GOING ON THEIR MISSION, A BIG DINNER FEAST WAS HELD IN THEIR HONOUR FROM FUNDS COLLECTED FROM STAUNCH BUDDHIST FOLLOWERS. THERE WAS PLENTY TO EAT FOR THE MONKS. EACH OF THE SELECTED MONK WAS GIVEN A KITBAG CONTAINING A TENT, BEDSIDE LAMP, FOOD-BOWLS AND FRESH ROBES. THEY SET OUT SMILING BROADLY WITH CONFIDENCE.