smitten

he’s sharp and smart. gentle and compassionate. confident.  firm and assertive if need be, but not in a cocky way.  a shy easy smile and soulful eyes. within minutes upon encounter i was smitten.  very. the guy i want to walk  home, hug and cuddle with.  what what what? me me me?  who who who?

Ptum Bayaar, that’s who.  this 6-year old monk, third son of a tailor, keeper of the keys at Amarbayashgalan monastery in Selenge aimag, second youngest among the monks in the monastery.

he came to the monastery at age four.  his interest was piqued by a monk-friend from the same place. he asked his parents if he can go.   they agreed and felt blessed.  his parents and two elder brothers live in Ulaanbataar.  he doesnt miss them a lot because he gets  to visit him every so often, and vice-versa.  

he’s tasked to open the temple doors and entertain the tourists, which he does with flair.  being with his monk-brothers and learning from them are what he likes most.  he is resolute in his resolve to become a good monk for the longest time.

done with herding the tourists. time to collect 3,000 tugriks from the foreign visitors.  Bayaar hasn’t learned to write yet and we helped him write out the receipts.  with mindful care, he put the money in a plastic bag, which will be turned over to an older monk.   

i patted his cheeks and told him that we hope to see him still there if and when we have the chance to come back, maybe next year or several years hence.  and that we will pray for him… that he will continue to be blessed, that he will become a good monk as he hopes to be.

he took off with a swagger to tell a lingering tourist that its time to close and that pointing the camera straight at the altar is not allowed.  

my eyes followed him wistfully. ancient wise spirit in a child’s body….