after morning alms

after morning alms
joining the monks for breakfast—
chiles and sliced beef

Note: The Buddha was not a vegetarian, as these young monks at a monastery—one of a dozen—in Luang Prabang, Laos can attest. In Laos the monks still practice the daily ritual of walking the streets at dawn for alms as they are not allowed to cook or keep food on their own and must rely entirely on the donations of the community. As such, they are permitted to eat anything that is given to them by the community and this includes meat.