Mahut and his elephant in the river, outside the village of Bann Ann. Laos, 2010.
Hamoung boy in the village of Naoen. Laos, 2010.
Monks in an internet cafe. Luang Prabang, Laos, 2010.
![In Buddhism, alms or almsgiving is the respect given by a lay Buddhist to a Buddhist monk, nun, spiritually-developed person or other sentient being. It is not charity as presumed by Western interpreters. It is closer to a symbolic connection to the spiritual and to show humbleness and respect in the presence of normal society.[note 1] The visible presence of monks and nuns is a stabilizing influence. The act of alms giving assists in connecting the human to the monk or nun and what he/she represents.
Monks receiving alms in Luang Prabang, Laos, 2010.](https://photos.smugmug.com/Destinations/Laos/i-sCX9qrS/0/f715e09f/XL/x10-XL.jpg)
