Monks. Rangamati. Bangladesh.

"You can leave your hat on" sang Tom Jones, but not here mate, this place has rules including the prohibition of taking "obscene" photos and videos. Best make sure my little soldier is well packed away then.

The largest Buddhist temple in Bangladesh, Rajban Bihar is located on the bank of Kaptai Lake, Rangamati. In the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Constructed in the 1970's in a "Burmese Style"

Known as the "Seven Heavens," each floor is built to represent represents a different paradise, easy at the bottom, working harder to achieve the teeney weeney top one, fuck me that sounds too much like hard work.

In the 1970s, buddhism infiltrated in the newly formed country of Bangladesh, a bloke named Bana Bhante appeared as one of the first examples of some sort of teacher, he lived here until he popped his clogs some 36 years later.

Apparently in buddhism there is something called the Three Treasures; the monks that live here are devoted to spreading the the message......I wandered off, all these imaginary friends and fairy stories were doing my head in; I just want to see stuff.

The shrine hall, was a later addition, built in 1987, It contains many Buddha statues.

Devotees enter for prayers and to make offerings to the Buddha, buying a stairway to heaven.

It is also the place where the monks gather to hear talks, pray and chant as well as lead meditation sessions for followers.

I remember from years ago, during a road trip round Burma that early morning monks take a bowl and go round the community collecting whatever the local devotees give them, begging in other words, from people far less fortunate. It never ceases to amaze me the number of these monks, who must forsake worldly goods, yet are owners of the latest smart phones, and some equipped with hi end DSLR cameras. You never see them travelling economy on planes either. Anyways I don't know about this lot.

They seem happy enough in their own little world mingling with common folk who come to make offerings or attend sessions of Buddhist teachings, and lots of "mindfulness meditation" practices.

Bengali Buddhist tradition, devotees will light candles and burn incense as part of their offerings. A specific place has been constructed for this purpose.

Near to it is a modern building where the long dead Bana Bhante’s mummified body rests.

Many people visit Rajban Bihar daily to prey to the corpse in the hope of, oh I don't know winning the lottery maybe, or something else.

Time to go