A Monk Is Born

(Photo Credit: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

This photograph is not pertinent to anything in particular, but is it not too cute? The photograph was taken in May 2007 at a Chogye temple in Seoul, South Korea. The little boy -- I assume it's a little boy -- is not leaving home permanently. A group of children went through a ceremony, including head shaving, as if they were becoming monks. The children stayed at the temple to learn about Buddhism for three weeks.

Chogye-jong, one of the largest sects of Buddhism in Korea, is derived from Ch'an (Zen). It was founded by Bojo Guksa (1158-1210) and stresses meditation and study of the Avatamsaka, or "Flower Garland," Sutra.