Generally
why people prefer to make offering to monks rather than mae
jis?
Monks are a "field of merit" as they lead chaste life,
and are propagators of the teaching of Buddhism. Having left
household life they study and follow the path of the Buddha.
Hence they are worthy recipients of the offering. Offering food
to monks in the morning not only provides them food for their
well being but also supports them as propagators of Buddhism.
Thus people believe that offering to monks will bring them multiple
merit.
Mae jis
who observe the precepts well and follow the path of the Buddha
should be considered equal recipients. But because the image
that they project to the people is rather negative resulting
in the understanding that making offerings to mae jis does not
incur equal merit as mae iis are not 'ordained', they are not
propagators of Buddhism. Besides there are laywomen who exploit
the form of mae jis to make their living. These are some of
the reasons responsible for the lack of faith from society.
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