Capturing the Doun Chees, Buddhist nuns in Cambodia, ended up being a lesson in patience and peace for Mumbai photographer Jyotika Jain

Capturing the Doun Chees, Buddhist nuns in Cambodia, ended up being a lesson in patience and peace for Mumbai photographer Jyotika Jain

Last year, Jyotika Jain was just one among 30 Asian photojournalists selected to participate in the Angkor Photo Workshop in Siem Reap, Cambodia. That she would experience some of her most fulfilling moments behind the viewfinder, wasn't part of the plan. "Spending time with the nuns made me realise that peace and happiness comes by connecting with your inner self. Materialism doesn't help achieve it," recalls Jain, about the Doun Chees, Khmer's Buddhist nuns who she visited in the Kesaram wat (monastery).

The nuns clear up after feeding the chief monk, while a cat sits around
hoping to be fed too. Most wats are home to several cats. Since fish forms
a part of the nuns' diet, they are more than friends with the Doun Chees

This nun had just moved out of her old living quarters and into a new
one while Jain was visiting Kesaram wat. She chose to hop over the
railing every time she wanted to enter her room, like an athlete, and
was amused when she realised Jain was capturing her movementsu00a0u00a0

Jain captures two nuns in an intimate moment. One of them seems to be
consoling the other. The nuns often sit together and talk about their
families and lives they have left behind

A group of nuns return to the wat after attending a funeral ceremony.
Earlier, only monks were invited to religious ceremonies but after having
earned respect, nuns now play a significant role in the religious lives of localsu00a0

These two nuns fell asleep after chatting outside their rooms. Most of
them wake up as early as 4 am, for meditation and prayer ceremonies.
Afternoon naps are a common ritual

Some nuns like to use their free time in learning the Dharma. This one
is selecting a book to study. The reflection shows a nun sewing her robe.
Cooking for and feeding the chief monks is an important responsibility

Even a routine chore like laundry seems serene, like in this photo.
Each nun has her own room. The newer ones are built in concrete,
the older ones are thatched houses. Those who don't have homes
with en suite bathrooms have to use common bathrooms

"Before leaving for Cambodia, I read about its troubled history and how the country hadn't recovered from the atrocities it had experienced. The Buddhist nuns were instrumental in educating women on health. Their inspirational role tempted me to capture them, more so because very little documentation of their lives was available." Most nuns had lost their husbands during the Khmer Rouge rule, the Vietnam war and Civil War, and sought refuge in god. Over the years, the Doun Chees have earned a respectable place in society and community development. In fact, locals invite them to participate in funerals and religious ceremonies; a sign of recognition by a once indifferent society.u00a0

The Doun Chees, usually elderly widows, observe eight or ten Buddhist precepts. Clad in white robes, they shave their hair and eyebrows. An average day begins very early, around 4 am, with meditation and prayers.

Though they lead simple lives, they work to fulfill their responsibilities. During the day, daily chores like laundry, cooking, feeding the chief monks, sewing and cleaning the area around the pagoda and wats they live in, take up their time.

"Overcoming the language barrier was a challenge but Cambodia's friendly people were always ready to help. So, even though the nuns didn't understand English, locals, including the tuktuk (autorickshaw) drivers, played translators. More than language, making this a visually interesting documentation was a challenge," says Jain, about the week she spent photographing the nuns.

One look at her black and white photographs and it's clear how her mild-mannered subjects warmed up to the lens in their natural environs. "They were hospitable and helpful. I never felt uncomfortable; they fed me and ensured I wasn't inconvenienced. Their smiles have stayed with me."

As a photographer, this assignment goaded her to experiment with and explore her style. The routine lives of the nuns instilled a strange sense of patience in Jain, helping her remain focussed while waiting to capture the right moment.