Lao temples or vat should more strictly be referred to as monasteries as they are not just places of worship but also the dwelling places of the Buddhist monks and novices. Every Lao monastery is different but within the compound you will typically find the following ;
- The Sim or Aham which is the central place of worship and also used for the ordination of monks.
- The Aham will contain a main Buddha image against the back wall usually facing to the East.
- A Chedi (a.k.a. Stupa), a large bell shaped structure usually directly behind the sim containing sacred relics of monks or royalty
- A Sala which is often an open room also with an altar for Buddha images, used for community religious events
- The Ho San is usually an open room used by the monks for eating meals
- The drum tower with a large drum used to announce the start (4am) and end (4pm) of Buddhist holy days.
- A bell tower usually with a wooden bell, used to announce key times to the monks through the day
- Various Kuti buildings in which the monks and novices live
- A boat house. Villages along the Mekong and its tributaries participate in annual boat races and the village temple provides a communal space to store and maintain the racing boats.
- Burial chedi are often found lined along the outer perimeter wall, encasing the ashes of deceased family members from the local community
The Layout of a Typical Lao Monastery
The community of monks living within a temple usually consists of a small number of monks (Adult males who have been ordained to follow the full 227 vows of Theravada Buddhism) and a larger number of novices (Young males between 10yrs and 20yrs of age who have entered the temple and follow a reduced set of vows). The vat is the hub of the village community. The monks provide spiritual support and guidance to the villagers whilst the villagers provide food and daily necessities for the monks. By taking in novices or chua the monastery provide an education to children that otherwise have no similar opportunity at home.
Lao sim are often decorated on the outside with paintings depicting events from the previous lives of the Buddha (Known as the Jataka tales). These stories provide moral guidance, each story having a specific message, the sim thereby plays a direct physical role in the moral and religious teaching of the community.
Lao sim are often decorated on the outside with paintings depicting events from the previous lives of the Buddha (Known as the Jataka tales). These stories provide moral guidance, each story having a specific message, the sim thereby plays a direct physical role in the moral and religious teaching of the community.
Lao temples are often decorated with stories of the Buddha's lives, each story providing a moral lesson to followers.
Visiting the beautiful temples of Luang Prabang should be on every visitor's itinerary and younger monks or novices especially may be very happy to practice their English with passing tourists. But do be mindful at all times that these monasteries are not tourist attractions but living religious communities to be respected. Some basic rules to follow are;
- Dress appropriately - no bare shoulders, no shorts
- Women must not touch or hand anything directly to a monk
- Leave your shoes on the steps when entering the sim
- Sit with your feet tucked in behind you - do not point your feet towards the main Buddha image
- Do not climb on Buddha statues or chedi
- Do not disturb prayer times