OF SOUKHUAN AND LAOS Elena Gregoria Chai Chin Fern Faculty ...

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13th century, the Lao Loum adopted it as their national religion under the strong patronage of King Fa Ngum. The Lao Loum is the dominant group which is made up of a few ethnic groups residing in the Mekong valley. The Lao also inherited some Hinduism through the influence of Cambodians, who were very devout Hindus themselves. King Fa Ngum was believed to be the founder of the Lao Kingdom in 1353. He was brought up in a Cambodian court and was married to a Cambodian princess. Thus, the strong influence of Cambodian or Khmer civilization in old Lao or Lang Xang Kingdom is evident. When the Lao Loum adopted Buddhism in the 13 th century, preexisting cults and beliefs were modified and incorporated into Buddhism. Phya Anuman Rajadhon (1962) was one of the leading scholars to have spotted such syncretism. Another leading scholar on religion in Laos, Marcel Zago (1972) mentioned, “animism and Buddhism form a structural religious unity and appear as two components or subsystems of the unique religion of Laos” (1972:380). However, he also mentioned that the functions of animism and Buddhism are different. He noted that, “With regard to animism, the Lao searches for well-being and terrestrial protection, while the shift to Buddhism is in response to essential problems of life, a way of extra-temporal salvation” (1972:380). Martin Stuart-Fox (1982) explained further, “It can be said that in Laos, obeisance to the spirit world, to a degree unsurpassed in other Southeast Asian Theravadin Buddhist societies, does not conflict with the adept’s private spiritual quest for the accumulation of merit” (1982:64). In the soukhuan ceremony, there can be Buddhism, Hinduism and animistic elements incorporated into one ceremony and it can be difficult to single out the different religious elements. In a seminar on Buddhism and Civilization held on 11 December 2001 (Vientiane Times, 11-14 Dec 2001), the director of Ong Teu’s Buddhist University in Vieng Chan, Abbot Boukham Saribouth said, “Buddhism originally entered Laos twice but could not win over the Brahmin and animism, which were the original beliefs of local people. The first arrival of Buddhism in Laos was more than 2000 years ago during the time of the landlords. This was a time of strength and unity in original beliefs. Buddhism was easily swallowed by the two older beliefs of Brahminism and animism. In the 14th century, King Fa Ngum united an area covering much of modern Laos and adopted Buddhism as the official religion. This was the emergence of a great movement among Lao people to replace Brahmanism and animism which were still buried deeply in the hearts of many communities. However, only the kings and landlords practised Buddhism for their own interest. The people were discouraged from practicing it. Thus the spread of Buddhism was interrupted and the belief in the other two older beliefs returned. Today, Lao people integrated Buddhism in their older beliefs and through centuries, such integrated beliefs has - 4 - PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com
ecome a dominant aspect of their multifaceted spirituality,” (Vientiane Times, 11-14 Dec 2001). The Ong Teu’s Buddhist University is the only university in Laos emphasizing on Buddhist teachings. Undeniably, we could comprehend from Abbot Boukham Saribouth’s remark above, that it is a widely accepted view that animism and other beliefs predated Buddhism in the beginning of the Lao kingdom. It has since coexisted and there is to some extent an amalgamation of these beliefs which makes it impossible to differentiate between animism, Brahmism and Buddhism. One example of such practice is the structure of Phasat Pheung, made from banana trunk and decorated with bee-wax flowers that resembled the palace in heaven, which was used in a procession in Wat Si Meuang, Vientiane (<strong>Elena</strong> <strong>Chai</strong>, 2000). Wat Si Meung is a temple named after the guardian spirit of the city, Nya Mae Si Meuang (Lady Si Meuang). Legends were told that when King Setthatirath moved his kingdom from the old capital of Luang Prabang to the present capital of Vientiane in the 16 th century, a pillar known as Lak Muong or the Guardian Pillar had to be erected to protect the city. When a hole for the pillar was finally dug, the Chao Muong (headman) announced that a voluntary sacrifice had to be made to protect the city from any harm. Upon hearing this, a pregnant young lady jumped into the hole and was soon followed by a bolt of lightning and the hole became filled. After this, the pillar was erected. Other version of this legendary event mentioned the existence of supernatural beings which forced the lady into the hole where she was buried alive. Today, the pillar stands right next to the main praying chamber of the monks at Wat Si Meuang. Before entering the chamber to pray, Buddhist laity will pay homage to the guardian spirit of the city. Human sacrifice is quite a common practice of many societies in olden days in order to appease the guardian spirit(s). The belief in the presence of a guardian spirit of the city which is, closely associated with a Buddhist temple on the same site, is an example of how animism and Buddhism co-exist in Lao. The impact of communism on religious practices in Laos The current ruler of Laos is the communist government of Laos People Democratic Republic. When the Pathet Lao communist government took over from the Royal Lao Government in December 1975, King Savang Vatthana, who was the ruler and protector of Buddhism then, was forced to abdicate. The existing Buddhist sangha (the order of the monks) in Laos was reorganized and named as the United Buddhist Association. This Buddhist association was subordinated to the Pathet Lao’s National Front Organization. - 5 - PDF Creator - PDF4Free v2.0 http://www.pdf4free.com
Page 1 and 2: OF SOUKHUAN AND LAOS Elena Gregoria
Page 3: Spiritual beings are held to affect
Page 7 and 8: The khuan The belief in khuan has l
Page 9 and 10: 11) hua chai - heart 12) tap - live
Page 11 and 12: Soukhuan is mainly performed by the
Page 13 and 14: The smoldering wood was waved in a
Page 15 and 16: When there is a lightning in the sk
Page 17 and 18: should conduct herself in the prese
Page 19 and 20: Please come back to see your belove
Page 21 and 22: The Mor Phon gave moral instruction
Page 23 and 24: Acknowledgements I have been blesse
Page 25: Tambiah, Stanley J. 1970. Buddhism

OF SOUKHUAN AND LAOS Elena Gregoria Chai Chin Fern Faculty ...

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