Buddhists make merit on the day of Buddhist Lent ( Boun Khao Phan VO Buddhists make merit on the day of Buddhist Lent ( Boun Khao Phansa). INTRO: Hundreds of Buddhists at every temple around the country stood in line patiently yesterday morning to present their offerings to monks and novices to make merit on the day of Buddhist Lent locally known as Boun Khao Phansa. Our news team Boungune Phetchampa as the atmosphere there STORY: On Boun Khao Phansa each year, believers get up early to take their buckets with offerings and a couple of large candles, turning temples into a sea of yellow at night. These offerings will sustain the monks and novices during their three dedicated months of studying the Buddhas teaching, keeping the five precepts and meditating. At 8am, a senior monk at a local temple gave five commitments to laypeople and encouraged them to receive merit and a blessing. Later, the chanting sounds of the Saiyanto from monks and novices became louder in each temple, encouraging believers to smile widely and receive merit from monks, who believe their offerings go to relatives who have passed away. After that, believers are allowed to give alms directly to the monks, before they drop water on the ground from a small bottle to ask Ngamae Thorani - a woman guard under the earth - to tell their relatives spirits to come to receive the offerings. Believers can enjoy a free breakfast at the temples to build solidarity amongst the community. Actually, I dont have time to attend the almsgiving, so this was an important chance to make merit for my relatives who passed away. I especially asked for the monks blessing for myself as well as my family members,, Aunty Pin Kao Kham Viengkeo who resides in Bane Phonethan, Saysetha districk said, after she finished presenting her offerings. Boun Khao Phansa marks the day when monks and novices commit to stay at their monasteries to study Buddhist practices for three months during the rainy season. During Lent, monks and novices arent allowed to travel outside very limited areas. Only in urgent situations, as decreed in the scripture, are they allowed to leave, and only for a maximum of seven days. Lao people dont marry in this period as they believe it to be bad luck for the family
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:57:04 +0000