The Lao Buddhist Temple of Colorado was established in 1988 as a non-profit organization and have filed the article of incorporation with the State of Colorado. We have over 200 household members and a variety of services and educational programs available for everyone. The Lao Temple is a public place for everyone to come and enjoy our religious culture. Lao Buddhists belong to the Theravada tradition dissented from Sri Lanka, India, Cambodia, and Mahayana. The Lao Buddhist Temple of Colorado is situated in Westminster, Colorado.

ABOUT THERAVADA BUDDHISM

Theravada Buddhism is not prescriptive, authoritative, nor is it exclusive in its disposition toward its contituency and is tolerant of other religions. It consists of three concepts: dharma, the doctrine of the Buddha, a guide to righteous action; kharma, the consequences and retribution of actions, the responsibility of one’s actions in all previous and present incarnations; and sangha, within which one can strive to improve the sum of one’s actions. There is no promise of heaven or life after death, but instead, salvation in the form of a final existence of one’s being and the release from the cycle of births and deaths and the inevitable suffering within that cycle. Nirvana, comes after one has achieved enlightenment; the average person cannot hope for nirvana at the end of this life, but by following the basic rules and precedents of moral conduct, one can improve karma and thereby better his or her existence in the next lifetime. Kharma can be favorably affected by restraining from these five forbiddances: lying, stealing, killing, forbidden sexual pleasures, and taking intoxicants. The most effective way to improve kharma is to earn merit (“tum boun”–literally, “do good”–in Lao). Although any act of kindness. benevolence or generosity can earn merit, Laotians believe the best opportunities to attain merit comes from support for the sangha and participation in its activities.

LAO CULTURE AND BUDDHISM

Buddhism was introduced to Laos in the early eighth century by Mon Buddhist monks and became widespread by the fourteenth century. Numerous Laotian kings were important patrons of Buddhism, as is the current communist regime and by consequence, almost all lowland Lao people are currently buddhists. By tradition, all males are expected to spend a period of their life lives as a monk or novice prior to marriage and possibly in old age. Being ordained also brings uprecedented merit to one’s parents. The period of ordination varies; it could last only for the three-month Lenten retreat period–but many men could spend years in the sangha gaining both secular and religious knowledge. Study of the Pali language, in which all Theravada texts are written, is a fundamental and crucial part of religious training. Ordination also requires a man to comply with the 227 rules of the monastic order; novices–those under twenty years old–must obey seventy- five rules; and normal people are expected to observe the five prohibitions. Few women, usually elderly become Buddhist nuns; they live a contemplative and ascetic life but do not lead religious ceremonies like monks. Monks strive to detachment themselves from the world and thus, are unable to have any possessions; they must rely entirely on the generosity of people for food and clothing. Providing gifts to monks is a very good way to earn merit. Women are generally much more active than men in preparing and presenting rice and other foods to monks, who make their morning rounds through the town carrying an alms-bowl to receive offerings that are the only nourishment they’ll take in for the day. In small villages temples where there are only a few monks or novices (as in our case), the women of the village often take turns bringing food to the wat each morning. Attendance at prayers held at the wat on the quarter, full, and new moon of each lunar cycle also provides a regular means of attaining merit.