Laos Essential Artistry

Favorite Laos Photo Series: Three Lotus Flowers: For every season...

 

Lotus Flowers are synonymous with Buddhism and are one of the major symbols and offerings within Buddhism.

"The roots of a lotus are in the mud, the stem grows up through the water, and the heavily scented flower lies above the water, basking in the sunlight. This pattern of growth signifies the progress of the soul from the primeval mud of materialism, through the waters of experience, and into the bright sunshine of enlightenment. Though there are other water plants that bloom above the water, it is only the lotus which, owing to the strength of its stem, regularly rises eight to twelve inches above the surface.
Thus says the Lalitavistara, 'the spirit of the best of men is spotless, like the lotus in the muddy water which does not adhere to it.' According to another scholar, 'in esoteric Buddhism, the heart of the beings is like an unopened lotus: when the virtues of the Buddha develop therein, the lotus blossoms; that is why the Buddha sits on a lotus bloom."

We've taken many photos of lotus flowers in Laos over the years and there is a magnetic appeal that is hard to resist and really, they are incredibly beautiful when they're in full bloom. But what happens when the flower is spent, has given its all to share it's beauty (enlightenment) with the world? Is the magic gone, shall we forget them and move on to the next intoxicating flower in bloom? Or is there something left, something we should contemplate and meditate on, maybe coming to the realization that

3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted

Dok Champa at Wat Mixay in Vientiane, Laos

Working on photos today and I this is one of the photos we took this summer I'm adding to our Laos Essential Artistry photo catalog. The allure of the dok champa is irresistible !!! Even for Budhha...

Sinxay Textile Grand Prize Winner from Last Year's Silk Textile Exhibition in Bangkok

In our previous post Laos Handwoven Silk Textiles Receive Most First Place Prizes! the article in the Vientiane Times mentioned that  Manivone Keomany, who last year won the top award at an exhibition of Asean silk, also held in Bangkok, was this time awarded four first prizes at the Asean Silk Fabric and Fashion Design Contest 2010 held from August 22-29. That last year's top award was given to a textile featuring Sinxay, one of the most important Lao mythological heros and we purchased a textile woven by the original weaver in Sam Tai. You have to know the story of Sinxay to really appreciate this textile and in another post we showed a Lao edition of SangSinxay newly published in Laos and Bai and I will hopefully have our English translation of Sinxay published in two years.

Walking Together in Peace (in Luang Prabang, Laos)

We probably have one of the largest collection of Laos photos exhibited on the Internet. We put up our first photo galleries in December 1998 after Peter's first trip to Laos in November 1998. This photo of the group of monks walking in Luang Prabang was taken way back then! And at the time digital cameras were still quite crude and Peter was using a Canon SLR shooting Kodachrome slide film. Peter stopped shooting film in 2000 when he got his first Nikon Coolpix camera and now uses a Canon 40D and hopes to get a Canon 7D...

We have hundreds of photos of monks in our collection. It’s hard to go wrong taking photos of monks in Laos as their orange robes stand out and can provide eye-catching compositions.

Peter remembers back to when he took this photo. "Being as it was my first time in Laos I was hyper-sensitive to  everything around me. Honestly, for three weeks it felt like every pore in my body was wide open and  absorbing everything around me. It was an incredible high to have all my senses being bombarded, especially from a photographic standpoint. If I didn’t have my camera to record what I was seeing and experiencing, I think I would have exploded!"

Luang Prabang back in 1998 was much less of a tourist destination, even though it had been classified a World Heritage site in 1995. A lot of shops on the main street were still closed, like the one in the background of where the monks are walking. The muted colors in this old French colonial city are a photographer’s dream and when Peter saw these shuttered blue doors he immediately thought how they would provide an exciting contrast to the orange robes of the monks as they walked by.

The monks in the late morning after their morning meal often walk together in groups going to one school or the other and with their shaved heads most are always carrying umbrellas to protect themselves from the bright sunlight and as Peter recounts, "What I did was to find a spot across the street, set my camera up on a tripod and wait for the right combination of monks to come walking by. I don’t remember taking a lot of photos and must have known that this shot had great potential. Of course then, since the camera wasn’t digital, there was no way for me to play back the image to see if it was a “winner” or not. But intuitively I knew I had something special."

This photo has been a lucky photo for Peter. He entered it in a Korean Air photo contest about five years ago and won a RT first class ticket from SF to Bangkok!

A couple of years ago San Diego University asked to use this photo in their publicity for a Social Issues Conference based on the theme of Walking Together in Peace. We really like their graphic design and especially the caption of “Walking Together in Peace.” That’s something we both believe in and support...

You can also see that we've incorporated the same image into our banner on our blog and Yahoo Store website. When you look at images like this and other images on our blog and Yahoo store website, just imagine that if you join our June 2010 tour the images you will be able to take and then bring home, images that will capture both your experiences and the special spirit of Laos - its breathtaking natural splendor, rich cultural heritage, and profound spiritual mystique.

Video of Monks Chanting and the Emerald Buddha at Wat Visoun in Luang Prabang

In this post we are featuring a video we took of monks chanting at Wat Visoun in Luang Prabang. In the background beneath the large Buddha statue you can barely make out a green Buddha. After the chanting we took some photos (always bring your tripod if you want to get exceptional photos!) and the green looking Buddha is actually a replica of the Emerald Buddha now residing in Bangkok, Thailand at Wat Phra Kaew. Buddha is watching...

I can listen to these monks chanting forever. You'll never be the same after sitting in one of these wats during the evening chants and allowing the pali chanting to enter into your "soul." The first time I went to Laos in November 1998 and sat in a wat like this and listened to the monks chant, I was literally covered with goose bumps for the rest of my trip. I felt like every pore in my body was wide open (although it could have been the hot peppers in the Lao food I was eating!). Those monks and other experiences in Laos changed my life forever... Just play the video and look at the photo of the Emerald Buddha and while looking at the photo and listening to the monks chant, how do you feel? Unfortunately if you click on the photo to enlarge it the video will stop, but you can always copy the photo onto your computer and then open it up to view it in a larger format.

We've been working on our videos today and the good news is that in the new Mac operating system, Snow Leopard, QuickTime version X now exports video to YouTube that is of very good quality. Five years ago we began posting video clips to YouTube, but it was near impossible to upload good quality videos. About a year ago we began uploading video to our new Vimeo Channel. But beginning today we will begin upload video to both our Vimeo Channel and YouTube Channel. The reality is that a lot more people look at YouTube and in just an hour we received our first comment about the Muang Vaen Young Girl Weaver video!

We're also beginning to seriously promote our tour to Laos in June and always one of the highlights for previous participants of our tours is to visit a wat in Luang Prabang to sit and listen to the evening chanting. It's eerie and like stepping back into time. Can't you imagine yourself sitting here inside a centuries' old wat immersed in the sound of the monks chanting? It gives me goosebumps when I listen to it...every time. And what's fun is that the style of chanting varies from wat to wat and can vary if there are a lot of younger monks (we affectionately call them monklets), a small group, large group, small wat where the acoustics are good or a larger wat where there is more of an echo effect. Wat Visoun is famous for backing up against Mt. Phusi and for it's large "watermelon" stupa.

Article in Vientiane Times: "Manners Maketh the Lao"

The articles in the Vientiane Times often have interesting titles and text as the Lao journalists enjoy being "creative" in the use of the English language. Right now, as we speak, Laos is hosting the 25th Southeast Asia Games, similar in importance to our hosting the Olympics, and so they are running a series of articles to help foreign visitors learn more about their country and culture. Thailand likes to market itself as the "Land of Smiles" and I think the Lao could market Laos as the "Land of the nop (a prayer gesture formed by holding your hands with palms together in front of your chest)." Of course most people outside Laos wouldn't understand what the nop is and this article does a good job in explaining the cultural importance of the nop. I've included two photos here. The first photo I really like is taken of a nun, a "mae khao" (white mother) with her expressive hands in the nop position. The second photo below the mae khao is of women holding their hands in the nop position during the That Luang Festival. If you join us on a tour in Laos you will have plenty of opportunities to practice your own nopping!

] 

Manners maketh the Lao

"Different cultures have many ways of greeting each other. The French kiss each other on the cheek. The Maoris of New Zealand touch noses in a traditional greeting. While an Australian might give you a hearty handshake and a “G'day mate”.

Lao people have a particularly gracious and beautiful welcome that involves a gentle smile, a polite and courteous bow of the head, a raising of the hands and the greeting “sabaidee”.

 

When a Lao person welcomes you with “sabaidee”, it literally means “feel good”.

 

Sabaidee (hello) is used when Lao people meet each other or visitors. If some one asks “how are you?” you can reply with sabaidee, which means I am doing well. If you are upset or not feeling well your answer may be “bor sabai” or “bor sabaidee”.

 

Sabaidee is lovely word that shows politeness and friendliness to people you respect, have just met, or can even say to passing strangers and foreigners to be hospitable.

 

Sabaidee can be used formally and informally. For example when you greet someone on the street, you do not have to give a “nop” (a prayer gesture formed by holding your hands with palms together in front of your chest), which is a more formal greeting.

 

In the home or office, you are often greeted with a “sabaidee” from your hosts, accompanied by a nop.

This shows appreciation and gratitude to relatives and friends for joining them for the occasion. In this case, you should return the greeting with a similar nop. You should also smile and bow your head slightly when meeting people.

 

Do not lose your temper with people or embarrass them, even if communication seems very difficult. Lao people respect calmness and do not act in response to pressure or anger.

 

Lao people like to be friendly and smile when greeting you; even in these more modern times they want to maintain this traditional greeting.

 

Children and teenagers are taught by their parents and their teachers to speak politely and to nop when greeting people who are older.

 

Young people should give the greeting first when they meet older people to show respect. If you attend important parties or events you should greet your hosts first with a nop and a “sabaidee”.  Also don't forget, if you enter a stranger's house, you should first say “sabaidee”, before anything else.

 

How do you greet special people?

 

If you want to greet monks who are visiting your house or you encounter in a temple the nop is slightly different. This time you should use two hands joined together at the fingers but slightly apart at the palms like a lotus flower bud. Then place your thumbs on the bridge of your nose between your eyes and bow your head a little, before saying “sabaidee”.

 

You should put your hands together, and place your thumb near the end of your nose and bow your head a little when you greet your parents.

 

Students should sabaidee their teacher by using two hands placed together, with the thumb under their lips and a bow of the head.

 

When you see any of the country's leaders or older people, you should raise your two hands joined together, with your thumb near your chin and bow your head a little.

If you want to greet your friends or a person who is slightly older than you, you should position your hands in front of your chest and bow your head a little.

 

In another traditional gesture, Lao people will often serve you a glass of water when you visit their home. This is to show their friendship and hospitality."

 

By Ounkham Pimmata
(Latest Update December 10 , 2009)

 

A Favorite Photo from Laos (On-going Series)

Favorite photo time! I think all photographers get goosebumps when they see monks and constantly are seeing one compelling composition after another. And often when you look at a photo, like the one above, the viewer doesn't know the story behind the photo, and there usually is one, and one of the advantages of this blog is being able to tell the story! In this instance, this photo was taken in a small wat in the village of Muang Vaen where some of our most beautiful Lao textiles are woven.

Sometimes it's difficult to find the time to actually leisurely walk through a village when you're there for "business," but we always try to find the time because you'll never know what you will see and discover. It's really what I enjoy the best. When we walked by the building above, the sleeping quarters for the couple of monks for this wat, I saw this monk look out the window opening and then disappear. My wife was talking to the other monk who was on the porch by the front door where this monk then joined the other monk. I kept thinking, wow, that window opening is a great frame for the monk, but how am I going to get him to come back? Sometimes it's easy to just let it slide and move on, but I couldn't pass this up so I asked Bai if she could ask the monk if he would come back and peer out the window. Sometimes they are shy or just don't want their photo taken, but most monks will accommodate to "visitors" and this one quickly went back to this window where I took several shots. I would have liked to see him smile a little, but he wouldn't "nyeem" (Lao word for smile), but I still really like the shot.

I wonder what is he thinking?

Buddhists request forgiveness at Horkhaosalak Festival in Vientiane, Laos

In the article we're reprinting from the Vientiane Times about a recent Buddhist festival, the observation is made that "Temples around the country were crowded with women of all ages wearing the traditional sinh (long skirt) combined with colorful silk blouses." It is interesting to note that it's not just old women wearing sinhs, but women and girls of all ages. Women wearing a sinh represent the best in Lao culture and we're proud at Laos Essential Artistry to be the only online business in the United States promoting and selling Lao Sinhs. Lao sinhs are Lao textiles and most Lao sinhs are handwoven out of silk. Our silk Lao textiles represent some of the best textiles being woven in Laos. Laos Essential Artistry is just a click away.

_____________________________________________________________________________ "The sounds of Saiyanto, a Buddhist chant, wafted from the temples of Vientiane last Friday as monks and novices gathered to celebrate the Horkhaosalak Festival.

Monks receive gift baskets at That Luang temple.

Believers took time from their jobs and studies to join in the festivities at their local temples.

Though Buddha departed from our world more than 2,500 years ago, his teachings remain to remind followers to make merit for themselves and their ancestors on important days in the Buddhist calendar .

Each year on this occasion the faithful get up early to take gift baskets to the temple by 7am. Offerings may include fruits, sweets, dried fish and meat, salt, sugar, rice or flowers, varying from family to family.

Temples around the country were crowded with women of all ages wearing the traditional sinh (long skirt) combined with colourful silk blouses. Young men were in formal clothing.

Their faces beaming with happiness, long ranks of believers stood on the temple grounds, embracing their silver bowls, waiting to place their offerings on long tables to be received by monks.

At 8am senior monks recited the five commitments to encourage lay people to make merit and give blessings.

After that they were welcomed to give their alms directly to the monks. At every corner of the temples, believers poured water from small bottles to ask Ngamae Thorani (a spirit guardian) to tell the spirits of their relatives it was time to receive their offerings.

If fortunate enough to have the time, festival participants sat on the sala (where monks and novices eat) to listen to the legend of the Horkhaosalak Festival.

Many see sharing a breakfast together after the monks and novices eat as a way of building solidarity amongst the community.

A resident of That Luang Neua, Ms Daomani, said the festival was an important opportunity to make amends with ancestors, relatives and the spirits of those whom she might have ag grieved in the past.

She hopes her actions during the festival will help the spirits grant forgiveness for her errors in this and past lives, and that she will be blessed with good health, success and protection.

However, she said she was aware these actions were symbolic, and that if you wanted to have better health and success in work, love or your studies, it depended on your own efforts.

By Ounkham Pimmata
(Latest Update September 7 , 2009)

Horkhaosalak Festival in Laos: a time to remember ancestors

Older people become an alarm clock for their family members on the important Buddhist day, Horkhaosalak, often rising as early as 4am for the festival.

An activity not familiar to the youth of our society, it's apart of daily routine for the older generation to wake early and provide food, candy and fruit as alms to monks and novices in their community.

This is particularly true during the Horkhaosalak Festival. Members of the older generation get together to fold banana leaves for khaotom and place other offerings into baskets the day before the festival begins.

Older people in each community will go to temples to help monks decorate the centre hall, or sim, and prepare places to welcome devotees.

Offerings include fruit, sweets, dried fish and meat, salt, sugar, rice, or flowers, depending on the family. It has become the festival's symbol, passed down and practiced from generation to generation.

During the festival, markets in Vientiane are bursting with colour due to the various baskets made up by vendors and put on offer for the convenience of believers.

They believe offering these alms directly to monks and novices at temples makes merit to ancestors who have passed away to encourage their rebirth.

A monk at Ongteu temple said the custom of offering a basket to monks follows the legend of the son of a rich family whose father died when he was child. When he became an adult, his mother selected a beautiful woman to marry him.

Unfortunately she was unable to get pregnant, so her mother-in-law decided to look for a new spouse for her son. Eventually, the man's new wife became pregnant and his first wife grew afraid that this child would inherit her husband's property. To ensure that the child did not receive the inheritance, she poisoned the first as well as the second child.

During her third pregnancy, the man's second wife decided to live with her relatives, but his first wife still seeks vengeance, and gets it. Before the second wife dies, she prays to be reborn as a giant to eat her murderer's children.

The two go through several rebirths, each time seeking revenge. Until they are born in Buddha's period, the second wife is reborn as a giant and the first wife is Nang (Ms) Kulatida who marries a rich man.

When Nang Kulatida has children, the giant changes herself to a normal woman so they won't fear her. She succeeds in gobbling up Kulatida's first two children.

Upon the birth of her third child, Kulatida and her husband seek refuge from the giant at Phraxetavanmahavihan temple and ask Buddha for help.

Buddha tells Phra Anon to invite the giant standing outside to enter and listen to teachings about the mistakes of revenge. Buddha then orders Nang Kulatida and her husband to take care of the giant.

From then on, the giant is looked after by Nang Kulatida in her field. Each year the giant gives advice on planting rice. This makes Nang Kulatida's family rich from selling rice and she brings alms to the temple in a basket eight times per day.

This is one reason why Lao people respect this custom.

Aunt Keo explains with a wide smile that each year she prepares several kinds of offerings for her basket.

She joins her children on the afternoon of the festival's eve to make khaotom. The next day she gets up at 4am to cook food and prepare offerings for the important Buddhist day.

She believes that the festival is an important opportunity to apologise to ancestors, relatives and other spirits who they may have faulted in this or past lives. They request forgiveness from those spirits along with blessings of good health.

The Horkhaosalak Festival is an annual tradition, which falls on September 4 this year. The festival usually takes place after Horkhoapadapdin Festival, during the tenth month of the Buddhist calendar.

Getting up bright and early on this Friday will help you touch on Lao tradition and culture. You have an opportunity to see women wearing traditional skirts, or sinhs, combined with colourful silk blouses. Young men wear formal but stylish clothing.

They carry baskets and silver bowls with offerings on their way to temples in their communities.

At temples you can see believers put a small piece of paper into the basket, this is called Salak.

Salak means lucky draw in Lao. People coming to the temples write the names of their family members on the paper. They believe this helps to haven guardians to remember their goodness.

The baskets containing the pieces of paper will be brought to the stage where monks sit. The monks then read the names. When someone's family member is called they will bring Horkhaosalak and baskets directly to the arms of the monk.

They believe these offerings will go to their specific relative spirits.

It is common to see many people pay homage to the wisdom of Buddha.

They ask the spirits of the dead to protect their house and family and to ensure good health, even if they don't have enough time to go to the temple.

After the end of a special ceremony at 9am, monks recite the teachings of Buddha and tell the history of Buddhist Lent.

Sharing a breakfast together after monks and novices eat is also a way of building solidarity amongst the community.

From the Vientiane Times

By Ounkham Pimmata
(Latest Update September 4 , 2009)

Horkhaopadapdin remembers ancestors, preserves traditions in Laos

This month many Lao people will prepare a small decorative offering wrapped in banana leaves. Inside will be fruit, sweets, dried fish, flowers and other small food items. Shaped like a boat, it is called a Hor khao.

Lao people will get up early, at 3-5 am to take their Hor khao to go to the temple or place it around their house.

With only the light from candles, people will pray to relatives who have passed away to accept their offerings.

Abandoned spirits who are suffering will also be offered a gift.

Every year Lao people celebrate the Horkhaopadapdin festival this way

Lao people believe that on this day, August 20, when they remember their deceased ancestors the guardians of hell will release them and other spirits to eat the food being offered.

People believe that if they do not give an offering, then they will not have success in work or business.

Some even believe this is the reason for the global economic slowdown.

Despite this, true believers have never stopped having faith in Buddha nor have they ceased to ask their ancestors' spirits to accept the offerings they have provided.

The festival usually takes place after the Buddhist Lent in the eighth or ninth month of the Buddhist calendar.

The day before Boun Horkhaopadapdin begins you can see people, especially in rural areas, getting together to fold banana leaves with rice and ripe banana. It is called a Khaotom.

Up to nine kinds of offering are placed in a Horkhao.

A monk at Simeuang temple said according to legend, Phra Chao Phimphisan had relatives who stole food and fruit from the temple.

When they passed away they became Pheds, spirits who have to take care of the temple because of their bad deeds.

One day, Phra Chao Phimphisan dreamt of his relative crying in pain and hunger.

In the morning he asked the Buddha what the dream meant. Buddha told him these spirits wanted him to donate something and make merit for them to enable them to be reborn.

Why do Lao people celebrate the Horkhaopadapdin festival?

Lao people believe placing food and sweets in packages wrapped up in banana leaves on the ground and fences at houses and temples during Horkhaopadapdin festival brings merit.

They believe this action will help their ancestors, relatives and other spirits have something to eat. In turn, they will be blessed with good luck and happiness in their lives.

The date of the festival depends on the Buddhist calendar, and this year it will fall on Thursday.

Devotees will prepare nine kinds of food and place them inside a Horkhao on this day.

In temples around the country monks will prepare the areas and decorations in the cental hall or Sim (where monks perform rituals) to welcome people who come to make merit.

Buddhist flags will often be placed on the sides of the temple's entrance to show it is an important day for devotees of the faith.

On Thursday residents of each village will begin emerging from their homes around 3 am, and on arrival at the temple they place their offering around the wall, the stupas of dead spirits, under trees and on the ground.

They invite the spirits to eat and call for mercy for them, so they can be reborn and freed from suffering, blessed with wealth and good health.

About 7-8 am, temples become joyous once again, when they become crowded with young people accompanying their parents to pay homage to the wisdom of Buddha.

Nowadays the festival is also seen as an opportunity for young people to show more modern versions of traditional clothing.

The women wear a traditional skirt called a sinh but will combine this with a colourful silk blouse. Young men wear formal but stylish clothing.

Giving alms begins with the senior monk in the temple telling lay people about the five commitments and encouraging them make merit.

After that they are allowed to bring offerings such as candies, Khaotom and money directly to monks at a long-table with aluminum bowls. They believe these offerings will go to their specific relative spirits.

It is usual at this time if you see many people pay homage to the wisdom of Buddha.

They ask the spirits of the dead to protect their house and family and to have good health, even if they don't have enough time to go the temple.

After the end of a special ceremony at 9 am, monks recite the teachings of Buddha and tell the history of Buddhist lent.

Sharing a breakfast together after monks and novices eat is also a way of building solidarity amongst the community.

Later in the day at 8 pm, people, especially young partners use this occasion to show their love for each other by holding bunches of flowers or candles with incense and pray to Buddha together by walking around the central temple hall three times and to acquire his blessings.

But don't forget, asking for blessing is not just for success in work, business or love.

To improve life depends very much one's own actions.

 

By Ounkham Pimmata
(Latest Update August 19, 2009)

Welcome to the Laos Essential Artistry Blog

Welcome and sabaidee! We consider this blog like our own multimedia loom where we can weave together stories, photos, videos, and music in a way that that will help our readers and customers better understand our passion for Laos and why we've created a Yahoo store to promote and sell the finest in handwoven Lao textiles and Lao handicrafts on the Internet! We hope through our blog the Lao weavers, Lao artisans and Lao galleries that we represent, “the individual yarns and varying patterns,” are woven together cohesively and meaningfully in a way that makes them come alive. Have any questions? Email us at peterlaos@hotmail.com or you can call us at 916-996-4553

Monk's Robe and Hands

Monk in temple doorway

This was taken in the early evening (usually around 6:00) when most of the monks gather for evening prayers (chanting). I guess this monk was a little late and decided to just "listen in."

Buddha Window Grating

I saw this window grating in a window in a wat in Luang Prabang, liked the design, and took the photo. It's the kind of photo that's fun to apply artistic filters too...

Monk Putting on his Robe (Vientiane)