Thousands of Vientiane residents mourn the loss of top Buddhist monk Ajarn Boukham at "Vat That Foun". A great teacher and inspiration, he will be sadly missed by all Buddhist Laotians. May he rest in peace and be in our hearts forever.


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http://www.laopride.com/religion.html

When was this funeral? This past weekend?  He was cremated during the night time?  I wonder if there is a reason behind that.

Heya Folks

Yep - What exactly was being celebrated? As this festival is called?  :o

Greez Angakkuq

It's not a festival.  It's a ceremony for the death of a head monk.  Buddhism is very important in Laos.  This is what's keeping peace in the country.

Buk IIWJ, The funeral was held on the 25th February, 2010.  

It's very hot in Vientiane, so it makes sense to have it done during the evening. Also, it gives people who work and go to school the chance to go to the temple and witness a historic moment in their lifetime.

Angakkuq, It's a ceremony as Jackspade mentioned. He can be compared to a King, so the ceremony went for a few weeks to give people time to grieve and make donations to the temple.

Dear Admin

Could give us about his brift history please! or there are any website that will have about his information.it's ok if in Laos.(I still can read them) I am so sorry to ask you this sily question. I live away for so long and if you don't mind give us his information. Thank you...

Heya Admin, heya Jackspade

Ah, thank you - now I have learned again something. Thank you very much.  ;)

Greez Angakkuq

You see the domain links she has up on top? Lao pride, Lao babes, etc..you will find more information there about what it is you need to know about Lao culture.

Tee, There is a history book about him available for free at his temple.

google

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 1^st Mar, 2010 at 1:29am:

Tee, There is a history book about him available for free at his temple.

Hi Admin

That is really help! I am living in Australia not Laos! Thanks but no Thank....

OMD wrote on 1^st Mar, 2010 at 6:11am:

google

if I could google it,I would ask admin for help!

Tee wrote on 1^st Mar, 2010 at 10:19am:

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 1st Mar, 2010 at 1:29am: Tee, There is a history book about him available for free at his temple. Hi Admin That is really help! I am living in Australia not Laos! Thanks but no Thank....

Tee, I'll try to pick you a copy on my upcoming trip.  Let's hope that the admin didn't lie to us.

Buk IIWJ, The're only a limited book, so you better hurry.

Tee, Ajarn Boukham (1939 - 2010) was born in Champassak, southern Laos. He became a monk when he was only 8 years old and remained for the rest of his life. He has travelled to other countries including the USA and Australia. He is considered by many as one of the greatest monks ever.


To a sleepless person the night is very long.
To the weary the league seems quite long.
To the ignorant, bereft of an awareness of the Dhamma,
the cycle of existence is very long, as he is not aware of how to shorten it.

Thank you Admin! Now I know where he was born..but I still don't know what he did, as most Laos consider him as a very good monk.

I know most of us in Laos, the parent poor and will ask the son to become monk and later year when received all the free education,they will leave the Monk life. I am not saying this is bad... I,my self have 2 year education from the monk school in Wat Sala Deang near Si Muang. In that 2 years did educate me how to read and write Laos.

Temple in Laos have educated a lot of low class Laotian and teaching us how to be a good novice to the society. I am proud to say I had educated from the temple.  

The first photo page of the funeral in Vientiane is now online.

http://www.laophotos.com/funeral-of-head-monk1/funeral-of-head-monk1.html

Photo gallery page two has been posted.

http://www.laophotos.com/funeral-of-head-monk2/funeral-of-head-monk2.html

When we live, we will die eventually, that is how life evolve. Do good things in your life and when you leave this Earth, you will be remembered as a good person. I feel so blessed to have lived in the era of Ajarn Boukham.

The cremation photos has been posted.
http://www.laophotos.com/funeral-of-head-monk3/funeral-of-head-monk3.html

May I offer a few words of suggestion when posting pictures.... while I understand the need to imprint your copy-right watermark on photos so when people steal them, heh it looks fugly.

But. That being said. It looks fugly to us viewer also :p

An alternative would be to use Flash animation so that its impossible for a thief to steal the pictures from your Flash document. Add a next and previous button for easy navigation. See my attached sample :)

::Note:: I am unable to upload SWF bigger than 250 KB, so that is why I had to shrink your pictures to show the functions. These pictures can be full resolution on your end.

---

USA Joe, Thank you for your thoughtful suggestion but we will rule that out.

My colleague tells me that it is possible to steal pictures from flash. We have to also keep in mind that some users are unable to view flash. And considering we have many pictures, it will take along time for viewers to see all the pictures with flash animations.

In our layout, all the pictures are grouped together in front of the viewer in the form of thumbnails which makes it convenient for them to select the pictures they only want to see.

I'm also told that the small text at the bottom of your sample doesn't really protect anything since it can easily be trimmed off, and you will still have the main body of the picture.

Watermark on the main body is guaranteed protection. Those who purchase the pictures obviously get the best viewing, and those who like free things need to put up with a minor inconvenience. We understand it can be abit annoying for viewers, but you can still see through it.

After the public cremation is finished on the grounds of Vat That Foun, the public arrives back to the temple in two days to collect the remains of Ajarn Boukham to worship.

Buddhist monks collect first, relatives and important people second, then the general public can collect next (not much is left). The belief is that if Ajarn Boukham wants you to have something, he will let you see it.


Page four has been posted.
http://www.laophotos.com/funeral-of-head-monk4/funeral-of-head-monk4.html

Page 5 of Ajarn Boukham's funeral is up.

http://www.laophotos.com/funeral-of-head-monk5/funeral-of-head-monk5.html

No worries here, am glad to offer the suggestion.

One of Laos' biggest funerals in recent times continues on page 6.

http://www.laophotos.com/funeral-of-head-monk6/funeral-of-head-monk6.html

The final page of the funeral has been posted.

http://www.laophotos.com/funeral-of-head-monk7/funeral-of-head-monk7.html