Admin Saovaluck wrote on 24^th Jan, 2014 at 4:44pm:



So true  . Freaking commies

Admin, that's where you are wrong. It is your duty if you can help.

My wife and I work in Community Development and the Lao people seem to just want to take from everybody else and not give to their own. Whenever the local government wants to organize a special event they go to the foreigner owned businesses to donate because they know the Lao owned businesses won't.

Lao people, generally don't have a "charity" attitude. That could be mostly be attributed to the Buddhist tradition of Karma and also that growing up in a socialist country, of the attitude that it's "up to the government".

Socialism was a model that sounded good in theory but fails in reality. There are just as many failures in the pure capitalistic model. The countries that fare the best are those with a good balance.

Choosing the Russian model over the American model in the 70s is an exercise in hindsight. It looked good at the time. Vietnam, just like Laos, woke up in the '80s. Unfortunately Laos, with it's small population, land-locked location, and culture didn't fare so well.

There's corruption in every country. Some more obvious than others. Poverty exists in all countries whether socialist or capitalist.

Since the topic was "a picture is worth a thousand words", be aware, that what you SEE can be deceiving. There are probably more poor people, relatively speaking, in America than in Laos. Who really knows why that young girl had a ripped sin. Maybe it had just ripped.

No you can't help everyone on the street. Helping some of them once in a while is a moral duty of everyone who can.

Sorry for my rant but I see many rich Lao who could spread some of that wealth around instead of buying more "shit" to make them look "important" (and that's not just the government).

CDN Lao lover wrote on 26^th Jan, 2014 at 10:26am:



Hey buddy just for your info.Folks in the US consider poor is not having cable TV.At least being poor over here they have all sort of aid program.The 1 is call welfare.How the heck you gonna compare the US population with the Laos. Dude
it nice you doing good work.But i think you been brainwash
by the commies.

peterpan wrote on 26^th Jan, 2014 at 11:27am:




Tell him Peter.Thank you . The Goverment is a POS.
If you don't know what it mean it stand for (peace of CHit) 

Giving people handouts doesn't really help them generally it just makes them want to ask for more..The best way to help people is to open up opportunities for them to help themselves.

Haven't you guys seen those signs at national parks saying "Don't feed the animals, it will make them come back to beg humans for more food"?

ba dac wrote on 26^th Jan, 2014 at 11:46am:



Since I'm just a stupid westerner who doesn't know anything about Lao Buddhism, from what I've been told the only reason most Lao "give" to a Temple is so that they get some "reward" for their next life. It's all about THEIR karma. That's not "charity". Charity is the free giving of something you have with no expectations in return. That definitely isn't what the Buddhist "culture" in Lao is all about.

Prove to me that the morning alms giving doesn't have some ulterior motive related to the "giver" wanting something back in return?

The whole purpose of becoming a monk is to give up worldly possessions, meditate, and pray for enlightenment. I see most novices with cell phones and buying "crap" food. I know of many instances where the "charity" given to a temple has nothing to do selflessness and everything to do with selfishness. It's mostly about what can I get in return, this life or the next. And that, is not charity.

If I am wrong, please enlighten me as to the reasons Lao people give to a Temple and not to the poor villagers. Becoming a monk is a choice. Being born poor in a village with no electricity, toilets or running water is not a choice I believe that any of these people have made. All the "charity" given to the Temples would have a better ROI "return on investment" (if you don't know what it stands for) being used for education, health and investment in the villages for the poor.

Why? Because Temples are a sink hole. Money goes in and does nothing to help society as a whole, except making someone think their business is making money because of their "charity", or will heal a sick family member, or have a monk "bless" a new car or house, for good luck. Investing in other Lao communities will raise everybody's standard of living. And that, my boy, is what capitalism is all about.

Want to call me a commie. You should get a dictionary, economics text, or encyclopedia out and do a little homework. Then you might understand the difference.

You punk mothercrappity smacker. I'm so crappity smacking pissed. What about all the monks who dedicate themselves to the sutras? I've taught some of them. I'm not Buddhist but I respect Buddhism and I respect the monks. You shit talking f*g**t. Why don't you go jerk off to Lenin you commie prick? I just re-read your post and I'm more pissed than before. Where the crappity smack are you in Laos? I bet you're some loser falang who chooses cynicism because you could never become successful. I would absolutely love to fight with you and see who is the better man. You are a disgrace and embarrassment to falang worldwide and I won't stand your shit talking of a beautiful tradition with origins in India.

To say Buddhism as a whole is bad would not be accurate. There are bad people of all religions. In Myanmar the Buddhists kill Muslims, in most of the world Muslims kill non-Muslims and Christians brainwash people and fondle little boys. where have you seen Buddhists trying to brainwash anyone? (apart from the thai education system that is) The monks teach good values to the community and force no one to attend or follow their teachings unlike the Christian  missionary psychopaths who crusade around Asia destroying local animist religions. If any religion needs to go, it's the fanatical Abrahamic lunatic religions