“Be like the lotus: trust in the light; grow through the dirt; believe in new beginnings.”
Cecile and I arrived in Laos with our group from Overseas Adventures Travels (OAT) this morning and checked into the Le Palais Juliana Hotel, a boutique hotel in Luang Prabang. It is situated on the peninsula formed by the Mekong and Nam Khan River, and has earned the distinction of being a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.
In the late afternoon we visited Wat Xieng Thong, otherwise known as the “Temple of the Golden City, which is one of the most important Lao monasteries. The richly decorated temple combines the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art. It was built 1159-1560 and was a royal temple until 1975. The Lao kings were crowned here. There are carved gilded wooden doors that depict the Buddha’s life. The walls of one section contain a glass mosaic that depicts the tree of life and the wheels on the ceiling symbolize the Buddhist recognition of the law and circle of reincarnation. In total there are over twenty structures on the grounds including shrines, pavilions and residences in addition to gardens, ornamental shrubs and trees and lotus capped stone pillars. The lotus is considered to be a sacred flower in various thousand years old eastern traditions and is a metaphor for personal transformation. The lotus grows in muddy water, and it signifies that each one of us can rise above the murky waters to achieve the clarity of enlightenment.
I captured two monks outside a side entrance waiting to be called to prayers, one monk hitting the large circular gong to announce time for prayers and chanting. The rest of the monks in these photos were taken in the sim (main congregation hall), after they had gathered together. Traditionally, a monk bows (prostrates) three times before and after a ritual like this. It represents the three precious gems of the Buddhism: The Buddha, The Dharma (teachings) and the Sangha (community of monks). In non-monastic mindfulness meditation centers throughout the world a "sangha," would could also apply to lay practitioners who come together as group to meditate and chant during meditation retreats.
Afterwards, we went to stroll the colorful night markets and ended the evening with an amazing traditional Laos dinner and some of us enjoyed a Laos beer with the group.
