Wat Phonsikhay
Bane Phonsikhay is located in Pakse, with roughly 400 households. Like most Lao villages, the wat or temple is the heart of the village. For a relative small temple, Wat Phonsikhay is a host to 40 novice Buddhist monks and 6 senior monks. The temple has a Buddhist Seminary school and has traditionally accepted about 20 to 30 novice monks each year. However, this year Wat Phonsikhay expanded the seminary school due to a growing demand from the surrounding villages.
When I was at Wat Phonsikhay in January and February of this year, there was no pavement. At the moment there is a plan to make a paved road from the main street to the temple. The villagers are responsible for 50% of the cost and the government will pick up the rest of the bill. There is also a plan to make concrete pavement on the temple’s ground. The work is being done by the novice monks during the spare time.
It is not an easy life as some people would think for the novice monks. Having to get up early for the daily rituals and doing manual works after lunch, in addition to keeping up with the study.
Wow, this temple is really nice and clean to the eyes. Must have a good sung ka lee and monks that are proactive.
Hi Amphone,
This is my Grand-Mama's Wat. She is the oldest living person in her village so she does keep the monks and the jua in line and would tell them how to do things the right way at the wat, keeping to the rules and norms and of how things have always been done.
Hmm…interesting. I wish I can meet more elder like her. I can learn a lot.
[...] those children that are not obtaining their education at Wat Phonsikhay, the other option is public school. Phonsikhay school is not much different than most schools in [...]
[...] are the photos from Boun Ban at Wat Phonsikay, my Grand-Mama’s village and home to one of our book box [...]