More about Wan Sipha Kham
A friend of mine named Xay came over on Friday night. Xay was our guard when we first came to Laos and he and I spent many a night outside during our first year here trying to learn each other’s language. He has been coming over once or twice a week to have a conversation in English, but on Friday we spent most of the time chatting in Lao. During our talk, he mentioned that he after he left our house he would be goin over to his friends’ house to make food for the following morning, which was Wan Sipha Kham. His explanation of the holiday was a little different than the one we received from Von.
According to Xay, though the holiday takes place every fifteen days throughout the year, it takes on more significance during the Buddhist Lent, Kao Phansaa. I believe this started earlier this month and will last until either the That Luang Festival in November. During this time, Lao people generally try to stop drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes and monks must sleep at their own wat each night. They can travel during the day but they must return to the wat before night time. Wan Sipha Kham is generally observed by more Lao people during this time. Not only as a day off for the laborers but as a spiritual holiday. They will go to their local wat around 6 in the morning to give offerings of food to the monks. As Xay was telling me this, he also epxlained that Lao people offer food to the monks in belief that it will feed their deceased relatives.
At one point in our conversation, Xay explained that Lao people do believe in reincarnation that is taught in Buddhism. He explained that it is generally believed that Buddha lived 500 times before reaching nirvana. I need to clarify with him how these two beliefs go along with each other, or maybe confirm that I nderstood him correctly. If people are reincarnated, then what is the need of offering food for them in the afterlife?
