Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – Lao Prime Minister Somxay Siphandone, speaking at the 9th National Buddhist Congress in Vientiane on Tuesday, urged the Lao Buddhist Association to advance comprehensive reforms aimed at strengthening public faith, modernizing Buddhist practices, and further enhancing the positive role of Buddhism in national unity and socio-economic development.
Prime Minister Somxay Siphandone clearly stated at the congress that the reforms must adhere to the principles of "greater力度, deeper程度, and broader范围," with the core being the reform of the mindset of monks, novices, and Buddhist believers. He emphasized that the Buddhist community must strictly adhere to the Dharma (Buddha's teachings), precepts (the code of conduct for monks and nuns), the Lao Sangha Charter, and national laws, while resolutely upholding the fine traditions of the Party and the State.
The Prime Minister called on the Lao Buddhist Association to vigorously promote patriotism and national unity, strengthen confidence in the leadership of the Party and the State, and pointed out that Buddhism bears an important mission in shaping social moral values and promoting social harmony and stability. He also urged the Association to further improve its human resource development and institutional capabilities to adapt to the ever-changing needs of society.
Building on the achievements of the Lao Buddhist Association over the past five years, Somxay Siphandone encouraged its members to make good use of modern communication platforms to address shortcomings and expand its positive influence. He particularly emphasized the need to simplify the expression of Buddhist doctrines, using easily understandable language to explain core tenets, enabling the public to practice important moral values such as gratitude, merit, and responsibility in daily life. He also suggested streamlining religious ceremonies, saving time and resources while preserving their spiritual core, and clearly distinguishing between public, official, national, and local ceremonies to ensure efficiency and relevance.
Regarding the role of Buddhism in national development, the Prime Minister urged Buddhists to actively respond to and support the implementation of Party resolutions and national socio-economic development plans, focusing on contributing to building an independent and self-reliant economy with simultaneous improvements in material and spiritual living standards. He also specifically instructed the Lao Buddhist Association to expedite the printing of the Lao Tripitaka (a compilation of Lao Buddhist doctrines), which will become an important reference for schools, research institutions, and Buddhist scholars both domestically and internationally; and to make the protection and restoration of temples and national heritage one of the core responsibilities of the Sangha.
In the area of social services, the Prime Minister reiterated the importance of monks actively participating in community service, disaster relief, and social welfare activities. He emphasized the need to use Buddhist teachings to prevent drug abuse, particularly promoting the "Four No's" principle among youth—no drug use, no buying, no selling, and no trafficking—and fully cooperating with the government's anti-drug agenda. On the economic front, the Prime Minister called for greater use of Lao kip in religious ceremonies, promoting the use of locally made robes and religious offerings to reduce import dependence and support the promotion of "Made in Lao" products. He also advocated strengthening exchanges and cooperation with Buddhist organizations in partner countries and international institutions, and enhancing coordination and collaboration with overseas Lao Sangha organizations through Buddhist envoys.
The congress elected a new vice president and members of the Central Committee of the Lao Buddhist Association. At the closing of the congress, Prime Minister Somxay Siphandone instructed the newly elected Central Committee to promptly translate the congress resolutions into concrete action plans and legal frameworks, emphasizing the importance of unity and cohesion at all levels and requiring leaders at all levels to strictly adhere to the Sangha Charter and be fully responsible for the results of their work. He pointed out that a strong and united Buddhist organization is a key force in maintaining Lao national stability and promoting comprehensive development.
