Translator’s Note: Laos is a Socialist (Marxist-Leninist) State. Religious freedom is guaranteed as a private matter (through the separation of Temple and State) whilst Theravada Buddhism is the tradition religion of the people. Therefore, Laos may be considered a Buddhist-Socialist State – as the Buddhist Masters advocate Socialism and Dhamma in equal measure. In English, this old temple should be literally known as the “New Temple” – due to its relatively recent repair (just over 200-years) – by Royal Command. As to the Pali name – it translates as “Golden Ground of Ram” – “Ram” is an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. Throughout Southeast Asia and beyond, ancient Brahmanism spread far and wide from India – before the rise and spread of Buddhism. By the time Buddhism arrived in the region – Brahmanism was already in-place – with the Buddha being associated with Vishnu (even in modern India – many contemporary Hindus count the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu [Ram] sent to earth to encourage vegetarianism).
This is why in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Laos, etc, many long-established Buddhist Temples have the designation “Ram” in their title – even though the Buddha denied the validly of Brahmanism and taught that gods and spirits only seem to exist (as deluded perception is inverted) – until an individual is enlightened (when perception is turned the right way sround) – then such things are known to be myths. However, Buddhism is tolerant of all beliefs, as karma is its own reward. Indeed, many Buddhist countries possess a Buddhist-version of the Hindu text known as the “Ramayana” – altered to suit the Buddha’s teachings. I think the title of the temple is referring to the empty mind ground (“Golden Ground of Ram”) – which must be realised through meditative contemplation if enlightenment is to be achieved. In the Laotian language text I have retained the Laotian arrangement of words in the temple’s name – to give the reader a more genuine feel of Laotian culture. ACW (4.2.2025)
The name of this beautiful Theravada Buddhist Temple – i.e. “Temple New Golden Ground Ram” (ວັດໃໝ່ ສຸວັນນະພູມາຣາມ – Wat Mai Suvanna Bhumi Ram) – was granted by His Majesty “King Manthulat” – in 1821. Due to its renovation – this temple was named “Wat Mai” (ວັດໃໝ່ – or “Temple New” – for short.
When you visit this temple, you will notice the 4-story roof, including stories from daily life of the Buddha and legends of Phra Vet Sandon on the temple walls.
Open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Ticket price: 10,000 LAK per person – or £0.36p.
Wat Mai Suvanna Bhumi Ram is located on Sisavangvong Road, just a 5-minute walk from the city centre – before reaching the Luang Prabang National Museum (situated in North-Central Laos).
Dress modestly, remove your hat and shoes before entering the sacred place.
Respect the monks and nuns, for women, it is not allowed to touch the monks and nuns. It is forbidden to show affection in public places such as holding hands, kissing, hugging. Do not buy any antiques as they are prohibited and you will be fined.
Laotian Language Text:
ຊື່ຂອງວັດແຫ່ງນີ້ ມັນໄດ້ມາຈາກເຈົ້າຊີວິດມັນທຸລາດ ໃນປີ 1821 ຍ້ອນມີການບູລະນະປະຕິສັງຂອນວັດຄືນໃໝ່ ຈື່ງໄດ້ຕັ້ງຊື່ວັດແຫ່ງນີ້ວ່າ: ວັດໃໝ່, ເມື່ອທ່ານໄປທ່ຽວຊົມວັດນີ້ ທ່ານຈະສັງເກດເຫັນຫລັງຄາ 4 ຊັ້ນ ລວມທັງເລື່ອງລາວຈາກຊີວິດປະຈຳວັນ ແລະ ນິທານຂອງພະເວດສັນດອນ ຢູ່ເທິງຝາວັດ.
- ເປີດທຸກມື້ເລີ່ມຕັ້ງແຕ່ເວລາ 8:00 – 17:00 ໂມງແລງ.
- Ticket price: 10,000 kip per person.
ວັດໃໝ່ ສຸວັນນະພູມາຣາມ ຕັ້ງຢູ່ທະຖົນສີສະຫວ່າງວົງ ໃຊ້ເວລາຍ່າງພຽງ 5 ນາທີ ຈາກໃຈກາງເມືອງກ່ອນຈະຮອດຫໍພິພິຕະພັນແຫ່ງຊາດຫຼວງພະບາງ.
- ແຕ່ງຕົວໃຫ້ສຸພາບຮຽບຮ້ອຍ, ປົດໝວກ ແລະເກີບອອກກ່ອນເຂົ້າຊົມສະຖານທີ່ສັກສິດ
- ເຄົາລົບພະສົງແລະສໍາມະເນນ, ສຳລັບແມ່ຍິງບໍ່ອະນຸຍາດໃຫ້ຖືກຕົວຂອງພະສົງແລະສຳມະເນນ.
- ຫ້າມບໍ່ໃຫ້ສະແດງຄວາມຮັກໃນສະຖານທີ່ສາທາລະນະເຊັ່ນ: ການຈັບມື, ການຈູບ, ການກອດ.
- ຫ້າມບໍ່ໃຫ້ຊື້ວັດຖຸໂບຮານໃດໆເພາະເປັນສິ່ງທີ່ຖືກຫ້າມ ແລະທ່ານຈະຖືກປັບໃໝ.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 