Taking Refuge: Lao Buddhists in North America

adaptation Asia attend baci Ban Napho Beiser blessing Boun Haw Khao bowls Buddha Buddha image Buddhism in Laos Buddhist practice Buddhist services Cambodian camps in Thailand Canada Canadian celebrations ceremony Chan chants Christian conversion countries cultural dhamma donations eight precepts Esterik ethnic Fa Ngum groups identity immigrants and refugees individuals Indochinese Refugees Indra khouan laity Lan Xang Lao and Khmer Lao Buddhist Association Lao community Lao in Toronto Lao monks Lao refugees Lao religious Lao rituals Lao temple lowland Lao LPDR Luang Mahayana meditation mental health merit-making monk from Montreal Montreal Ngum North America Pali participate Pathet Lao percent Phansa precepts problems refugee camps refugee experience Refugees in Canada religion repatriation resident monk respondents ritual events Sangha share social soukhouan rituals Southeast Asian refugees sponsored sponsorship survey temple committee Thai camps Thailand Theravada Buddhism Theravadin Toronto UNHCR Vesak Vientiane Vietnamese wan sin Wat Lao women