Taking Refuge: Lao Buddhists in North America

activities adaptation Asia Association attend blessing Buddha Buddhist practice Buddhist services build Canada Canadian celebrations ceremony chants Christian committee concern conversion countries cultural developed donations English established ethnic example experience Following friends giving groups hall identity immigrants important individuals Indochinese institutions Khmer laity Lao Buddhist Lao refugees less living lowland Lao Mahayana Marxism meaning mental health merit monks Montreal moral North America occasions offerings official opportunity ordination Pali participate particularly percent political practice prepared present problems programs questions reason refers refugee camps relations relatives religion religious repatriation resettlement resident respondents ritual share social soukhouan Southeast Asian spirits sponsored Studies survey Table teaching temple Thai Thailand Theravada Buddhism Toronto tradition United University Vietnamese visiting Wat Lao women