LaoDharma.org has developed a Model Monastic Code of Conduct and Residency Policies — a comprehensive, ready-to-adapt template for Lao Buddhist temples registered as nonprofit organizations in the United States.
This free document covers everything a temple board needs: monk and novice eligibility and admission, code of conduct and Vinaya compliance, daily routines and responsibilities, handling of donations, financial controls, health and safeguarding policies, grievance procedures, disciplinary action, and legal compliance with U.S. nonprofit law.
Developed in the spirit of LaoDharma.org — the oldest Lao Buddhist temple in America — and offered freely to all Lao Buddhist temples across the country.
This template is for: temple boards and abbots · monks and novices on R-1 visas · lay community leaders · any Lao Buddhist temple in the United States.
Download, review, adapt, and adopt it for your temple — free, always.
Lao Buddhism carries 700 years of Theravāda wisdom — the same tradition the
Walk for Peace monks embodied. Whether you are new to Buddhism, reconnecting
with your Lao heritage, or simply seeking peace and understanding, you are
welcome here.
LaoDharma.orgສາດສະໜາພຸດລາວPreserving Lao Buddhist wisdom for the world
✦ Vision & Mission ✦
LaoDharma.org is the world’s open gateway to Lao Buddhist wisdom —
where the ancient Theravāda tradition of Southeast Asia meets every
sincere seeker, regardless of nationality, background, or belief.
Lao DiasporaPreserve heritage for Lao communities worldwide
②
Theravāda SeekersServe all drawn to the Walk for Peace tradition
③
Universal SeekersWelcome all who seek peace, compassion & wisdom
🌐English & Lao bilingual throughout
📖Scholarly accuracy · culturally respectful
🙏Theravāda tradition · Pāli with diacritics
🆓Free for everyone · no account needed
✦ In The News ✦
The Walk for Peace & the Lao Connection
ການຍ່ານເພື່ອສັນຕິພາບແລະການເຊື່ອມໂຍງກັບລາວ
108 days. 2,300 miles. Nearly 5 million followers worldwide. The Walk for Peace —
completed February 2026 — brought Theravāda Buddhist monks from Fort Worth, Texas
to Washington D.C., captivating millions of Americans who had never encountered Buddhism before.
One of the monks, Phra Ajarnh Maha Dam Phommasan, is Lao.
The tradition those monks carried — barefoot, in saffron robes, offering peace bracelets
and teaching mindfulness — is the same Theravāda tradition that has shaped Lao life
for over 700 years. LaoDharma.org is the place to go deeper.
“We do not come to bring a new religion; we come to walk for the peace that all faiths teach.— Bhikkhu Paññākāra, Walk for Peace lead monk
5M+Followers worldwideMillions curious about Theravāda Buddhism — the same tradition as Lao Buddhism
1Lao monk in the walkPhra Ajarnh Maha Dam Phommasan of Laos — injured but returned to complete the journey
“Ancient wisdom. Living tradition. Open to the world — LaoDharma.org preserves and shares the spiritual heritage of Lao Buddhism so that every sincere seeker, in any language, from any background, can find a home here.”
Seven sections covering Buddhist foundations, Lao history, temple life, culture, practice, resources, and community — all free, bilingual, and built with care.
Chants & PrayersການສວດມົນແລະຄໍາອະທິຖານTraditional Lao Buddhist chants with Lao script, phonetic pronunciation, and English translation — recorded by monks.ການສວດມົນສາສະໜາພຸດລາວດັ້ງເດີມພ້ອມດ້ວຍຕົວໜັງສືລາວແລະການແປ.
eBooks & Guidesໜັງສືດິຈິຕອລແລະຄູ່ມືFree guides to download and premium books to deepen your practice — written in both English and Lao.ຄູ່ມືຟຣີແລະໜັງສືດີເດັ່ນເພື່ອເລິກເຊິ່ງການປະຕິບັດ — ຂຽນໃນທັງພາສາອັງກິດແລະພາສາລາວ.
Lao Buddhist Temple HubສູນກາງວັດສາສະໜາພຸດລາວMore than a directory — a living network of Lao Buddhist temples across America. Find your nearest temple and connect.ຫຼາຍກວ່າລາຍຊື່ — ເຄືອຂ່າຍຂອງວັດສາສະໜາພຸດລາວ ທົ່ວ ອາເມລິກາ.
Is your temple listed? Request a profile →ວັດຂອງທ່ານ ຢູ່ ໃນ ລາຍຊື່ບໍ?
Help Us Preserve Lao Buddhism for Future Generationsຊ່ວຍພວກເຮົາຮັກສາສາສະໜາພຸດລາວ ສຳລັບຄົນຮຸ່ນໃໝ່
LaoDharma.org is a community-funded project. Every dollar goes toward creating bilingual articles, audio chants, and preserving Lao Buddhist heritage.LaoDharma.org ແມ່ນໂຄງການທີ່ສະໜັບສະໜູນໂດຍ ຊຸມຊົນ. ທຸກໂດລ່າຊ່ວຍສ້າງບົດຄວາມ.
Volunteer & Collaborateອາສາສະໝັກ ແລະ ຮ່ວມມືLaoDharma is built by the community, for the community. We need translators, writers, monks, photographers, and web developers.LaoDharma ສ້າງໂດຍຊຸມຊົນ, ສຳລັບຊຸມຊົນ. ພວກເຮົາຕ້ອງການ ນັກແປ, ນັກຂຽນ, ພຣະສົງ, ຊ່າງຮູບ ແລະ ຜູ້ພັດທະນາ.
About LaoDharma.orgກ່ຽວກັບ LaoDharma.orgLaoDharma.org was created to give the Lao Buddhist community — and anyone curious about this beautiful tradition — a trusted, bilingual home on the internet.LaoDharma.org ຖືກສ້າງຂຶ້ນເພື່ອໃຫ້ຊຸມຊົນສາສະໜາພຸດລາວ ມີທີ່ຢູ່ອາໄສທີ່ໄວ້ວາງໃຈໄດ້ໃນອິນເຕີເນັດ.
