Sunday Service Guide
Join Our Weekly Dhamma Gathering
Every Sunday at 10:00 AM, we gather at Wat Pa Lao Buddhadham for our traditional Buddhist ceremony. The service typically concludes around 12:00 PM, providing an opportunity for spiritual practice, learning, and community connection. Normal Sundays are held at the Monks Residence building. For Special Events/ Buddhist holidays, it will be held at the Main Dhamma Hall.
Note: Occasionally our monks may be invited to other locations. Any schedule changes will be posted here.
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What to Expect
Our Sunday ceremony follows traditional Theravada Buddhist practices with chanting in Pali and Lao. If possible, we will have some translation for the Dhamma Teaching for English speakers and listeners. Whether you're new to Buddhist practice or have been practicing for years, all are welcome to join this sacred gathering.
How to Participate
Making Offerings
When you arrive, you may participate by offering food, donations, or alms:
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Food Offerings: If preparing a dish, bring it to the kitchen and ask someone to help make a plate for each of the monks. Currently we have 4 monks.
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Monetary Donations: There are several ways to donate:
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Place in the alms bowl on the table in the center of the room
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Attach to the money tree
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Use the donation box
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Place in an envelope with your name written on it and offer directly to the monks
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Other Offerings: Snacks, fruit, or water may be placed in the alms bowl as offerings.
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Prepare water and cup for the Final Blessing - Usually the Imina or Adasi me, Merit Transfer chant for loved ones. After the ceremony, take that cup outside and water a flower plant or tree and ask your loved ones to receive this merit that you transferred to them.
Following Along
To follow along with the ceremony, you can download our ceremony guide PDF: Download Sunday Ceremony Guide (PDF)
For iPhone & Mac users (Epub version with sound sample): Download Epub version
10:00 AM - Prepare your food, offerings, and alms
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Prepare your food dish for monks - Ask for help if needed
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Make donations
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Offer snacks, water, money into Alms bowl
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Recommended to prepare 4 sets of offerings, one set for each bowl.
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For example, one set would be (Apple, crackers, $1, bottle water)
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10:30 AM - Beginning of Ceremony
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Opening Homage to the Buddha
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Invitation to the Devas (Devārādhanā)
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Offering to the Triple Gem
Taking Refuge & Precepts
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Homage to the Buddha
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Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem (Ti-Sarana)
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Recollection of the Buddha's Qualities
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Request and Receiving of the Five Precepts (Pañca Sīla)
Protection Chants
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Request for Protection Chanting (Āradhana Paritta)
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Monk's Protection Chanting
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Bahum Protection Verse (Jayamangala Gatha)
Dhamma Teaching
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Food Offering
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Dhamma Talk
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Asking for Forgiveness to the Triple Gem
12:00 PM - Conclusion
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Merit Sharing Blessing
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Final Blessings
Sunday Dhamma Teaching as Podcasts
Our weekly Dhamma talks are recorded as podcasts and available for viewing with subtitles. These teachings explore the Buddha's wisdom and its application to daily life. If there is no translator present during the service or if you missed something important from the teaching, you can return to this page to watch the video with subtitles for better understanding.
For more information about our temple activities or if you have questions about attending the ceremony, please contact us.
