Khmer edition; Lao libraries

> I am holding in my hands volume three of Textes
> Bouddhiques du Laos: La puret?par les mots, introduced, edited, and
> translated by F. Bizot/F. Lagirarde, published by ?ole francaise
d?xtr?e
> Orient, 1996. I wrote a small paper for this volume on an interesting
> historical problem concerning the indigenous interpretation of Kacc 1.
You
> probably have access to that in Vientiane.

I do not have access to any
E.F.d'E.O. publications here in Meaung Lao.

Aside from Manuscripts, the National Library has mostly Russian
and Vietnamese communist materials; there is neither much in Lao
nor English nor French.  The French books that are available are
primarily novels, not scholarly materials.

The only scholarly materials on Pali, etc., that the National Library
has amassed (I believe) the ones that I donated myself.  I gave them just
about
all the books that I owned some time ago --and I haven't seen them since.
They don't have any empty space on the bookshelves, so it may be that
my donations were put on top of the rotting pile of textbooks that the U.S.
consulate gave them not too recently.  I think there are a few
scholarly reference books in the desk of the MS librarian --but
not for general use or circulation.

Library infrastructure in Lao is primarily aimed at providing
support for basic education and literacy.  Neither Luang Pabang
nor Vientiane have much in the way of contemporary library
collections; I've just seen the new library in Pakse --it is
very nice, but has relatively few books.  I'm writing this from
Champasak --where the availability of books of any kind is
(as in rural Lao beyond) almost nil.

The NUOL / Dong Dok University library is a nice place to read
  --but, again, one has to bring one's own books for the occasion.
There aren't many on the shelves, and I am told by scandalized foreigners
that
the books are often missing pages that the professors considered
offensive.

I have spoken to two Lao professors (who happen to speak
german) from NUOL / Dong Dok U, and they assured me that there were
no books or resources pertaining to Pali, etc., anywhere in the
university system since it had been removed from both the high-school
and university the curriculum (in the early 1980s?).  Whatever limited
Pali/indological resources exist have been concentrated in the Sangha
College (Vientiane), and in a few odd Wats.  This is particularly
unfortunate for women's education, as (1) these areas are difficult or
prohibitive for women to enter, (2) women's education in Pali and
Buddhist doctrine seems to be a growth industry everywhere else in
Asia, and (3) over 80% of the actual sermon attending/active Buddhist
population in Urban Lao is female.  The statistics I've seen are
purely for Vientiane, it may be that there's more male participation
in the rural districts; however, in "the big city", actually
practicing Buddhism seems to be a predominantly female passtime.

Justin McDaniel can describe the collections at the Sangha College;
as I neither wear a robe nor speak much Lao, I would have trouble
insinuating myself into their library.

E.M.


--
A saying of the Buddha from http://metta.lk/
View Streaming Dhamma Video http://dharmavahini.tv/
He who delights in subduing (evil) thoughts, who meditates on "the
loathsomeness" (of the body), who is ever mindful, - it is he who will make
an end (of craving). He will sever Mara's bond.
Random Dhammapada Verse 350