A Bossi and string

There is a ceremony that happens often here in Laos that is called a Bossi (sometimes written Baci or Bacci or Basi, and pronounced 'Bauh-see'). I got to participate in one such ceremony when a co-worker, Nicole from Australia, had to leave early. The Lao people do a Bossi for several reasons, but mostly it is intended to bless an individual who is leaving or has something going on with them that warrants intervention of some kind. I encourage you to read this article if you want to know more about the whole thing:
(http://www.laoheritagefoundation.org/ceremonies/baci.jsp)

Here are the basics... in the center is a Pha Kwan:

This is where the spirit of kwan will come and re-inhabit the person who is being blessed. A few words of explanation about the Pha Kwan. It is symbolically decorated with food at the base to 'feed' the spirit that will be called to bless the individual. There are other symbolic things like money and flowers decorating the display. The strings are used to tied the person's hands in order to bind the spirit to bless the individual.

The ceremony begins with some acknowledgments of respect from minors to elders and in our case, words were shared about the time spent together (with a direction toward encouraging Nicole as she leaves).


Then an elderly man (in our case he is called a "moh pohn" which literally means "blessing doctor"; sometimes a Buddhist monk will actually be this person) begins to chant Buddhist lines and everyone in the room leans forward to touch either the Pha Kwan or touch someone else who is touching it. This way everyone is 'connected' with the central point where the spirit will come. After some brief intro chants, everyone returns to their seat and folds their hands in front of them while the elderly man return to speaking more Buddhist chants from a small book. They light several candles part way through the chanting.


He presents the food to the spirit that he has called and then gives it to the person who is being blessed. He then takes a string from the Pha Kwan and ties the right hand wrist binding the blessing spirit to the person. Afterwards, everyone in the room takes a string and blesses the person.



The interesting thing is that many of our students were there to see Nicole because she taught many of them. Now, this is where the story takes an interesting twist... because you see, I can't in good conscience participate in this ceremony for two reasons.

1. They believe in this ceremony and the spirit calling as actually taking place. I don't. I very strongly believe this is slavery to rituals that have no truth or blessing in them. For me to participate would be to condone what is taking place in the ceremony and leads me to point #2...
2. While I respect their beliefs, I have different ones. My own beliefs are that this is wrong (I haven't the time or place to expound on this point properly or decently). So I can't participate in good conscience without denying the 'I am.' So... mutual respect going on here.

Now, Amy (my co-teacher) and I were attempting to come late to the whole thing anyway, but after arriving 40 minutes late, they were just beginning. I had one or two students who were trying to instruct me as to how to participate and I had to play the "I'm a slow foreigner who doesn't understand anything" card. I felt bad. I can't even really explain to them why not for other reasons. But at the end, they were tying strings on all the foreigners wrists. About 20 of my students came up to me with strings and said various blessings to me (like "Teacher, I hope you enjoy long life, prosperity, happiness, love, and good health") as they tied the strings to my wrist.

Its at this point where it was hardest for me because I felt like it was simply my students giving me encouragement... and I couldn't really refuse without being completely disrespectful to them and everything they are trying to do for me.

The Lao people apparently wear these for three days in order to get the maximum blessing out of them. I felt they were tight and uncomfortable so I cut them off after a couple hours (and because they hold a significance in this culture to the Buddhist belief system).

So, moral of this story... its hard living in another culture where I want to respect the people and their practices. No easy road here...just one that requires mutual respect.

Here's a link to all the pictures from the Bossi.

Bossi

Here is a video from the ceremony. It is just as the spirit calling chant is finishing and at the beginning of the string tying part.