Q&A: Dictionary of Buddhist terms

Venerable Bounthavy Kompaphant is a young monk working to conserve and promote the culture of Laos through poetry, literature and a dictionary of Buddhist terms. The monk has written several books that aim to inculcate the habit of reading among youngsters, both for fun and acquiring knowledge, while simultaneously conserving Lao culture. He has received several awards and his goal is to write more interesting books. Vientiane Times interviewed the monk to learn more about his passion for writing.  
Q: Could you please introduce yourself?
A: My name is Venerable Bounthavy Kompaphant. I live at the Sikhounvieng temple in Dongmieng village in Vientiane. My hometown is Nampouy village in Pheng district of Xayaboury province. I graduated with a B.A. degree and majored in Lao language media. I also have a M.A. in Lao literature and now I am studying for a PhD in Lao literature at the Lao National University.

Q: What inspired you to compile the “Dictionary of Buddhist Terms”?
A: The Buddhist religion has been widely accepted in Laos for a very long time. A large number of Lao people believe in and respect the Buddhist religion, and Lao rituals and traditions are closely associated with the religion and temples.
At present, there is no dictionary of Buddhist terms, complied by the Lao people or monks,  that is available for use by monks, novice monks and Lao Buddhists.
Therefore, I initiated studying the terms and compiling them little by little. I have faced difficulties in finding information, the meanings of terms and references in documents associated with Lao culture. These are the reasons why I began compiling the Buddhist terms, so that the dictionary can be a tool for using the right words in Lao culture.
Q: What are the contents of the book?
A: For example, the word “Vat” in the book has two meanings – Vatvasaasanaa for Buddhism temples and vatthanatham for culture. There are terms directly about Buddhism, such as Dharma, Vinaya, Buddha biography (Buddhapavat), temple (vatvaa-aaraam), Buddhist building (Saasanaasathan) and Buddhist properties (Saasanaavatthu). There are words about Lao culture associated with Buddhism, such as tradition (papheni), twelve festivals (Heed 12), fourteen rituals (khong 14), faith (Khuamseua), material culture and non-material culture.
Q: Where did you find the Buddhist terms included in your book?
A: There were two sources for this glossary of Buddhist terms – documents on Buddhist and Lao culture, including dictionaries and general cultural documents in the Lao language and some in foreign languages which were compiled by others. I added terms from my own collections and my own observations, and by reading, taking notes, questioning and consulting those who know about such matters. 
Q: Have you faced any challenges while compiling this book? How long did you prepare for compiling the book?
A: This dictionary of Buddhist Terms is the first of its kind in Laos, since such a book has never been printed or compiled earlier. Therefore, I definitely faced some challenges and problems in compiling it. Cultural terms, especially Buddhist terms, are limited in the country and there is still confusion about the spelling of some words included in the book as there are two forms of spelling in the Lao alphabet. I explained how some words are used officially and generally.
Compiling the dictionary was difficult and ideally such work should be done by a team with adequate funds to support such a project. But I was the only one working on the dictionary of Buddhist terms and I used my own money for everything until I completed the book. It was not easy to finish this dictionary. 
Q: Who helped you to edit the book?
A: Compiling the dictionary is a big and important project. I consulted many experts and senior monks with experience of culture and religion, who helped to edit and proofread the book before its printing.
Q How many copies did you print? Are they only in Lao or was the dictionary published in foreign languages?
A: I printed 500 copies of the book using my own money to pay for the printing. I needed to print more than 500 copies but I had no more money.  
Q: What sort of readers have bought your book or did you donate it?
A: After the book was printed, it was put on sale and given to related sectors, such as The Central Buddhist Fellowship Organisation of the Lao PDR, the National Library, the Lao Language Centre, the National University’s library and some school libraries in different provinces. The main readers are mostly monks, novice monks, teachers, writers, students and Buddhists.
Q: Could you tell us about the books you have published?
A: There are eight books that I wrote or translated and published by myself. They are “Keubtaai” (Nearly died), a story for children, “Khounlou-Nang Auo”, a collection of poems, “Phaephunlaycharkmeumae”, a collection of short stories, “Eekeochakupmeuadorkkhounbarn”, (Open the gate to the temple), “Sikhounvieng (Pertpatousouvatsikhounvieng)”, a dictionary of Lao idioms, “Sungsinxay” and “Mr Khamfong”.
Q: Have you received any awards?
A: I have received several awards in the past. In 2015, I got two Sinxay consolation awards for the poem “Champakhoulaomeuandaokhoudeuan” and the short story “Jotmaykaokao”. In 2016, I received the Sinxay consolation award for the short story “Eekeochakubmeuadokkhounbarn”, and in 2017, I got the Sinxay consolation award for the poem “Songmeunang”.
In 2018, I received the Sinxay First Prize for the poem “Phaephunlaycharkpaymeumae”, and in 2019, I got the second prize at “50 years Meuangviengxay celebration awards” for the poem “Khammanhsunya”.
In 2020, I got the Mekhong’s Literature Award for the poem “Khammanhsunya”.
Q: Do you plan to publish more books? What kind of books will you write and when will they be published?
A: I plan to write and publish different kinds of books, such as a dictionary of Lao literary terms on 12 festivals and 14 rituals, ancient Lao traditions, a collection of documentaries on language, literature, traditions and beliefs, ancient literature, and “Mr Singalo and Mr Sungvarn”, which will be published soon.
Vientiane Times is very grateful to venerable Bounthavy for sharing his story. If readers want to share their own stories or make constructive comments, please email them to: [email protected]

By Phon Thikeo
(Latest Update March 24, 2022)