Lao Buddhist monks have clearly played important roles in supporting those
opposed to the Lao PDR government, even if monks have variously interpreted
the level and type of involvement deemed “correct.” Some, such as Achan Chanh
Ly, violated what is generally believed to be appropriate behavior for monks.
Others can be situated in more ambiguous positions, with some interpreting
certain actions as being inappropriate and others as located within the bounds
of what the vinaya allows for monks. Some have tried to teach insurgents
about morality, and others have taught about the importance of the “nation.”
Still, no Lao monks appear to have actually taken up arms, although that is certainly
not unknown amongst present-day Theravadin Buddhist monks in Thailand (Jerryson 2009, 2010b). Interestingly, however, the positions taken by
most Lao monks involved in insurgent activities are surprisingly similar, despite
the geographical distance and relative lack of communication between the Lao
and Sri Lankan Sangha, to those taken by right-wing nationalist monks in Sri
Lanka (see Kent 2010a). That is, Lao monks generally believe that advocating
or participating in violence is inappropriate, but that providing humanitarian
and other nonmilitary support to soldiers is acceptable. Moreover, wishing soldiers
success in battle would not be considered appropriate to many, but becoming
involved, through combining Buddhism with other traditions more closely
linked to animism, in order to protect soldiers from being injured or killed, is
deemed necessary in certain contexts. Monks do indeed have individual
agency, and their diversity of views demonstrates the nuanced but important
differences that exist amongst the Lao Sangha.