Over eighty per cent of the population are Buddhists, and most will regularly visit the temple to pray and offer gifts.
In spite of committing some of the worst human rights violations, many of the government officials believe that by building the largest or most expensive Buddha statue or temple, their misdeeds will be absolved, and in the next life they will be one stage closer to Nirvana. {cke_protected}{C}%3C!%2D%2DEndFragment%2D%2D%3E
{cke_protected}{C}%3C!%2D%2DStartFragment%2D%2D%3EIt is part of Buddhist culture for the men to serve in a monastery at some time in their life. Most young boys spend a few weeks as novices when they are about ten years old.{cke_protected}{C}%3C!%2D%2DEndFragment%2D%2D%3E