Sixty percent of the people of Laos are Theravada Buddhists. The Eightfold Path of Theravada refers to right understanding, right mindfulness, right speech, right bodily conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right attentiveness and right concentration. The Eightfold Path is also known as the “middle path” since it ideally avoids all extremes – austerity as well as sensuality. The hand of the senior monk place on the younger one is telling of the brotherhood of this monastery. The poise and calm focus emanating from this young monk is entirely lovely and speaks of the Eightfold Path.