5214 Old Nashville Hwy, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
(615) 890-5570
The meditation/image hall is open every day, and the community hall is open on Sundays and lunar holidays for services.
Driving along Old Nashville Highway from Murfreesboro towards Nashville, you feel like you’re on a typical two-lane road, expecting to see the occasional country store, or an old car dealership. What you may not expect, and will cause a double take, is a beautiful Buddhist temple and mausoleum, right in the heart of Middle Tennessee. Go ahead, pull into the parking lot, and explore this wonderful place! The Wat Lao Buddharam is many things: A temple, a monastery, a mausoleum, but overall, a vital and important hub for the Laotian community. This temple is home to a monastic order, who live on site and tend the temple and mausoleum and are very active in caring for their people. The monks are welcoming to strangers, as long as you are respectful and peaceful, because honor and reverence are the two requirements to enjoy this incredible place.
Wat Lao Buddhist Temple is one of the true signs that you have found the largest Laotian community in the state of Tennessee. (Good restaurants are another!! Top 10 Best Laotian Restaurants in MURFREESBORO, TN - Last Updated May 2024 - Yelp) To better understand the temple, let’s investigate some basic information regarding the Lao community here in Middle Tennessee: how they got here, the basic tenets of the Theravada Buddhist religion, architectural features of the complex, and the funerary practices of the Theravada Buddhists. There’s lots of great information out there to give you a deep dive into each of these subjects, but a simple overview will get you started in learning more about your Lao neighbors and how to better appreciate the temple complex.
The immigration of Laotians began in the 1970’s following the Vietnam War after the Communists came to power. There are approximately 200,000 ethnic Lao in the U.S., with Tennessee having the sixth largest population of approximately 6,000-7,000. (The states with the most include California, Texas, Minnesota, Washington, and Colorado.) It is likely that, since Nashville is an immigration hub, these immigrants were first funneled into our area and found Nashville and Murfreesboro to be welcoming to their communities. Others were drawn here by the beautiful countryside, peaceful living, and job opportunities. They are a proud community, and deeply appreciative of living in the US and becoming citizens.
The translation of Wat is a Buddhist place of worship, Lao means Laotian, and Buddharam are the teachings of the Buddha. In Laos, the majority of people practice Theravada Buddhism, which is considered Buddhism’s oldest existing school and has been practiced for more than two thousand years. There you will find at least one temple and monastery in every town (usually more), so having one in Murfreesboro for the community was essential. Followers will come to the temple to observe lunar holy days, consult with monks for advice or blessings, make merit for themselves or for deceased relatives who are in need, to meditate, or to be ordained into the monkhood. The temple provides a source of spiritual nourishment and religious education around the moral and religious teachings of the Buddha.
The Theravada Pali Canon states that Gautama Buddha is the latest in a long line of Buddhas, or a sentient being who has learned how to leave the world of suffering by self-discovery, has reached Nibbana/Nirvana, then teaches others what he has learned so that they, too, may be enlightened. There may only be one Buddha at a time, and the fifth and final Buddha will be known as Metteya or Maitreya, who will arrive during a time when the teachings of the Buddha have been forgotten or put aside. There are many articles on Theravada Buddhism that will help you understand the basic tenets and teachings such as this one, and numerous books such as these. The Buddhist concepts of meditation and mindfulness, compassion, and ethical conduct have had a huge impact on modern and western societies and are well worth exploring.
Theravada Buddhism places significant emphasis on self-awareness and self-transformation. Practitioners are encouraged to explore the nature of the self (anatta), impermanence (anicca), and the nature of suffering (dukkha). These teachings have inspired individuals in modern society to embark on journeys of self-discovery, self-improvement, and personal growth. The teachings on mindfulness and the impermanence of life have provided individuals with effective tools for coping with stress and life's challenges. In today's fast-paced and often stressful world, these teachings offer valuable strategies for maintaining balance and emotional stability. - Wikipedia
BTW, one Therava monastic tradition is of the forest-based monasteries in Laos, Burma, Sri Lanka and Thailand. These ascetic monks live close to nature as the Buddha did, living within the forest, caves, and mountains, and spend most of their day walking, in meditation or studying of the Dhamma. I’m not sure if there are any variations of this in Tennessee, but there are certainly heavily forested and old-growth forest areas in the state that would be perfect for this!
According to Encyclopedia.com, the design of the temple is all about the Buddha: an artistic celebration of his life and teachings, a repository of sacred images, a place where the community can meet and worship, and a residential area where monks can live. Wat Lao Buddharam has around 30 acres, and typical of a monastery compound it has an assembly hall where sermons and recitations of sacred texts by monks are heard by laypeople, an image hall where the main image of the Buddha is displayed for meditation (a key aspect of the religion), and an ordination hall for those entering the monkhood. The architectural features are fascinating and beautiful, such as roofs with three tiers and elaborate gables and eaves, painted and carved doors, and stylized pillars. There are paintings and statues representing a multitude of Buddhist beliefs and mythological beings. And finally, there are featured sculptures and artwork meant to inspire the populace with Buddha’s teachings. You may see offerings of flowers, candles, incense, and other items, meant to pay reverence, and incur merit or blessings.
Here are some of the visuals you may see at the temple and their meaning (based on this, this and this source):
Above the front door of the Image Hall, there is a painting of the Buddha with the Vitarka hand gesture, or mudra, with his left palm facing up and the fingers of his right hand pointing upwards, forming a circle with the thumb and index finger. This represents the symbol of perfection as is the Law of Buddha, and of discussion and intellectual argument.
Other mudras you will see on representations of the Buddha include a palm facing outward, for teaching or reassurance; hands folded in the lap, for meditation and concentration; and an open palm pointed downward signifying generosity; and the Abhaya Mudra, with the open right hand, palm out, fingers pointing up, representing the Buddha immediately after having realized his enlightenment.
Inside the Image Hall is a statue of the Buddha with the “Earth Witness” mudra, with the right hand facing his knee and fingers pointing towards the ground. This recalls the story of when the Buddha asked the earth to bear witness to his worthiness to become a buddha – perfect for a prayer/meditation hall.
In the rear of the image hall near the roof is an image of the Earth Goddess Phramae Thoranee. When Buddha was on the verge of enlightenment, the demon Mara tried to distract him with fear and temptations. Buddha called on the Earth Goddess as a witness to his enlightenment so that the world may know of his achievement, and the goddess, in order to protect him, wrung her hair, releasing flood waters that swept away Mara and his army. There is also a statue of the goddess showing this act as well in the garden.
A statue of Kwan Yin, “she who hears the cries of the world,” in the garden. A beloved bodhisattva (a realized being who foregoes enlightenment until all beings are liberated), she is the embodiment of compassion and the protector of women, children, the sick, disabled, poor and those who need help.
Images of bodhisattvas from Hinduism, as Buddhism originated in India and these figures still figure prominently in the cosmology.
Wat Lao Buddharam is also a mausoleum, where the ashes of loved ones are housed in small, freestanding monuments. Culturally, it is very important to visit the grave of loved ones. This is especially important during the twenty-one days after death when the soul is more connected to the previous life than the next, and the soul is encouraged to let go and move on. But also during birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions, not only to grieve the loss but also to express to the deceased that they have not been forgotten. Each mausoleum has a picture of the person who has passed, and graves are adorned with flowers, statues, and other items, and even embellished in gold, so that loved ones are honored and remembered. It is vital that the mausoleums are shown their due respect with peacefulness and honor, so please remember and practice this when you visit the temple. It’s fascinating to see all the beautiful ways that the Laotian community shows their loved ones how much they care.
It can be a bit difficult to learn about when there are festivities to attend, but I was able to find this: Don’t miss this year’s 2024 Lao New Year celebration 5/24-27 at Wat Lao Buddharam! The dates of the annual New Year celebration vary by location of temples, but it can last from days to a month! You can experience festivities, such as traditional Lao dancing by beautifully costumed young women (I had the pleasure of seeing this at the Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival in Centennial Park), musical performances, and delicious food! But you can also witness the rites that make this religion special, such as the offering of alms to the monks in the morning; the bathing of the Buddha and other water rites (similar to Hindu rituals as seen in the Sri Ganesha Temple); and other rituals, such as generous donations of items to the monks and community to increase personal merit.
The temple is on Old Nashville Highway, north of the Stones River National Battlefield and south of 840.
WPLN radio did a great story on the temple and interviewed key figures for the temple and community. Follow this link to hear the story.
Other Laotian Buddhist temples in Tennesse are Wat Lao Buddhapathip in Nashville, Wat Lao Xaoput in Antioch, Wat Lao Phrathatluang in Murfreesboro, and Wat Lao Buddhamanodham in Chickamauga.
If you would like to support the Laotian community, consider donating or becoming involved in the Asian and Pacific Islanders of Middle Tennessee at apimidtn.org.
Thank you for the introduction to this community! Your article and captivating photos so much makes me want to visit. Road trip?:)