A Tour of Laussedat

The centre at Laussedat is situated approximately three kilometres from Le Bost. To get there one takes the D.515 from Saint Priest des Champs towards Biollet, then one takes the dirt road on the left indicated by a sign marked 'Laussedat', four kilometres after the village of Saint Priest.

On arrival at the site, visitors can park their vehicles in the car park to the left, opposite the stupa.

Laussedat's complex of buildings is similar to that of Le Bost's, but its layout is nevertheless quite different. Due to the site's spatial limitations, the various buildings are much closer together than had been desired. The general layout is not as accessible for the visitor since the monastic hermitage and the retreat centres are all in one enclosed area.

As in Le Bost, the centre is orientated along a south-east, north-west axis. The visitor enters through the main gate on the south eastern side which is the only public entrance. A path leads directly to the reception office. This communal section forms an L shape and consists of a reception area, offices, and rooms for the students practioners and short duration retreatants.

The temple, which has a surface area of 160 square metres is situated in the bottom wing of this section and is open to the public. On entering the temple the visitor is struck by its beauty and grace.

 

A large shrine is situated at the far end with a statue of the Buddha at its centre, its crowning glory. The shrine's left hand side is dedicated in part to the 21 aspects of Tara and the right hand side is dedicated to the Dharma protectors.

 

Situated behind the temple is the monastic hermitage arranged in a rectangular form around the inner landscaped garden which resembles that of Le Bost.

Towards the south west of the centre there is the original house which is now Samten Ling, a second three-year retreat centre. This is surrounded by Teudreul Ling and Drendreul Ling, the two original three-year retreat centres, and Kunsang Ling, the long duration retreat centre.

The other second three-year retreat centre, Tharpa Ling, is situated to the extreme north west of the site.
On the western side of site there is a large area of land which in the future is destined to become a nature reserve. As in Le Bost, the public does not have access to the monastic hermitage or the retreat centres.