EAST MEETS WEST IN FRANCE
Years before building the temple, extensive research was carried out among all the great Tibetan monasteries in India, Nepal and Sikkim.
We sought the advice of many knowledgeable masters when Tibetan and Bhutanese artists and craftsmen were chosen to ensure that the painting, decoration, inscriptions, sculpture and carving would be completely authentic.
The building was completed in 2005 resulting in perhaps one of the most authentic examples of Tibetan architecture in the West.
At the same time, the temple features a number of modern innovations not seen before in traditional monastery design.
Today, the Lerab Ling Temple offers a dynamic blend of ancient resemblance and modern adaptations, enriching Europe’s cultural landscape.
A SEVEN METRE HIGH BUDDHA STATUE
This amazing statue of the Buddha gazes majestically upon everyone who enters the Lerab Ling temple.
Watch the making of the Lerab Ling Buddha statue*
In 2004, the statue was built in Burma by a team of craftsmen with the skills and expertise required to make this seven-metre-high statue at the centre of the temple.
This statue is an exact replica of the famous statue in the Mahabodhi temple at Bodhgaya (India) which is considered the most sacred image of the Buddha. It was made through the ancient method of bronze casting.
Following the precise traditional instructions, the entire statue has been filled with sacred relics, scriptures, and precious objects.
Come and visit the amazing collection of authentic Tibetan art and architecture in the Lerab Ling Temple.
WHAT IS A THANGKA?
A thangka is a Tibetan hanging scroll, usually painted on cotton, and then placed in a silk brocade mount.
Watch how a thangka is being painted*
In the Lerab Ling Temple, you find many traditional Tibetan thangkas, depicting deities, or scenes from Buddhist mythology. Thangkas are considered sacred objects in Tibet and are used on ceremonial occasions.
WHAT IS A STUPA?
A stupa (meaning ‘heap’ in Sanskrit), is an architectural manifestation of the enlightened mind that symbolises the different qualities of the Buddha.
The biggest stupa in Lerab Ling is sculpted in white granite, a natural stone formed from volcanic magma.
Have a look at how the Lerab Ling stupa was built*
This stupa is called ‘Great Enlightenment’ and is probably the most timely and significant homage to world peace and prosperity.
When you visit Lerab Ling and give a small donation to the Community living there, you can take home a tsa-tsas (little statues representing a deity).
The photo shows how they are made by community members.
