Located on 88 Limerock Road, Rhode Island, Wat Lao Buddhovath is a Laos Buddhist temple in Rhode Island serving the Laos American community. Founded in 1991 in an Orms Street apartment by laotian monks that immigrated to the USA in 1975 to escape the communist takeover. The temple moved to Smithfield in 1995 after acquiring funds from the Laotian community, the temple is considered a community effort by the refugee monks from Laos and the Lao american community. The Temple name “Wat lao Buddhovath” means Lao Temple honoring the Buddha.
The core of temple practices is based in Theravada Laotian buddhism and the temple is built as a traditional Lao Wat. The area of worship is a garage behind a farmhouse where the monks live and is unspecified if any expansion plans have been seen through.
The temple’s website states its goal is to build community and work for to bring the Dhamma to all. For this part of their mission to the community, Temple services include Daily Dharma talks, Guided meditation, Over night retreat, and merit offerings for the dead and blessings. The temple is open to public and allows anyone to attend. While they follow the Theravada tradition, they offer a safe space for any Buddhist to come and practice. Live streams are available for their weekly services, monthly Boun festivals, and guided meditation sessions.
The Wat Lao temple offers public experiences and overnight forest retreats.
Wat Lao Forest Retreat Schedule:
Saturday 1:00 pm – Orientation
Saturday 2:00 pm – Dharma of the day
Saturday 2:30 pm – Group guided meditation
Saturday 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm – Arts and crafts
Saturday 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm – Volunteer, self study, or meditation
Saturday 5:00 pm – Learn to make Laos dish
Saturday 6:00 pm – optional evening chant
Saturday 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm – learning to read and write Lao
Saturday 6:45 pm to 9:30 pm – Volunteer, self study, or meditation
Saturday 9:30 pm – sleep
Sunday 12:00 am – Midnight meditation (consists of 30 min sitting group or solo/group walks
Sunday 4:00 am – wake up
Sunday 4:15 am – Group chant
Sunday 5:00 am – Morning chanting, volunteer work, self study, or meditation
Sunday 7:00 am – Offer dana via whole-meal
Sunday 7:30 am – Alms bowl
Sunday 5:00 am – Dharma of the day
Sunday 8:30 am – Q&A
Sunday 9:00 am – Retreat Check-Out
Laos culture is also taught at the temple. Their retreats offer a look into Laotian foods as attendees learn to cook Laos food or eat the temples store if they forgot their own food. Youth can learn about Laotian music and how to play them. There is lessons in Laos art and literature as you learn to read and write in Lao and create Laos Buddhist based paintings and sculptures.
More information available on their website: https://www.watlaobuddhovath.org/
Jason Shen