Wat Dhammaram Part 3

(Wed Oct 21st, 2009, by Arjanyai)

The Temple of Chicago has much in common with the Temple of New York. Located in a big crowded city with a large number of Thai people, it is frequented by devotees and visitors, busy with day-to-day ceremonies, and large numbers gather for religious...

Wat Dhammaram Part 2

(Wed Oct 21st, 2009, by Arjanyai)

In Chicago, the two monks were accommodated in a small apartment, a temporary residence where they stayed on for about ten months before moving to the more permanent site of the Temple. The apartment which consisted of only one and, later, two rooms ...

Wat Dhammaram

(Wed Oct 21st, 2009, by Arjanyai)

Wat Dhammaram 'The Thai Buddhist Temple' is the legal English name as it appears in the Certificate of Incorporation granted by the Department of State of Illinois to the Thai Buddhist temple in Chicago. The name came into legal effect on May 17, 251...

Wat Buddhawararam

(Wed Oct 21st, 2009, by Arjanyai)

Wat Buddhawararam of Denver is the only existing exception to the long process of development of Thai Buddhist temples in the United States. It came into existence almost overnight as a temple with monks in residence. Some intermediate steps, especia...

The Illusion of Knowledge

(Tue Oct 20th, 2009, by Phillip Ross)

"But concerning the sacrifices to idols, we know that we all have knowledge" (1 Corinthians 8:1). The context, "sacrifices to idols," involves holiday meals that were consecrated by false gods and celebrated by most everyone in the community. These r...

Apples and Oranges: The Comparison Game

(Tue Oct 20th, 2009, by Rabbi Simcha Weinberg)

“Why can’t you be like other kids who behave perfectly?” is a refrain I often hear parents complaining to their children. Yes, there were and are certainly moments when I wish my children were as “perfect” as other kids, but those moments a...

Thai Temples in the United States Part 3

(Tue Oct 20th, 2009, by Arjanyai)

Presently, according to the notification the Temple has made to the city government, Wat Thai of Los Angeles usually holds twelve festivals and celebrations every year, viz., 1) New Year Festival on the first day of January; 2) Magha Puja Day on the...

Wat Thai of Washington D.C.

(Tue Oct 20th, 2009, by Arjanyai)

Wat Thai of Washington, D.C. is viewed as having been founded, informally, when two monks who were invited from Thailand arrived and took residence on July 5, 2517/1974, at a suburban house at 705 Wayne Avenue in Silver Spring. This house was rented ...

Thai Temples in the United States Part 2

(Tue Oct 20th, 2009, by Arjanyai)

The name of the Theravada Buddhist Center, Inc. was officially changed to "Wat Thai of Los Angeles" when the State of California granted the Certificate of Second Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation on June 11, 2522/1979. Shortly afterwards, t...

Vajiradhammapadip Temple Part 2

(Tue Oct 20th, 2009, by Arjanyai)

Overnight, a new temple called "Vajiradhammapadip Temple" was established at 179th Street in West Bronx. The site is a house on a 4, 121.5 square-foot plot of land purchased with donated funds of $43,000. The two monks moved in to residence on July 2...