History of Wat Thai

Wat Thai of Los Angeles, as many people in the community have come to know it, is a Thai Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles. Its official name remains Theravada Buddhist Center, Inc.

The Beginning (1970)

In 1970 (B.E. 2513), a Thai Buddhist monk was invited to Los Angeles and stayed there for a while, making himself available to a large number of people. He returned to Thailand with great enthusiasm to set up a Thai Buddhist temple in Los Angeles. His motivation came from a number of devoted Thai Buddhists in LA.

In that same year, a Thai-American Buddhist Association was organized, and the monk returned to Los Angeles accompanied by two other Thai Buddhist monks. The three monks were invited by a devout group dedicated to organizing efforts to create a Thai Buddhist temple. The three monks stayed in Los Angeles for three months at the Vassa-residence, and discussed the idea more fully with the lay community before returning to Thailand.

At a later date, a senior monk from Bangkok made another visit. Unfortunately, during his stay, a Thai student passed away. The student's funeral services were held at a Japanese temple. Longing for a place where the Thai tradition and customs could be followed and shared, the Thai community's desire to have a Thai temple became stronger.

In consultation with the senior monk, a group of Thais held a meeting which ultimately resulted in the creation of two important founding committees that would lead to the establishment of The Wat Thai. One committee would organize themselves in Los Angeles, while the other committee based themselves in Bangkok. Both committees worked toward forming a Thai Buddhist temple and collecting funds.

The First Thai Temple in America (1971)

On July 6, 1971 (2514 B.E.), a suburban house on Sepulveda Boulevard was converted into a residence for monks. This date was regarded unofficially as the beginning of the first Thai Buddhist temple in the United States.

On December 22, 1971 (B.E. 2514), the temporary temple was officially filed under the State of California as a non-profit organization under the name of The Theravada Buddhist Center, Inc. This remains the legal and official name of the temple, according to the Certificate of Incorporation. On this date, and under its official name, marked the founding of the Wat Thai.

Moving to Cantara Street (1972)

In 1972 (B.E. 2515), the temple was moved to the present site on Cantara Street. The 2.2 acres of land were purchased with funds donated by a wealthy man in Bangkok, the father of the current chairman of the Temple Founding Committee in Los Angeles.

A group of four monks first took residence there on May 16, 1972. Since then, efforts and energy have been concentrated mostly on the construction of the temple as well as raising funds.

The main hall, a two-storied Thai-style building, the foundation stone of which was laid in 1972 (B.E. 2515), remained under construction and continued for years to occupy the attention and energy of the temple group because of its unfinished work.

Becoming Wat Thai of Los Angeles (1979)

The name 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, 1979 (B.E. 2522).

Shortly afterwards, the construction of the Thai-style main hall was completed. On October 21, 1979 (B.E. 2522), the grand ceremony to mount the gable spire (Yok Chaw Fah) was held, presided over by His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand. This main hall is called the Uposatha-Sala — its space is multipurpose, functioning both as the consecrated assembly hall and as the merit-making hall.

The Principal Buddha Image

In Bangkok, towards the end of the same year, on December 26, 1979 (B.E. 2522), His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand presided over the ceremony of casting the principal Buddha image for Wat Thai of Los Angeles, held at Wat Po (officially Wat Phra Jetupon, or the Monastery of the Reclining Buddha).

The initiative to have this Buddha image cast must be credited to General Kriangsak Chamanan, the then Prime Minister of Thailand, who conceived the idea when he came to preside over the roofing ceremony for the Main Hall of the Temple on February 13, 1979 (B.E. 2522).

The image was later transferred to Los Angeles and was installed in the Main Hall of Wat Thai of Los Angeles early in 1980 (B.E. 2523).

A Full-Fledged Monastery (1982)

Another grand celebration was held when His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand came again to preside over the ceremony of establishing the boundary-marking stones of the Assembly Hall. His Eminence Somdech Phra Dhirayanamuni led the monks in the Sangha formal act of consecrating the Assembly Hall boundary on October 17, 1982 (B.E. 2525), rendering Wat Thai of Los Angeles a full-fledged monastery of the Sangha according to the Thai ecclesiastical legal tradition.

Annual Festivals & Celebrations

Besides frequent merit-making ceremonies for birthdays, weddings, and memorials, Wat Thai of Los Angeles observes twelve major annual festivals and celebrations:

• New Year Festival (Jan 1)
• Wan Waikhru (Teachers' Day - Jan)
• Magha Puja Day (Feb)
• Songkran (Thai New Year - Apr 13)
• Visakha Puja Day (May)
• Lorthien (Candle-Casting - July)
• Asalha Puja Day (July)
• H.M. the Queen's Birthday (Aug 12)
• Salakapat Ceremony (Aug)
• Ok Pansa (End of Rainy Retreat - Oct)
• Tot Kathin (Robe Offering - Oct/Nov)
• H.M. King Bhumibol's Birthday (Dec 5)

Serving the Community Today

To promote the teaching of The Buddha, Buddhist beliefs and practices, Thai culture, and to publicize its activities, the temple publishes Duang Pratip, a bilingual monthly magazine.

The temple runs Buddhist Sunday School classes for children who learn Thai language and culture as well as Buddhist morality. The school also offers regular meditation training to Thai, Americans, and other people who are interested in it. A vocational school for adults has also been opened to teach the art of preparing decorative food by fruit and vegetable carving.

Situated in Sun Valley, about 15 miles north from Downtown Los Angeles, Wat Thai replicates the traditional Buddhist temples in Thailand. Beyond its physical structure, it serves not only a religious purpose but also as the cultural center for the southern California Thai community.