A Brief History of Wat Buddharatanaram

Phra Ajaan Maha Sawaeng Nitisaro from Wat Noranaatsuntarikaram, Bangkok, was invited to be the monastery's first abbot.  Than Ajaan Charlee Uccalito from Wat Buddharam and Than Phra Pariyattimethi (Luang Paw Pim) were also invited to stay at the monastery in the first vassa (rains retreat).

In the beginning, Khun Boonlert set up a temporary tent in the area for his mother to stay in order to help support the small community of monks.  Later, Khun Boonlert and his father, Paw Too Saen-noi, donated a mobile home for the monks to use as a temporary residence.  Led by the abbot, the lay community build a 24 - by 48 ft. wooden sala with two bedrooms, one bath, and a kitchen.  A lay committee was formed to oversee and manage the construction work.

A 48 - by 60 ft. wooden multi-purpoase building was built in 1983.  At that time, lay supporters in Thailand had donated a Maravjaya (or Victory over Mara) style Buddha statue, along with the statues of the Buddha's two foremost disciples, Venerable Moggallana and Venerable Sariputta.  An altar and a cabinet to keep a full set of the Pali Canon had also been donated.  All of these items were then placed in this building.

In 1984, a sign bearing the monastery's, Wat Buddharatanaram, was set up at the entrance to the land.  In the same year, more monks' residences, a road with water drainage, and public restrooms were built.  Trees were planted throughout the area.

In 1988, in line with Ajaan Maha Sawaeng's plan, the construction of another building was commenced: a 36 - by 34 ft. building with one main ahll, a kitchen, and a bathroom.  Sadly, on November 9th, Ajaan Sawaeng passed away and the construction was put on hold.

In 1989, the Elders Council of the Dhammayut Order appointed Phra Pariyattisarasuthi (Luang Paw Petch) to be the second abbot of Wat Buddharatanaram.  He was also appointed to serve as a Charman of the Dhammayut Abbot Council in the U.S.A.

In 1990, an asphalt road, 1,000 feet long and 15 feet wide, was built from the Keller-Haslett road to the temple.  The coast of the construction was donated by Dr. Sommai and Dr. Georgina Sihapayak, along with members of their family.  The road was then named, "Sihapayak."  At the same time, the main hall was completed and named, "Sala Nitisarn" in memory of Ajaan Maha Sawaeng Nitisaro.  The opening ceremony of Sala Nitisarn was held on July 1, 1990, presided over by Luang Pu Chob Thanasamo, Phra Udomñanamoli, (the abbot of Wat Sampantawong and Head of the Eleventh Ecclesiastical District), and members of the Elders Council in Thailand.  

Three important events took place on June 8, 1991:

• The opening ceremony of Sala Ruam Jit (the dining hall)

• The seventh annual meeting of the Dhammayut Abbot's Council in the U.S.A. held at Wat Buddharatanaram

• The ceremony to begin the construction of the ordination hall.

All of these auspicious events were presided over by Luang Pu Chob Thanasamo.

In honor of Luang Pu Chob Thanasamo, the construction of, "Kuti Thanasamo" - a 5-bedroom, 2-bath monks' residence - was commenced in 1992.  In the same year, Wat Buddharatanaram hosted the eighth annual meeting of the Dhammayut Abbot's Council in the U.S.A.

A wall around the temple, as designed by Phra Ajaan Pichit Dhammavicito, was constructed in 1994.  In the same year, the abbot, Phra Pariyuttisarnsuti (Luang Pu Petch), received from His Majesty King Rama IX, an ecclesiastical title at the second or "Raja" level of the Royal Council of Monks, with the name, "Phra Rajavajirasophone."

In the following years, more construction projects were undertaken.  Some of the work on the ordination hall during this time included: The building of the golden Buddha statue, the decoration of the doors and the ceiling, and the sculpting of the nagas (serpents) on the railings of the front and back stairs.  On July 4th and 5th, 1998, the cermony to determine the boundary stones for the territory for Sangha transactions was held, as was the marking of the formal completion of the odrination hall by the installation of the roof finial.  Other projects during this period included the installation of wall paintings of the ten final lives of the Lord Buddha in the ordination hall, the construction of a laywomen's guest house, and the construction of concrete parking lots.  A public library was also established.