Contemplation on the virtues of the Buddha” is the meaning of “Buddhanusorn,” the name of our Thai Theravada Buddhist temple, located at 36054 Niles Boulevard, Fremont, CA 94536. Ajahn Maha Prasert has been the abbot since the temple was founded in 1983. It was the eleventh Thai Buddhist temple established in the United States.
The organizational structure of the temple is comprised of a Board of Trustees and a Board of Directors. Fifteen permanent members of the Board of Trustees are responsible for setting up broad policies and objectives of the temple, and for overseeing general administration and activities. The Board of Directors manages day to day operations.
The Board of Director consists of fifteen directors who are elected annually by the organization’s members. The offices of the President, Treasurer, and Secretary of the Board are elected by its directors.
1983
- July 23, 1983 – Wat Buddhanusorn was officially inaugurated at a temporary location at 1016 Daisy Ct. Sunnyvale, CA.
1985
- April 28, 1985 – The temple was permanently relocated to a residential home at its present location in Fremont, CA
1992
- April 12, 1992 – The community built a parking lot and a boundary wall around the temple.
1993
- May 25, 1993 – Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand visited the temple and presided over the Laying of Foundation Stone Ceremony for the new meditation hall.
1996
- October 27, 1996 – Construction of the meditation hall was completed.
- November 24, 1996 – HRH Princess Soamsavali, the Princess Mother of the King’s First Grandchild, graciously presided over the Lifting of the Apex of the Sanctuary Ceremony and the Royal Robes Offering Ceremony.
1997
- June 14-15, 1997 – His Eminence, the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand (abbot of Wat Paknam, Bangkok), along with the 150 monks from Thailand, Europe, and the United States, performed the Corner Stone Demarcation Ceremony. Subsequently, the meditation hall was officially completed according to the monastic code. The mediation hall has been improved several times since then with additional decorative structures and wall paintings.
1998
- Additional structures were completed.
1999
- February 7, 1999 – Wat Buddhanusorn initiated an expansion project to buy land to accommodate fast growing numbers of attendees at the temple and expanded activities.
2001
- December 5, 2001 – Ajahn Maha Prasert received an honorary promotion to the first ecclesiastical ranking “Chaokhun” Phra Videsdhammakavi, on the occasion of the annual King Rama XI ‘s birthday celebration at the royal grand palace.
2004
- April 10, 2004 – The temple purchased the property next door on the west side for $1,600,000, which is now under the construction plan for a new parking lot, rectory, and school building; the temple property now comprises 2.53 acres.
Wat Buddhanusorn provides services for all, including the Thai community. The temple has been a focal point for Thai religious and cultural activities for three decades. The year 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of the temple. The temple performs religious ceremonies, festivals, and celebrations throughout the year. The following activities are among many programs that the temple currently offers:
- Thai language Sunday school for adults and children.
- Dhamma teaching to promote Buddhism and Buddhist culture to communities.
- Dhamma discussions in question-and-answer style.
- Daily observances, chanting, and meditation practice (in English and Thai).
- Special events such as birthdays, weddings, house blessings, blessings of newborn children, and memorial services.
- Celebrations of Buddhist festival ceremonies such as Magha Puja, Asalaha Puja, and Visakha Puja.
- Celebrations of Thai holidays such as Songkran (Thai New Year), Loi Krathong (Festival of Light), the King’s Birthday, the Queen’s Birthday, and King Chulalongkorn Day (King Rama V)
- Provision of Dhamma library services that provide English and Thai Dhamma books, audio CDs, and VCDs for borrowing and free distribution.
- Distribution of the Buddhanusorn newsletter containing information related to temple events, activities, and Dhamma teachings.