Yesterday our Educational Travel Group had the honor of visiting the largest Thai Buddhist temple in the world outside of Thailand. It's official name is Wat Nawamintararachutis or "NMR Meditation Center" for short.Our visit began with us taking off our shoes as we entered the building which is the section of the temple where the monks reside. I was amused to see the row of the monk's LL Bean winter boots stacked neatly on the shelves lining the hallway.
We progressed to a small and ornately decorated meditation room in which the five monks who currently live at the temple, were waiting for us. We proceeded to make offerings of fruit and flowers and participated in a blessing ceremony complete with monastic chants and incense. One of the male members of our group had to make the offerings to the monks since women are not allowed to touch the monks or directly hand then any object.
During the next hour we learned about the 5 Precepts of Buddhism and had a question and answer period. Following this informative chat, we toured the temple which is still a major construction site. The multipurpose room is almost complete and had a larger-than-life Buddha at the far end. The temple will not only be for daily mediation for the 4000 Thais who live in the Boston area but for anyone from the community who would like to benefit from the daily classes, lectures and exhibits. There will also be a museum in honor of the current King of Thailand who has been on the throne since 1946 and who was actually born in Cambridge, MA.
After the American construction company is finished with their work, then the Thai craftsmen will come from overseas to finish off the temple with ornate wooden carvings and detail work. Hundreds of Buddhist monks from Thailand, other countries and the United States will all be present for the opening ceremony in June. A few princessess from the Thai rural family will also be in attendance for this auspicious occasion. I can't wait for a return visit when the temple is completed later this spring.
Boston Globe Article About Buddhist Temple Construction
