WAT YARNNA RANGSEE BUDDHIST MONASTERY
The Wat Yarnna Rangsee Buddhist Monastery is located in Sterling, Virginia directly off a major highway. It is positioned next to multiple shopping centers in Loudoun County, the fastest growing county in the United States. Yarna Rangsee is a combination of Sanskrit meaning “knowledge and rain.” The temple started in Falls Church, VA, then moved to Fairfax, VA, and finally settled in Sterling since 1996. Living in the monastery are five monks, the committee, and an Abbot (Phrakhru Sirihammvidhes Udom Samana), who is the president. The monastery is funded completely from donations (monetary and food) by community members and outside groups, like the Thai Institute for Healing Arts, which promotes Thai culture all over the world. It is a Theravada Buddhist monastery founded in 1989 by a Thai Buddhist. There is no further information on the founder. There are many Thai and other Asian people living in this area who practiced Buddhism in their home countries since birth. According to a Washington Post article, the temple has about 2,000 followers, 700 of which being regulars. As seen in images, the community’s constituency seems to be of Asian descent, although the monastery is open to all and constantly welcomes Westerners. Many students also visit the monastery and are warmly welcomed. Much of the website and their Facebook page is written in English and Thai.
“It is heartening to see that Buddhism is more and more becoming and included in the curriculum of our schools as teachings of our beloved Buddha continues to spread through the Western World.” –Wat Yarnna Rangsee Buddhist Temple
Wat Yarnna does not discuss its affiliations with outside communities, other than the lay people or outside groups who donate, like the Thai Institute for Healing Arts.Wat Yarnna promotes the integration of Thai culture and language in the Western world. Thai language classes and Thai classical dance classes are offered. People experience Thai culture, arts, and language. The monastery enjoys being located so close to Dulles International Airport because it makes it more accessible for people from outside countries to come to Wat Yarnna.
The Chief Abbot, Udom Samana (Phrakhru Sirithammavidhes) was born in Sankampaeng district, Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand. Once he grew older, he moved to Bangkok to study at the Buddhist Temple in Bangkok to enhance his learning. He entered the monkhood on June 20, 1976. He received a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Religious Studies from Mahamakut Buddhist University in 1984, and now teaches Meditation and Buddhism at Wat Yarna Rangsee.
Main Belief of Wat Yarnna
Meditation is very important at Wat Yarnna. It is the way to purify the mind from greed, hatred, and ignorance. The monastery focuses on Concentration Meditation (Samadhi). MediTation training classes are offered to the public in English and Thai. Wat Yarnna encourages people to partake in mediation classes to achieve the benefits of less suffering and fewer stress related problems in daily life. The temple seems to be more westernized, as it relates meditation to daily life instead of linking mediation with enlightenment. Wat Yarnna fits so well in Sterling, Virginia because their beliefs correlate to daily life, even in suburbia.
“The trained mind brings happiness.
The untrained mind is full of worries and anxieties.”
This temple seems to place the utmost importance on meditation, as it is a part of the daily schedule, but group study is also valuable. Wat Yarnna offers group study on Tuesday evenings every week. Group study is critical because it promotes deeper learning and allows for open discussion. The open discussion aspect of group discussion allows for members to answers one another’s questions while processing different Buddhist teachings.
Members’ comments on the monastery
“Awesome”
“Good place to be and study life’s truths.”
“I go there!”
“My home and sanctuary away from home. Set your troubles free, become mindful, meditate and join this amazing community. Come as you are and leave a better human being.”
“I think this is a wonderful place because of the love and peace that surrounds it.”
Schedule
Wat Yarnna Rangsee practices Theravada Buddhism of the Dhammayut Denomination from Thailand. Daily activities in the monastery include:
6:00 AM – 8:00 AM : Chanting & Meditation (every morning)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM : Chanting & Meditation (every evening)
7:30 PM – 9:00 PM : Group Meditation (every Tuesday)
7:30 PM – 9:00 PM : Dharma Class (every Thursday)
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM : Sunday Service and Dharma Talk
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM : One-Day Retreat (every third Saturday of the month)
The minister/Buddhist monk performs specific duties on a daily basis or when needed, such as spiritual support, praying and chanting, and temple maintenance. As Buddhist monks, they are required to be ready to offer counseling to members of the congregation when they need it, in times of difficulty, stress, illness, and confusion. Monks also act as teachers to help guide those who desire to learn more about the practice of meditation and Buddhist teaching. Every monk at Wat Yarn is to participate in morning and evening prayers and meditation, which could total four hours. Lastly, monks provide daily temple maintenance, such as typical housekeeping, ground keeping, temple repairs, painting, etc.
Recent events at the Monastery
New Year’s Day and Applying Gold: New Year’s Day and Applying Gold is an annual New Year ceremony in which sermons and meditations are focused on encouragement to pursue a lifestyle that is both beneficial to themselves and others. Devotees are also given the opportunity to honor the Buddhist community by practicing generosity via donations to the temple and its residents.
Magha Puja Day: Magha Puja Day commemorates the day on which the Buddha recited the “Ovadha Patimokkha” (the Fundamental Teaching) to his disciples. It is typically observed on the full moon day of March, the third lunar month.This year, it was celebrated on March 1, 2015.
Traditional Thai New Year: Traditional Thai New Year was celebrated on April 5, 2015 this year. It observes the Theravada New Year, which customarily occurs in April. On this occasion, the younger generation returns home to ask for blessings for good luck from their parents or ancestors. Thai Buddhists will go to a monastery and offer almsgiving, observe precepts, and make dedications to living and deceased ancestors.
Visakh Puja Day: Visakh Puja Day is observed on the full moon day of May (the sixth lunar month). This year it was celebrated on May 31. It observes the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. It is the most significant Buddhist Holy Day. According to Theravada Buddhism, the three distinct events occurred on the same day in three different years.
Annual General Assembly of the Thai Buddhist Monks: On June 26, 27, and 28 The Wat Yarnna Rangsee Buddhist Monastery celebrated The Annual General Assembly of the Thai Buddhist Monks (Dhammayut Order in the U. S. A).
Buddhist Lent Ceremony: The Buddhist Lent Ceremony commemorates the day that the Buddha gave his first sermon about 2550 years ago. It was celebrated this year on July 26, 2015.
Start Thai Day: Start Thai Day is a day dedicated to the deceased in which offerings are made to the deceased and other ancestors. According to Buddhist belief, merit will be made to those giving the offerings, and occasional offerings are the only way to help the deceased. Because of the offerings, the deceased will reciprocate blessings on to the living relatives. Start Thai Dai is normally celebrated on the waning moon day of the 10th lunar month of the year. This year, it was celebrated on September 27, 2015.
Royal Kathina Ceremony: Another event at the monastery is the Royal Kathina Ceremony. In line with Buddhist tradition, monks and nuns observe the annual Rains Retreat from July through October. Monastics are restricted from leaving their temples for seven days at a time. The Royal Kathina Ceremony marks the end of the Rains Retreat. As it is a major celebration, monks are presented with new robes. During the ceremony, monks also receive alms from lay people. This year, the Royal Kathina Ceremony was celebrated on November 22, 2015.
Loy Krathong Festival: Traditionally, Loy Krathong Festival was meant to worship and pay homage to the Buddha’s footprint on Narmada River beach in India. Participants bring bowls of flowers, incense, and candles that are placed on the lake or pond surface after the devotee makes a wish.
Year End Day: Year End Day marks the end of the calendar year on December 31. A ceremony is performed in accustom with the Buddhist tradition of releasing all effects of the old year to give rise to blessings in the New Year.
For more information, visit:
http://www.watyarn.com/Views/Calendar/Songkran.html
https://www.facebook.com/WatYarnnarungsri/