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Temple Rising Along With Interest In Buddhism

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By SUZETTE LABOY, The Associated Press

Published: December 26, 2007

HOMESTEAD - Between the alligator-infested Florida Everglades and the craziness of Miami Beach lies a peaceful center surrounded by tomato and fruit farms.

Wat Buddharangsi, a Thai Buddhist temple, is unexpectedly found on 5 acres in the rural town of Homestead, a short drive from Miami.

To get there, visitors must take miles-long roads just off U.S. 1 that surround dozens of farm and fruit trees, dominated by immigrants who work in the fields. Across the corner is one house with the American flag waving in the breeze, life-size statues of soldiers standing in the front yard.

For several years, the area has been visited by Buddhist followers seeking a serene environment to pray and meditate.

In the temple sits a 5-ton, 23-foot tall golden Buddha statue, with dozens of smaller statues and vases filled with burning incense and flowers surrounding it.

A secluded, garden-like area in front of the "Buddha tree" is for meditation and prayer, where worshippers bow three times on a wooden platform to pay respect.

Visitors place a gold leaf on the Buddha as a blessing as a way for others to be part of the Buddha, says Khanya Moolsiri, the secretary for the temple.

A gold leaf on the forehead is a prayer for wisdom; one on the heart is a prayer to find love or for good health.

The temple welcomes everyone who is interested in or practices Buddhism, serving not just as a religious function but also as a welcome center.

"It become a community center for the Thai, Asian, Buddhist or for anybody," Moolsiri said.

There is a six-bedroom apartment on the grounds, where several monks live, sleeping on hard platforms. There is a screened-in kitchen with picnic-style seating, covered by what appears to be a tin roof.

The temple was designed by Nopporn Poochareon, a Thai native who has worked as a general contractor and owns two Thai restaurants in Miami.

Poochareon had to go to Thailand to get most of the decorative details for the temple, including the gold roof etchings and wooden-carved chairs for inside. He says he hired workers there to ensure the temple resembled those in Thailand.

"Maybe 50 families lived in Homestead at the time. We didn't have the temple," he said.

That was 20 years ago. After much searching across South Florida, and many setbacks because of zoning issues and funding, Poochareon finally was able to purchase the land.

The price tag has reached $1.5 million, most of which has been raised by temple members and support from local Thai business owners.

Poochareon's vision still needs some work. Finishing touches need to be completed on the adjoining buildings, which are missing the typical Thai decorations on the roof. That could add another $100,000 to the overall cost.

"Thai people like to dress up the building," he says, referring to the bold touches of gold.

There also are plans to build a larger meditation hall on the grounds to hold the increasing number of visitors.

On Thanksgiving Day alone, nearly 3,000 visitors attended the religious services. On other Thai holidays, the temple sees half that number, Poochareon estimates. Five to 10 people go to the temple each day, with significantly more on the weekend. No one keeps an official count.

"People are curious and want to know about Buddhism," he said, and the temple is a perfect place where the Buddhism practice can be taught.

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