90 ปี 40 ปี Wat Thai Washington, D.C.

The Committee Members of the Supreme
Sangha Council of Thailand were among the
attendees which includes Phra Promsuthee the
abbot of Wat Saket and the Chairman of the
Missionary Monk Affairs, Phra Promdiloke the
abbot of Wat Samphraya and the Governor of
Ecclesiastical Province of Bangkok Metropolis
were among the Maha Thera (senior monks) who
kindly came to celebrate this special occasion.
In addition, there were Thai Missionary Monks
from all over the world traveled to Washington,
D.C. to participate in this memorable event.
Phra RajaMongkolrangsi (Luangta Chi)
On the auspicious occasion of His Majesty
the King’s Birthday December 5 th , 2014 Phra
Vidhetdhammarangsi was promoted to Phra
RajaGhana as Phra RajaMongkolrangsi with the
full title of “Phra RajaMongkolrangsi Sudheevidhetsassanagij
Mahakanisorn BorvornSangharam
Khamavasi Phra RajaGhana”. This auspicious
occasion has brought the joys and delights to
all members of Wat Thai. The monks, Wat Thai
Committee Members, and Thai people in this area
plan to have his 90 th Birthday Celebration together
with the new title of Phra Rajamongkolrangsi
on June 6-7, 2015.
The 40 th Anniversary of
Wat Thai Washington, D.C.
From 1974 to 2014, this period of 40 years
Wat Thai Washington, D.C. has been a Buddhist
Monastery in the United States of America. It
started in 1971 as “The Buddhist Association”, with
the aims of encouraging the study and practice
of Buddhism, of propagating the Buddha’s teachings
and promoting and assisting in meritorious
activities, social welfare works and public service.
The collaboration among Thai students, Thai
business groups, Thai government workers, and
general public has made this new temple become
an icon of all Thai temples in the US today.
Phra Rajamongkolrangsi (Luangta Chi)
former Phra Maha Surasak Chiwanandho was
a pioneer in the missionary monk project from
Thailand. He accepted the invitation to be an
abbot of this temple from the beginning. He was
50 years old at the time, and now he just turned
90 on June 9, 2015. He is the most senior,
with the longest abbot duty of all the venerable
missionary monks in the United States.
Wat Thai Washington, D.C.’s progress and
success were undoubtedly due to the faith that
the laypeople have in Phra Rajamongkolrangsi
(Luangta Chi). He is very well known and kind
spiritual leader of Thai Buddhists in the United
States. He has published many books and articles
on Buddhism. He is very strict in maintaining
the Buddhist traditions at this temple. He is the
excellent example of a great Buddhist monk who
has worked very hard to promote Buddhism.
Together, Wat Thai Washington, D.C. and
Phra Rajamongkolrangsi (Luangta Chi) have
greatly benefited the society and communities in
cultivating Buddhism, Thai language, Thai culture,
and Thai performing arts. The Thai communities
in this area, as the result, are closely integrated.
This signals a blossoming and long-lasting future
of Buddhism abroad.
50 • ๙๐ ปี พระราชมงคลรังษี (หลวงตาชี)