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Lowell's Popular Buddhist Temples

Due to the sizeable Asian community, Lowell, Massachusetts, is home to numerous Buddhist temples. Cambodians, Vietnamese, and Laotian communities who immigrated to the U.S. enjoy the temples that are designated for their people. There are two primary Khmer Buddhist temples, the Glory Buddhist Temple and the Trairatanaram Temple. Other temples exist, including Wat Buddhabhavana for the Laotian population and Chùa Tng Vân for the Vietnamese community. These temples serve as significant spiritual and cultural centers for the city's Asian population. The preservation of their cultural history is a priority for all temples despite having different origins.

Glory Buddhist Temple

Glory Buddhist Temple
Exterior of Glory Buddhist Temple in Lowell Massachusetts.
General information
Address	24 Cambridge St, Lowell, MA 01851
Construction started	Founded in 1989
References
Citation 1 of References

The Glory Buddhist Temple started with humble beginnings as it transformed from an office building to a well-adorned Khmer Buddhist Temple. Founded in 1989, Glory Buddhist Temple stands as a testament to the enduring strength and cultural dedication of the Cambodian community in Lowell. Most services among temple members are conducted in Khmer, underscoring the significance of language in preserving their cultural identity. Although most conversations are in Khmer the temple is planning to expand its offerings by welcoming everyone by including Khmer language, culture, and Buddhism classes for children and adults in an effort to preserve Cambodian traditions.

The Glory Buddhist Temple exterior appears as a simple unassuming building, yet the interior is characterized by the ornate splendor within its main temple room. Inside, visitors are greeted by an exquisite altar featuring a golden Buddha statue surrounded by tiers of colorful lights, fragrant flowers, intricate beads, and framed portraits of the Buddha.

The linguistic fabric of the temple is primarily woven with the threads of the Khmer language, creating an environment where the language thrives and is passed down to future generations. This linguistic continuity is integral to the temple's mission of retaining Cambodian culture and heritage.

Trairatanaram Temple

The Trairatanaram Temple was constructed in 1985, and Sao Khon Dhamathero became the chief abbot of the temple. Later on Sao Khon Dhamathero founded the Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Temple Watsaosoksan of South Carolina for Cambodians to gather to share ideas, language, and memories. He also became the president of the USA Khmer Buddhist Monks Association.

Trairatanaram Temple, located in Lowell, Massachusetts, is one of the city's two major Khmer Buddhist temples, serving the vibrant Cambodian community. The name "Trairatanaram," stems from the "three jewels" of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Venerable Sao Khon Dhamathero was the leading force behind the beginnings of the Trairatanaram Temple, as he was dedicated to assisting the Cambodian Americans in Lowell.

Trairatanaram Temple was seen as a beacon of hope for many families as it facilitated many youth programs to help children lead modest lives, and to prevent them from partaking in violent gangs in the city. The temple features a two-floor design; the floor downstairs is a small worship space with colorful murals depicting the life of the Buddha. Upstairs presents a large worship space adorned with colorful illustrations of the Buddha, images of renowned Khmer monks, and posters of Buddhist sayings in Khmer, and English.

Chùa Tường Vân

The Chùa Tường Vân temple stands out from the other temples due to its Vietnamese heritage. Founded in 2010 by the current Abbot monk, Venerable Thích Tâm Hỷ, this temple has become a cherished hub for the Vietnamese population, offering a place of worship, community, and cultural preservation.

Originally nestled in a residential neighborhood, the Chùa Tường Vân temple underwent a transformation by painting the exterior a soft yellow hue and gold accents adorning the columns. Such choices for the exterior were intended to create a warm and welcoming environment for those entering the temple. While the majority of Chùa Tường Vân's visitors are Vietnamese, the temple warmly welcomes members of other ethnicities. To accommodate this diversity, programs and services are conducted in both English and Vietnamese, fostering an inclusive atmosphere.

While the temple does not have immediate plans to expand physically, it does intend to expand its current offerings of youth programs and religious services. However, if the congregation or youth group continues to grow significantly, the temple leaders are open to considering the possibility of expansion or renting additional space to accommodate their educational programs. This commitment ensures that Chùa Tường Vân temple will continue to play an important role in preserving and nurturing Vietnamese culture and spirituality within the Lowell community.

Wat Buddhabhavana

Wat Buddhabhavana, originally known as The Laotian Temple of Massachusetts was founded in the mid-1990s by a close-knit Lao community in Lowell, Massachusetts.

In the early 2000s, the temple faced uncertainty due to the illness of its head monk and his subsequent retirement. The temple's board members learned of Venerable Ajahn Mangkone and Venerable Ajahn David Chutiko, two monks residing in Lowell at the time. These monks were invited to lead the temple, but with one condition: that the temple's name be changed from The Laotian Temple of Massachusetts to Wat Buddhabhavana.

Wat Buddhabhavana, originally a small farm, has undergone a remarkable transformation. With the dedicated efforts of both resident monks and members, the 2.25-acre property has seen significant developments. A large garage was converted into an indoor meditation hall, filled with red and gold detailing, reflecting Lao architectural influences. Another hall was constructed above a former swimming pool, providing a spacious venue for services and functions. Future plans include converting the barn into a commercial kitchen and restroom facilities and developing a new residence for the monks.

The temple hosts regular services, including weekly meditation classes, and encourages daily offerings of food to resident monks. Wat Buddhabhavana actively celebrates Buddhist holidays such as the Rains Retreat which is a period spanning three lunar months from July to October during the region's rainy season of deep spiritual contemplation for monks. It is also a time when Buddhists, as a whole, reinvigorate their spiritual journey and training. Venerable Mangkone's involvement in various community events, such as the Lowell Folk Festival and Southeast Asian Water Festival, highlights the temple's engagement with the broader community.

References

1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File%3AGlory_Buddhist_Temple%3B_southwest_%28front%29_side%3B_Lowell%2C_MA%3B_2011-09-11.JPG
2. “Trairatanaram Temple.” The Pluralism Project, https://pluralism.org/trairatanaram-temple.
3. “Welcome to Wat Buddhabhavana of Massachusetts!” Wat Buddhahavana of Massachusetts, watbuddhabhavana.org/.
4. “Wat Buddhabhavana (Great Wisdom Center).” The Pluralism Project, pluralism.org/wat-buddhabhavana-great-wisdom-center.
5. “A Temple, and Then Community.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 12 Aug. 1991, www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1991/08/12/a-temple-and-then-community/1667a71e-097a-4043-8873-02d2662d44f1/.
6. “CMAA Lowell.” Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, www.cmaalowell.org/wp/.
7. “Chùa Tường Vân Lowell.” The Pluralism Project, pluralism.org/ch%C3%B9a-t%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Dng-v%C3%A2n-lowell-0.
8. Rice, Lewis I. “The Battling Buddhists.” Boston Magazine, Boston Magazine, 15 May 2006, www.bostonmagazine.com/2006/05/15/the-battling-buddhists/.
9. “Glory Buddhist Temple/Banlieu Buddha Cakra.” The Pluralism Project, pluralism.org/glory-buddhist-templebanlieu-buddha-cakra.
10. “Exterior of Glory Buddhist Temple, Lowell, Massachusetts.” Online Archive of California, 1 Jan. 1970, oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/hb7x0nb4nm/?brand=oac4.
11. Tuong van Buddhist Temple in Massachusetts - Chuatuongvan.Com, chuatuongvan.com/home.html.
12. Kỳ, Sen Trắng Hoa. “Thắm Thị Thu Trần: Improving the Collaborative Communication of Buddhist Youth in Massachusetts.” Sen Trắng, 30 June 2023, sentrangusa.com/2023/06/30/tham-thi-thu-tran-improving-the-collaborative-communication-of-buddhist-youth-in-massachusetts/.