History :
Wat Florida Dhammaram is a Theravada Buddhist monastery of the Dhammayut-nikaya sect of Thailand. The founder of this monastery is the Venerable Chaokhun Phra Tepvaraporn (Im Arindhamo), known affectionately as “Lung-po” (Venerable Grandfather), who is presently the Vice-Abbot of Wat Sommanat Vihara in Bangkok, Thailand. Over a decade ago, Lung-po visited faithful lay-devotees in Florida and saw the need for a Buddhist monastery in the Central Florida area. With approval from the late abbot of Wat Sommanat Vihara, the Venerable Chaokhun Somdej Phra Wannarat Jub Thitadhammamahathera, Lung-po began fund raising in Thailand. An agreement was made on July 25, 1992 to purchase a two-acre lot from Khun Uthai Noomnam on Old Vineland Road in Kissimmee Florida with the money raised in Thailand. Lung-po then asked the Thai people in Florida to seek permission to incorporate to have a Buddhist monastery there. The Venerable Abbot of Wat Sommanat Vihara named the monastery “Wat Florida Dhammaram”.
The original building was a small house. But the facilities grew over the years.
Samakkinaruemitr is the main monks residence
located at the front of the monastery property next to the Uposoth.
The Uposoth (“Observance Day Hall”) is the main temple structure and is 3,680 square feet
The main Buddha in this pagoda is called Phra Dasapalayaan (Buddha of the Ten Forms of Wisdom) and was donated by Miss Saovarattana Intiyakoseth. The smaller Buddha image below is Phra Nirantarai. The chedi to the right of the shrine contains relics of Lord Buddha, received by The Venerable Chaokun Phra Tepvaraporn from a Sri Lankan monk residing in India.
There is also a statue of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) was donated by the Venerable Chaokhun Phra Tepvaraporn in 2002.
They have other big projects : replicas of the sacred places of pilgrimage to honor Lord Buddha.
Contact :
Wat Florida Dhammaram
2421 Old Vineland Rd.
Kissimmee, FL 34746
Tel. (407) 397-9552 Fax (407) 397-2577
Website : http://www.watflorida.org
