Wat Dhammaram

At the Wat Florida Dhammaram our mission and purpose is to provide a sanctuary to those faithful and interested in the teachings of Lord Buddha. Our monastery observes religious functions of the Buddhist calendar and provides daily chanting and meditation practice. All are welcome. 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. In 1993, three monks were sent with the Venerable Prakrupalad (Sunan) (now Venerable Chaokun Phra Vijitrdhammapani) to establish and further the development of Wat Florida Dhammaram. The groundbreaking ceremony was on April 15, 1993 and was presided over by ten monks from Thailand. An additional 5.6 acres of land was purchased in January B. E. 2544 (2001). The original building was a small house. But the facilities grew over the years.