Thai Buddhist Temple, Wimbledon, London

[tariq]

Hello

I've recently started doing a bit of reading on Buddhism from a couple of books I got from one of the monks at the above temple.

I was wondering if anyone goes there regularly?

I'm thinking of going along but was wondering what to expect?

Thanks

Taz...

[ThaiPauly]

I have been there, though its pretty hard to find. The Temple is hidden behind a house so you can't immediatley see it from the road.

There are not many there that speak much English, the day I went I was fortunate enough to meet a Monk who was only there that day because he was performing funeral rights.

he spent two magical hours with me, he was very heavily involved in Peter Pandippo's book called Phra Farang, (in as much as he had a big impact on his decison to become a Monk) and I saw pictures of him in the book when I returned to Thaialnd as I had the book already.

We have remained in contact, he is the Abbot of the Temple in Birmingham, but I met up with him in Bangkok again last year.

The Temple is only open at the weekends. many people I stopped and asked for directions as to it's wherabouts knew of its existance but could not place where it was. I just kept walking and asking and of course eventually I found someone who directed me to it. Even then I would have walked past except I noticed Thai Script on the wall of the house.

Its set in beautiful grounds... and definatley worth the effort of of finding it.

Good Luck, let us know what you thought of it.

TP

[tariq]

I have been there, though its pretty hard to find. The Temple is hidden behind a house so you can't immediatley see it from the road.

There are not many there that speak much English, the day I went I was fortunate enough to meet a Monk who was only there that day because he was performing funeral rights.

he spent two magical hours with me, he was very heavily involved in Peter Pandippo's book called Phra Farang, (in as much as he had a big impact on his decison to become a Monk) and I saw pictures of him in the book when I returned to Thaialnd as I had the book already.

We have remained in contact, he is the Abbot of the Temple in Birmingham, but I met up with him in Bangkok again last year.

The Temple is only open at the weekends. many people I stopped and asked for directions as to it's wherabouts knew of its existance but could not place where it was. I just kept walking and asking and of course eventually I found someone who directed me to it. Even then I would have walked past except I noticed Thai Script on the wall of the house.

Its set in beautiful grounds... and definatley worth the effort of of finding it.

Good Luck, let us know what you thought of it.

TP

Hi

Well I've already visited before and you're right its not the easiest place to find but well worth the effort. As you say, its set in beautiful grounds and truly is a beautiful building.

My question was more .. what shoulsd I expect if I actually visit for meditation classes or buddhism study?

Cheers

Taz...

[ThaiPauly]

I have been there, though its pretty hard to find. The Temple is hidden behind a house so you can't immediatley see it from the road.

There are not many there that speak much English, the day I went I was fortunate enough to meet a Monk who was only there that day because he was performing funeral rights.

he spent two magical hours with me, he was very heavily involved in Peter Pandippo's book called Phra Farang, (in as much as he had a big impact on his decison to become a Monk) and I saw pictures of him in the book when I returned to Thaialnd as I had the book already.

We have remained in contact, he is the Abbot of the Temple in Birmingham, but I met up with him in Bangkok again last year.

The Temple is only open at the weekends. many people I stopped and asked for directions as to it's wherabouts knew of its existance but could not place where it was. I just kept walking and asking and of course eventually I found someone who directed me to it. Even then I would have walked past except I noticed Thai Script on the wall of the house.

Its set in beautiful grounds... and definatley worth the effort of of finding it.

Good Luck, let us know what you thought of it.

TP

Hi

Well I've already visited before and you're right its not the easiest place to find but well worth the effort. As you say, its set in beautiful grounds and truly is a beautiful building.

My question was more .. what shoulsd I expect if I actually visit for meditation classes or buddhism study?

Cheers

Taz...

Read Peter's book Taz, if you have not already done so, he goes into quite a bit of detail of his time spent there

TP

[Thetyim]

I have been in LOS for 11 years so I cannot tell you what it is like today but I used to visit quite often when I was in UK.

You can expect a very warm welcome from some very nice people.

The head monk was always interested in me and when he found out what I did for a living he paid me a visit at work.

They have a big festival at SongGran which is worth a visit just for the food but I used to visit mid-week when it was quiet.

If you go on a Sunday at 11am you can feed the monks and then join in the free for all afterwards. Enjoy.

[tariq]

OK.. thanks for the replies.

I'll try and check out the book.

Cheers

Taz...

[Abandon]

That temple is ok. The murals are very interesting ... go take a look.

However if you are interested in pursueing Buddhism then Amaravati will probably be a lot better.

http://www.fsnewsletter.amaravati.org/

The monks there are westerners and have a more culturally sensible approach than the Thai temples.

ThaiPauly - I also met the monk you talk about. But I cannot remember his name - was it Maha Phum ? He has temples in Brum, Liverpool and Glasgow (I think). I used to have a link to the sites, but lost them now.

[Boo]

There is a farang monk at the temple in wimbledon & a lot of the current thai monks there who speak passable english> There are also lay people who speak good English & can help you explain what you need or help you. They have a buddhism library there, you can't take most books out but for a fee, can photocopy them. We were there this weekend.

As for what to expect, well it depends on what you want to do. They hold thai language classes usually for the kids of thai expats or half thai kids, some adults also attend I think.

I don't know if it possible to have private lessons from one of the monks of buddhist philosophy but it wouldn't hurt to ask?

When we go, we make offerings to the monk a couple of times a year & get blessed with holy water, a few times we have been there we have chatted with the younger monks about living in the UK, differences in life between here & thailand etc but nothing too "deep". Or else we just arrive, sit in the garden with a cuppa, have a wander round & then go home without any kind of "worship". Songkran is ok for the food & they have a couple of other festival days per year but all in all it is quite a low key place.

[ThaiPauly]

That temple is ok. The murals are very interesting ... go take a look.

However if you are interested in pursueing Buddhism then Amaravati will probably be a lot better.

http://www.fsnewsletter.amaravati.org/

The monks there are westerners and have a more culturally sensible approach than the Thai temples.

ThaiPauly - I also met the monk you talk about. But I cannot remember his name - was it Maha Phum ? He has temples in Brum, Liverpool and Glasgow (I think). I used to have a link to the sites, but lost them now.

No Abandon, the Abbot I met was called Laow (Panyasiri)

[sierra01]

I have been in LOS for 11 years so I cannot tell you what it is like today but I used to visit quite often when I was in UK.

You can expect a very warm welcome from some very nice people.

The head monk was always interested in me and when he found out what I did for a living he paid me a visit at work.

They have a big festival at SongGran which is worth a visit just for the food but I used to visit mid-week when it was quiet.

If you go on a Sunday at 11am you can feed the monks and then join in the free for all afterwards. Enjoy.

I'm very interested in this thread, I hope to take my Thai wife to live in the UK this year (visa permitting) and Wimbledon will be the closest temple to us. But I had to laugh at the highlighted bit, sounds like going to the zoo!

[Thetyim]

I'm very interested in this thread, I hope to take my Thai wife to live in the UK this year (visa permitting) and Wimbledon will be the closest temple to us. But I had to laugh at the highlighted bit, sounds like going to the zoo!

I was in stitches the first time I went.

Everyone turns up in their 'sunday best' with plates of food for the monks.

The monks file in, in solemn silence, give a blessing and eat their food.

As soon as the monks leave, WW2 broke out with everyone fighting for food in a really light hearted many. I noticed some people hiding plates of dessert in cupboards so that there would be some left after devouring their food mountain of main course.

Good fun, just like feeding time at the zoo

[Abandon]

And after taking the precepts and eating, they are all off to the pub for a chinwag ... lol

I had heard from a few Thai's that the Thai crowd there is somewhat snobby and they did not go back. Mind you, they were ladies with ...ahem, colourful pasts.

[meadish_sweetball]

I assume this temple is not where Paradorn ordained?

[sabaijai]

I assume this temple is not where Paradorn ordained?

[seonai]

Go to www.buddhapadipa.org

It is a great temple and once you get to know people you will really enjoy. Back in 1992 I lived in Chiswick and I got so into the temple that I moved to Wimbledon!

The Abbot is Ajahn Amarathera and he's wonderful. My teacher is Venerable Phra Khru Lom - a fantastic teacher. Phra Sutat speaks great English - he used to be my student !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another quick note, Phra Maha Laow (Pannasiri) left the Wimbledon temple to start a place in Birmigham ages ago. It used to mainly cater to low caste Indians who wanted to change their staus/faith. Not sure what he's doing now. Do any of you know where Phra Peter is?