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Wat Khmer Modesto

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Wat Khmer Modesto
TypeWat
Focus areasTheravada Buddhism; Khmer religious services; cultural preservation
SubjectsReligion & Spiritual Life
CityModesto
State / provinceCalifornia
CountryUnited States
Address1528 and 1538 Grimes Avenue, Modesto, CA
WebsiteWebsite
Contact[email protected]
YouTubeYouTube
Operating statusactive

Wat Khmer Modesto is a Khmer Buddhist temple in Modesto, California, United States. (Modesto Cambodian Buddhist Society, Inc. - Wat Khmer ...; About Us)

A June 2018 account described the Modesto Cambodian Buddhist Society as serving approximately 300 Cambodian families across Stanislaus County, many of whom are refugees or children of refugees who fled the genocidal reign of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge from 1975–1979. The congregation previously worshiped at a temple on Paradise Road and had called its current land home since 2008.

History

  • The Modesto Cambodian Buddhist Society had called its land home since 2008.
  • Before relocating to the current site, the congregation had a previous temple on Paradise Road within the city sphere.
  • The congregation relocated to its current site approximately a decade before the June 2018 article.
  • The congregation consists of approximately 300 families throughout Stanislaus County.
  • The organization's Sala Chan temple and cultural center was under construction, with a projected completion date in 2019.
  • The congregation raised funds and leveraged personal resources to support incremental construction efforts.
  • The first feature installed on the ten-acre property at 1538 Grimes Ave. in Modesto was a statue garden.
  • A Bodhi tree was located in the middle of the statue garden.
  • The June 2018 account described traditional classical dance lessons for youth.

Religious tradition and community

To provide a home away from homeland where Cambodian community members can reconnect with their cultural identity, strengthen their sense of who they are and where they come from, receive spiritual renewal, and build community. The organization envisions its Sala Chan as both a worship hall and cultural center offering cultural, educational, health, social, recreational, youth leadership, and cultural preservation activities.

Religious services and cultural programs

  • Traditional classical dance lessons for Cambodian youth of all ages.
  • Planned Cambodian cooking classes.
  • Planned Khmer literacy and language classes.
  • Planned traditional and classical dance programming.
  • Planned health education.
  • Planned social and recreational activities for elders.
  • Planned mindfulness and meditation sessions open to community members.
  • Worship and spiritual activities at the Sala Chan.

The congregation was developing a Sala Chan on a ten-acre Modesto property as a multipurpose worship hall and cultural center. Members raised funds and contributed personal resources toward construction, projected for completion in 2019. The organization also offered traditional classical dance lessons and envisioned cultural, educational, health, elder, youth, mindfulness, and meditation programs.

Leadership

  • Board of directors; no individual directors or executives are named

Funding

The organization solicits donations and contributions of time and energy to support its projects and improvements.

Visiting and participation

Public contacts

Associations

Modesto Cambodian Buddhist Society, Inc. (associated organization).


The first-party website explicitly pairs Modesto Cambodian Buddhist Society with Wat Khmer Modesto. It describes a 2003 amendment from Wat Cambodian Buddhist Society, Inc. and the temple's 2008 relocation.
(Modesto Cambodian Buddhist Society, Inc. - Wat Khmer ...).

See also

Sources

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