Founded in 1982 by Phra Ajaan Maha Samarn Siripunno.  It started when he met with a group of Lao people who had offered him a piece of land to establish a local monastery.  He agreed that the land would be suitable for establishing a monastery.  With the purchase of additional land, there were a total of eleven acres ready for the establishment of a Buddhist monastery in Keller.

                                              

In the beginning, Phra Maha Sawaeng Nitisaro from Wat Noranaatsuntarikaram was invited to be the monastery’s first abbot.  A mobile home for the monks  used as a temporary residence was donated by a member of the temple (Mr.Boonlert and family). 

In 1984, a sign bearing the monastery was set at the entrance to the land. In the same year, more monks’ residences, a road with water drainage, and public restrooms were built. Trees were planted throughout the area.

History of Monastery

Wat Buddharatanaram

Monastery and Learning Center

13089 Sehapayak Road, Ft Worth, TX  76244

(817) 430-1365

History of Monastery

In 1988, in line with Ajaan Maha Sawaeng's plan, the construction of other building was commenced. Despite poor health and other difficulties, Ajaan Maha Sawaeng devoted all his energy and knowledge to his religious duties and to the Dhamma for the benefit of Buddhist community.  As a result of his dedication, Wat Buddharatanaram was set on a solid footing for progress. He passed away on November 9, 1988, at the hospital in Haltom City, Texas.

In 1989, the Elders Council of the Dhammayut Order appointed Phra Pariyattisarasuthi (Luang Por Petch) to be the second abbot of Wat Buddharatanaram. He was also appointed to serve as a Chairman of the Dhammayut Abbot Council in the U.S.A.

In 1990, an asphalt road, 1,000 feet long and 15 feet wide, was built from the Keller-Haslett road to the temple. The cost of the construction was donated by Dr. Sommai and Dr. Georgina Sihapayak, along with members of their family. The road was then named Sihapayak. At the same time, the main hall was completed and named "Sala Nitisarn" in memory of Ajaan Maha Sawaeng Nitisaro. The opening ceremony of Sala Nitisarn was held on July 1, 1990, presided over by Luang Pu Chob Thanasamo, Phra Udomnanamoli, (the abbot of Wat Sampantawong and the Head of the Eleventh Ecclesiastical District), and members of the Elders Council in Thailand.

The wall around the temple, as designed by Phra Ajaan Pichit Dhammavicito, was constructed in 1994.  In the same year, the abbot, Phra Pariyuttisarnsuti (Luang Por Petch),  received from His Majesty King Rama IX, an ecclesiastical title at the second or "Raja" level of the Royal Council of Monks, with the name, Phra Rajavajirasophone (now Phra Thepsaramunee).

In the following years, more construction projects were undertaken. Some of the work on the ordination hall during this time included: the building of the golden Buddha statue, the decoration of the doors and the ceiling, and the sculpting of the nagas (serpents) on the railings of the front and back stairs. On July 4 and 5, 1998, the ceremony to determine the boundary stones for the territory for Sangha transactions was held, as was the making of the formal completion of the ordination hall by the installation of the roof finial. Other projects during this period included the installation of wall paintings of the ten final lives of the Lord Buddha in the ordination hall, the construction of a women's (or nuns) guest house, and the construction of concrete parking lots.  A public library was also established.

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