Wat Promkunaram of Arizona

Wat Promkunaram, Waddell, Arizona was unanimously started by the Thai, Laotian, Cambodian and American Buddhists in 1989. At first they purchased a house at 8102 W. Trafalgar Ave. Phoenix, Arizona 585330 and used it as a temple. Three monks were invited from Wat Mai Yai Nuy, Bangkok, Thailand, to spend their Buddhist Lent in the temporary temple. They were; 1. Phra Anant Subharo, the chief monk, 2. Phra Pairach Bharhmavaro, and 3. Phra Sitthisak Phasuko

After that, the Board of Directors registered the temple as a Non-Profit Organization. On February 5, 1984, the Crown Prince of Thailand was invited to initiate the metal casting of a Buddha Statue in victory pose, 39 inches wide at the base, at Wat Pradoo-Chimplee in Bangkok, and gave an initial “M.W.K.” on a robe for Wat Promkunaram, Arizona, under patronage of Bunma Cargo Company and Thai Airways Co. Ltd. in sending the Buddha Statue to Wat Promkunaram.

Since the establishment of the temple, the monks and the Temple Board of Directors received much guidance and advice from Ven. Phrapromkunaporn [at present Somdej Phrabhuudhajaraya], Lord Abbot of Wat Srakesh in Bangkok and Member of Thai Sangha Council in Thailand. He also requested Ven. Phrathepsophon, Head monk of Wat Thai of Los Angeles, and Ven. Phrasuthee-ratanaporn [at present Phrathepprasitthimont] Chief monk of Wat Dhammaram, Chicago and formerly president of Thai Bhikkhus Council in the U.S.A. to assist and help Wat Promkunaram for its betterment and improvement.
Furthermore, Ven.Phrathepsophon [at present Phradharmarajanuvatra] appointed Ven. Phrakru Vinaithorn Pratheep Khemapadipo to stay at Wat Promkunaram during Buddhist lent to help and improve the temple’s project in 1985. Later on Phra Anant Subharo returned to Thailand for good, so the monks and devotees voted and requested Phra Pairach Brahmavaro to be abbot and head monk of the temple with full power and authority. Phra Pairach, the new abbot improved the temple’s activities and the temple became too small for the devotees. Therefore on April 20, 1985, the monks, the board of directors and devotees called a meeting presided by Ven. Phrathepsophon and unanimously decided and agreed to buy a piece of land on which a new temple would be constructed. On May 1, 1985, they purchased a piece of land consisting of five acres at a cost of U.S,$80,000 at 17212 West Maryland Avenue, Waddell,AZ 85355 near Luke Air Force Base.
After purchasing the land, the temple committee raised a fund for the construction of multi purpose Building, 40 feet wide and 80 feet long [40X80 ft]. Mr.Dusdee Aphaisuwan was the architect who drew up the plans for the monks to live in five rooms plus one room to use as an office, in order for the devotees to have functions and ceremonies in a big hall. Dr. Amphorn Somsin [one of the board of directors] and Mr. Choosin Phanthusevee [at present the President of the board of directors] obtained an approval from the neighbors and received a permit from the City of Phoenix for erecting a Buddhist Temple in 1988. First, the temple wall in concrete and block around the temple’s five acres was erected at a cost of U.S. $20,000. Dan Sherrill Construction Company won the contract work for the multipurpose hall, five rooms for the monks, one room for office and parking lot at a cost of U.S. $300,000 the workwas started on August, 1988 and completed in February of 1989.
Wat Promkunaram had its full right and authority as a Buddhist Temple to serve its devotees as a non-profit organization in the States on April 21, 1984. The temple had a Grand Opening on May 27-28, 1989. On May 25-26, 1989 the temple also sponsored and patronized with great success the 13th Annual Conference of the Council of Thai Bhikkhus in The United States of America at Wat Promkunaram. The temple has served not only the Thai Buddhists, andnon-Buddhists equally for the purpose of harmony, love, peace and happiness.
In the 1991 there were nine persons living in Wat Promkunaram: six monks, one novice, one nun and one temple boy to chant and recite Buddha’s teachings and sit in meditation in the morning and evening. The six monks performed different ceremonies and services for the Thai, Laotian, Cambodian, Vietnamese and American devotees with all good wishes and kindness. Unfortunately and unexpectedly on August 10, 1991, very early in the morning, all nine of the temple residents were shot to death in Wat Promkunaram without reason. The council of Thai Bhikkhus in U.S.A [Phra Visutthisombothi the President of C.T.B.] called a meeting and then appointed Ven. Phra Wichiendhammakunathan, Vice-President of C.T.B. and Head Monk of Wat Thai of Los Angeles, to take charge of Wat Promkunaram during the absence of an abbot & monks and later appointed Ven. Phramaha Winai Punyayano [of Wat Thai of Los Angeles] to take responsibility as abbot–in-charge of Wat Promkunaram on September 27, 1991. The Committee of T.B.U. invited Ven. Phramaha Winai Punyayano, the Abbot-in-charge and Chief monk, to take full responsibility for the growth and success of the temple and all its plans and projects on July 14, 1992. The Council of Thai Bhikkhus in U.S.A. invited all able active and energetic monks in the U.S.A. and Thailand to co-operate and assist Ven. Phramaha Winai Punyayano in running the Temple for achievement and success in all its activities of the temple.