In 1986, a group of Buddhists in Southern California sought to practice in the way of Venerable Ajaan Mun, the father of the current Theravada Kammatthana Forest Tradition in Thailand. They began preparation to build Wat Bhuridattavanaram, the Buddhist Temple of America, to be named after Venerable Ajaan Mun.
The community purchased 4.68 acres in Ontario, Southern California on what was then a strawberry orchard. The community then invited Venerable Ajaan Suwat to serve as abbot of the newly constructed temple.
Venerable Ajaan Suwat was a student of both Venerable Ajaan Mun and Venerable Ajaan Funn. After serving as abbot of Wat Khow Noi in Buriram, Thailand., Venerable Ajaan Suwat founded and served as abbot of Wat Bhuridatta for the next ten years.
Today, the Buddhist Temple of America lives according to those Vinaya rules set forth by the Buddha and according to those laws established by the government of the United States. The temple serves as both a place for bhikkus (Buddhist monks) to train and practice and as a place for lay people to study and practice in all aspects of the Dhamma–the teachings of the Buddha.
