<< Ven. Bulathsinhala Chandana of the Indiana Buddhist Institute, 5712 Webster St., worships Buddha during a Vesak Celebration, an observance of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death. Photos by Cathie Rowand/The Journal Gazette

The Mons, a minority group in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, chose Fort Wayne for the high-paying factory jobs and low cost of living.

Large numbers of Burmese started coming after the 1998 pro-democracy uprisings in their homeland. There are now between 2,000 and 3,000 Burmese and more than 500 Mons in Fort Wayne.

The Burmese also brought their Buddhist philosophy to the community.

Within the past 12 years, six Buddhist temples have entered Fort Wayne’s network of worship.

All practice the same type of Theravada Buddhism but vary in language and culture.

They are:

• Wat Lao Samakky, 6409 Decatur Road, led by Abbot Khen Pannaparo. The temple’s language is mainly Laotian.
• Society of Theravada Buddha Dhammarekkhita Monastery, 8133 Hartzell Road, led by Abbot Ashin Visakhana. The temple’s language is mainly Burmese.
• Jetavan Temple, 1204 Sylvia St., led by Abbot Kuthala. The temple’s language is mainly Burmese.
• Mon Buddhist Temple, 5824 Decatur Road, led by Abbots Endasara and Visuddha. The temple’s language is mainly Mon.
• Vihara Mon Buddhist, 3725 McCormick Ave., led by the Abbot Sundima. The temple’s language is mainly Mon.
• Indiana Buddhist Institute, 5712 Webster Street, led by Abbot Thalangama Devananda. The temple’s language is mainly Sri Lankan, but English is also spoken.

Similar but different

Language is the major difference between the temples. Nai Yekha, co-secretary at the Mon Buddhist Temple, said Mons don’t know how to pray or chant in Burmese.

“The religious purpose is not really different, the only thing is the language,” Nai Yekha said.

Boun Hueng, left, is blessed by a monk at the Wat Lao Samakky, 6409 Decatur Road, New Year’s celebration. Theravada Buddhists’ new year is celebrated for three days from the day of the first full moon in April.  >>

Laotian monks shave their eyebrows, but Mon and Burmese don’t. Burmese monks wear dull red robes, and Sri Lankan monks wear bright orange robes, but the cultural differences go deeper.

According to Sisakhone Mounsamruath, a member of Wat Lao Samakky who has attended both the Mon and Sri Lankan temples, a woman can give something directly to a Sri Lankan or Mon monk. At a Laotian temple, she can’t. The men sit up front, and the women in the back during religious gatherings, she said.

No matter the country and language of origin, all monks know Pali, the ancient language of Lord Buddha.

Each temple invites other monks from the other temples to special ceremonies. Special ceremonies occur throughout the year. Some ceremonies are specific to an ethnic group or country.

A couple of significant celebrations for Theravada Buddhists are the Buddhist New Year, celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April, and Vesak about the time of the first full moon in May, celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha more than 2,500 years ago.

“When we have a special ceremony, we need five monks,” said Kham Kenchanh of Wat Lao Samakky. “We have to invite from other temples.”

Buddhism is a religion and a philosophy, according to Abbot Thalangama Devananda of the Indiana Buddhist Institute.

“Buddism is not bound by a hierarchical god structure,” said Dr. Sisira Ranasinghe of Indiana Buddhist Institute. “This is a way of life and basically a philosophy to find yourself and to survive your lifetime on Earth.”

Most Buddhists practice “Lived Buddhism,” said Swarna Wickremeratne of the Indiana Buddhist Institute and author of the book “Buddha in Sri Lanka – Remembered Yesterdays.”

According to Wickremeratne, Buddhists promise to practice five precepts: to refrain from killing any living thing, to refrain from stealing, to refrain from lying or hurtful speech, to abstain from sexual misconduct and to avoid intoxicating drinks and drugs that will cloud one’s consciousness.

Getting started

Most of the local temples started with a rented home and an invitation to a monk, who speaks their language, to live there. Members of the temple share the rent and expenses. As is the tradition in their homeland, the women take turns preparing meals for the monks.

The living room is converted into a Dhamma Hall for worship and Buddhist celebrations. If the monk decides to stay, and a sufficient membership develops to support the temple, a search for property begins.

In 1997, the Fort Wayne Laotian community decided it was important to establish its own temple, Wat Lao Samakky, after about 20 years of going back and forth to a Laotian temple in Rockford, Ill.

According to Sisakhone Mousamruath, her neighbor, Pieng Thongkhot, who had been a monk, called all the Laotians in Fort Wayne – about 100 families – and asked whether they could donate about $10 a month to rent a home for a monk.

Three years later, with about 80 active members, they bought property on Decatur Road. The old brick farmhouse now has two painted cement dragons on the front stoop.

In April 2005, Society of Theravada Buddha Dhammarekkhita Monastery moved to a 7-acre property on Hartzell Road. But the group is running out of space. At an elders’ ceremony last spring, the 200 members spilled out of the converted living room and into the kitchen, hallways, family room and garage, where members watched the ceremony on TVs.

Plans are under way to construct a new, larger area for ceremonies.

With hopes of a similar expansion, the Mon Buddhist Temple at 5824 Decatur Road paid off its mortgage over the summer and is eyeing the vacant land next door for parking to accommodate a growing membership. The group started with about 100 members in 1999 but is now at 500 members, according to Michael Mon, co-secretary of the Mon Buddhist Temple.

Perhaps Buddhist temples attract other Buddhist temples. Their acceptance in Fort Wayne encouraged some Sri Lankan Buddhists to establish a temple, Thalangama Devananda of the Indiana Buddhist Temple said.

After looking at more than 100 properties, a tri-level home on Webster Street was selected. The home looks like the rest of the homes on this quiet street. Most people would drive by without noticing if it weren’t for the Buddhist flags out front. A closer look would also uncover a shoe stand at the front door. As with all temples, people are required to remove their shoes before entering.

Most of the Indiana Buddhist Institute members are from out of town, with members coming from Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. The members meet for a few yearly ceremonies. A Monday evening meditation group meets every week.

After a job transfer, Ellie Hernawati, who was raised Buddhist in Indonesia, did not expect to find much of a Buddhist community in Fort Wayne.

“I was surprised when I found this religion and cultural diversity in Fort Wayne. I am really happy by it,” said Hernawati, a member of the Indiana Buddhist Institute. “It surprised me even more how many people and how many different kinds of culture mix together in this kind of place. Some of them are not even Buddhist. They are welcome.

They join. We gather together. They’re happy.”

Buddhism in Fort Wayne

1970s – Laotian refugees arrive in Fort Wayne.

1991-92 – Small number of Mon families start to arrive in Fort Wayne

1993-94 – Small groups of Burmese arrive in Fort Wayne for job opportunities

August 1995 – Society of Therevada Buddha Dhammarekkhita Monastery started in a home

1997 – More Mon refugees arrive

1997 – First location of Wat Lao Samakky established in a rented home

1997 – Mon Buddhist Temple starts in a rented home on West Dewald Street

June 1998 – Society of Therevada Buddha Dhammarekkhita Monastery purchases property at 6901 South Calhoun St.

1998 – Larger numbers of Burmese begin moving to Fort Wayne after a pro-democracy uprising in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is put down by the ruling military junta

1999 – Mon Buddhist Temple purchases property on Decatur Road

Feb. 24, 2000 – Wat Lao Samakky purchases property on Decatur Road

June 28, 2003 – Indiana Buddhist Institute purchases a home on Webster Street

April 2005 – Dhammarekkhita Monastery purchases property on Hartzell Road

Sept. 26, 2006 – Dhammarekkhita Monastery consecrates ground for a new Dhamma hall