Cambodian Buddhist Temple Built In Hampton Minnesotta

AP, Jun 23, 2007

Hampton, Minn.(USA) -- In his orange robe and sandaled feet, Cambodian Buddhist monk Moeng Sang spends much of his time meditating down a path toward virtue and radiating the peace of Buddha's teachings.

These days, though, he can't help but pull out his digital camera to click snapshots of the ornate new $1.5 million temple being completed on a Dakota County hilltop just outside Hampton, a town of 434 people about 30 miles south of Minneapolis.

Move over Mecca, Jerusalem and Vatican City. There's a new holy site: the Watt Munisotaram Temple amid the rolling farmlands east of Farmington.

"I am so very proud because you can see it from all around," Sang said. "I have traveled all over the United States, and this is the biggest and newest temple to be built for our community, and it will be a landmark for future generations."

After 25 years of dreaming and five years of construction, Sang and his fellow monks have been working with Cambodian craftsmen and architects to put finishing touches on the 50-foot-high temple, which is designed to mirror the traditional holy structures of southeast Asia.

More than 100 monks from around the world are expected to consecrate the temple in a four-day celebration starting July 5.

"This is a very, very rare event that comes once a lifetime and that's why it will attract so many people," said Yanat Chhith, 65, a leader of Minnesota's growing community of 7,000 or so Cambodian Buddhists.

Chhith also is a former analyst for the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank.

Most Cambodian Buddhists emigrated to Minnesota in the early 1980s, fleeing their homeland after the Vietnam War. Chhith said the community started gathering at temporary temples in houses in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Eagan, but chose their rural enclave in the exurbs so they wouldn't disturb anyone.

While hundreds of Buddhists from across the region are expected for next month's celebration, the general public is also welcome to witness the rituals and enjoy traditional Cambodian music, dancing and crafts and food from dozens of vendors.

At the Main Street Salon in Hampton, stylist Laura Dohmen says local residents welcome the new temple on the outskirts of town.

"It looks like a big Chinese restaurant," Dohmen said, shampooing a client's hair. "The place looks beautiful and they're not harming anyone or causing any problems."

Her sister-in-law, Vicky Dohmen, owns Little Oscar's Family Restaurant on Highway 52.

"Sometimes, people will come into Oscar's and are just like: 'Wow, we've just seen this Buddhist temple,' " she said. "It's just kind of neat when you drive by it. I've never heard any complaints or controversy."

But there's plenty of curiosity. The Rev. Jay Kythe, who oversees Catholic churches in nearby Cannon Falls and Miesville, said parishioners at his daily mass had so many questions, they scheduled a meeting with Sang.

"When you drive by it, you can't miss it," Kythe said. "We had a wonderful visit and it's just beautiful and they're such peaceful people."

The door of the temple faces east, toward the sunrise, and is framed by staircases with railings topped with carved snakes swallowing sea serpents. Stone lions guard the doors.

Inside the first floor social hall, nine polished marble balls shipped from Cambodia, weighing 400 pounds apiece, sit waiting in roped nettings.

During the consecration of the temple's boundaries July 6, the visiting monks will join Sang and parade around the site three times, pulling one of the marble orbs in a cart. The stones will be placed in eight holes around the boundaries, with the ninth to be placed in the center of the structure.

"People will place flowers, books, jewelry and money in the holes to help them find wealth in the next lifetime," said Chanda Sour, another board member of the Minnesota Cambodian Buddhist Community.

On the temple's second floor, 26 brightly colored painted panels from Cambodia tell the story of Buddha, an Indian prince who lived more than 2,500 years ago. A 6-foot bronze statue of Buddha will be consecrated.

As workers chipped details into the stone carvings and put the final coats of paint on the temple, Sang flashed a beatific smile and took more photos.

"I took many pictures of the temples in Cambodia and brought them with me to Minnesota in 1996," he said. "I asked the board to draw up plans and sponsor an architect and now all the construction is nearly complete.

"It will be a historic place for our community and the state of Minnesota."

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