Theravada in Olympia
We meet at Buddhangkura Buddhist Temple in Olympia. Our mission is to understand and follow the Buddha’s original teachings, without cultural influences or that of other schools of Buddhism.
If an official beginning of the English-speaking group, Theravada in Olympia (TIO), has to be identified, it would be October 19, 2015 when the first talk by a fluent English-speaking Thai monk was given at the Buddhangkura Buddhist Temple, where TIO meets. Subsequently, there were long sits once/month, and a few talks from other monks fluent in English.
This nascent group struggled on until Bhante Pattago (Monk Steve) arrived on the scene, giving the group a tremendous boost. An American, he had lived for almost a year as a layman in a kuti at the temple while his decision to ordain solidified. He carried out that decision in May 2017 when he ordained in Thailand.
Upon returning to Buddhangkura as a fully ordained monk, having been allowed to skip the novice period because of his extensive studying and meditating for many years as a layman, he dove headfirst into teaching meditation. A weekly guided meditation was offered immediately, and soon thereafter we added a weekly silent meditation, plus a long sit and a sutta study every month.
After a year, Bhante Pattago decided to live with his teacher in Portland where he had meditated for many years. After his move, participants of Theravada in Olympia asked that he continue giving us guided meditations. For a year he drove up twice/month to fulfill those wishes, and was also giving talks and a retreat here.
Since then, TIO has had talks/meditations by monks, including Bhante Pattago, plus Book Studies and Meditations lead by laity. In summer 2022, Bhante started a zoom group, but due to sporadic internet, this was discontinued until further notice.
We’re hoping to resume meditations/talks by Bhante in July 2023.
932 Mett St. NE, Olympia, WA 98516, Phone: 360-350-0897
Buddhangkura Buddhist Temple began humbly in 1999 on property with a house suitable for a monastery. The house, or monastery, also serves as a kitchen and gathering place for a local population of Buddhists, mostly Thai, Laotian and Cambodian, with some European Americans sprinkled in. These lay people welcome everyone, and generously share the food they bring with anyone who walks through the door.
The adjacent temple (photo above) was completed some years later. Subsequently, numerous kuti were built, plus gardens, alcoves, and shrines on this extensive, wooded property with trails. All the traditional Thai Buddhist events are celebrated at the temple. The laity are the sole support of the monks and the property.
In June 2018, the temple was consecrated. This means that permanent ordinations can be held there.
Most summers, there is a temporary ordination for youth. Such ordinations are the norm in Thailand, and the novices often live in the monastery the entire summer. Here in Olympia, they stay two weeks at the temple, where they learn the dhamma and vinaya (rules in monasteries). Everyone is invited to the ordination ceremony, usually held in July.
The resident monks were ordained in the Thai Forest tradition, including the abbot, Phra Ratsamee, who was here from the beginning. Buddhism in Southeast Asia is mostly Theravadan, which adheres closely to the Buddha’s original teachings. The Thai Forest tradition follows the monastic rules as closely as possible to Buddha’s time. Here is where you’ll find the core of the Buddha’s unmodified teachings.
Monastery
Buddhangkura Buddhist Temple 