Somdej  Pra Buddhachinavong

Wat Yarnna Rangsee is a Thai Buddhist Monastery founded in 1988.  It is a center for Buddhists residing in Virginia, Washington D.C. and Maryland.  The path leading to the formation of Wat Yarnna Rangsee has been long and difficult. We hope our story will help you know us better.   The desire to establish a Wat began with a visit from the Abbot of Wat  Makutkasatriyaram, Pra Dhammadhapayajarn.  He and other Monks came for the annual meeting of the Dhammayut Order at the Buddhist Center for Dallas.   From then on, the Abbot visited Northern Virginia where a thousand Thai people reside. Pra  Dhammapanyajarn was a highly respected monk and this inspired the people to invite him to establish a Wat here in Northern Virgina.   He compassionately agreed to found a Wat.

The Thai Community purchased the first property for use as a Wat at 2932 Meadow Land Rd., in Falls Church, Virginia. Once this was done, the monks took residence and began serving the Buddhist and Thai Community.  The grand opening took place on December 11, 1988.  The Wat was given the name,  "Wat Yarnna Rangsee" , which means "the radiation of light of Wisdom."

Ven. Prakru Pichet, he was the 1st (acting) abbot of Watyarn from1989 to 1990.  He came to stay at Watyarn in 1988 since the grand opening of the temple on December 11, 1988.  He normally resides at Wat Jedi Luang, Chiangmai.  Pra Amara Bhirakhita (Ven.Mongkol  Pemasilo) invited him to the USA. to stay at the temple.   He is now staying at Wat Jedi Luang, Chiangmai.  He is now 83 years old(2008). Prakru Pichet, he traveled back and forth for a couple times between Thailand and America because of his visa litmit(6 month visa).  Later on, because of his illness, he decided to stay in Thailand permanently.   If you would like to go to visit him, he will be happy.

Prakru Jirayuwatanakun (Pichet  Jirayuko)

Jao Kun Pra Vibul Dhammavidesa

Jao Kun Pra Vibul Dhammavidesa (Samrerng  Pahaso) became the second abbot in 1990 to 2007.  Soon after his graduation from Mahamakut Buddhist University, Bangkok, Thailand.  Somdej Pra Buddha Chinavong had asked him to come to the USA. to set up Watyarn which is newly established.   Pra Vibul Dhammavidesa, he used to be the acting abbot of Wat Srakatiem, Nakorn Pathom where he ordained as a novice.   He was born in Noenkum, Bangkratum, Pitsanuloke.   He finished 7st grade from Noenkum Prachanukul Elementary School.  His mother took him to ordain as a novice at Wat Srakatiem  in 1979.  Since his grand mother was sick to death, his mom had no way to help.  She  made a pledge to the Buddha  that she will have his son become a novice for a month if her mother recover from illness.   He lived at Wat Srakatiem for a while.  His Uppachaya(Spiritual Father) took him to study at Mahavajiralongkorn Buddhist College.  He studied there for 9 years and moved to study at Mahamakut Buddhist University.   He taught Pali at Mahavajiralongkorn Buddhist College, Wongnoi, Ayutdhaya for some years.  He ordained as a monk on June 18, 1983.  Somdej Pra Buddha Chinavong was his Upachaya(Spiritual Father), Pra Dhamma Pamokha being his Right preceptor, Pratep Panyakavee being his left preceptor under the patronage of Tan poo ying Mom ratchavong Dajcharee  Rajjanee. 
Pra Vibul Dhammavidesa had came to the USA. on May 30, 1990 to accomplish the temple purpose.   He found that establishing the Buddhist temple in America is very hard but he tried so hard for many years until he accomplish it.   He saw that the temple is now firm and stable, then he decided to leave a monkhood in 2007.

After two years, the space at the Wat in Falls Church began to feel small.   On some special occasions there was not enough room for all the people who came. The committee decided more space was needed so they sold the property in Falls Church and purchased a larger place. On January 12, 1991 the Wat moved to the second location at 11226 Chapel Road in Faifax Virginia.  The property consisted of a single house, three floors, six bedrooms, and four and a half bathrooms.  It seemed like the perfect place as it had a lot of rooms. Nobody thought that they would have the same problem like the one in Falls church. The difficulty came with regulations of Fairfax County.  In Thailand there are few regulations concerning the establishment of a Wat. Faifax County is very strict concerning Churches or Wats being located in a residential area.  The Committee petitioned the county for a permit but it did not pass.  Whenever people came to the Wat the neighbors complained to the county. The neighbors complained to the county about traffic and noise when people came to the temple.  Monks stayed here stressfully and unhappily.

The situation was very unpleasant for all involved. The Wat had to move again.  The Northern Virginia area is a difficult place to find a property with the right qualifications to be a Wat.  By this time, all involved in looking for the proper place for a Wat knew what to look for. It had to have a proper zoning, it had to have a county sewer line, it had to be easy to get to, it had to have enough land for a large congregation and the price had to be reasonable.  In February of 1996 the temple moved to its current location in Loudoun County, just across the line from Faifax County.  The forty five year old farmhouse is on almost three acres with two floors, four bedrooms and two bathrooms and it met all of the committee's qualifications.   Wat Yarnna Rangsee is now at 21950  Shaw Road in Sterling, Virginia.  The Committee settled on the property on July 12, 1996 and  the monks took residence on July 12th and 13th.  Since moving here to Loudoun County there have been no problems and the Wat continues to grow.  The property next door was purchased and is now being used for meditation practice.  Wat Yarnna Rangsee has experienced a lot of "growing pains", but with maturity comes stability.   Hopefully, it will become a solid center for Buddhist study and meditation for the entire area.

Prakru Vinaidhorn  Udom  Uttamasilo

Ven. Udom  Samana, he is the 3rd and current abbot.  He is the successor after Jao Kun Pra Vibul Dhammavidesa. He came to the USA. in 1999 and helped teaching Buddhism at Watyarn from then on.  

Since the house where monks use for chanting and other activities is so small and narrow,  the monks and committee decided to expand the temple. After funding has been established, Prakru Udom carried out the construction plan that Jao kun Vibul had set up, and which had been approved by Loudoun County.  Larger public bathrooms were added to back of the original building.  A new main hall is now complete.