Buddhist serenity amid tomato fields

Thai followers have established a temple surrounded by Homestead's farms.

HOMESTEAD - Between the alligator-infested Everglades and the craziness of Miami Beach lies a peaceful center surrounded by tomato and fruit farms.

Wat Buddharangsi, a Thai Buddhist temple, is unexpectedly found on 5 acres in the rural town of Homestead, a short drive from Miami. To get there, you have to take the miles-long roads just off U.S. 1 that surround dozens of farms and fruit trees, dominated by immigrants who work in the fields.

For several years now, the area has been visited by Buddhist followers seeking a serene environment to pray and meditate.

Inside the temple sits a five-ton, 23-foot-tall golden Buddha statue, with dozens of smaller statues and vases filled with burning incense and flowers surrounding it.

A secluded, garden-like area in front of the "Buddha tree" is for meditation and prayer, where worshippers bow three times on a wooden platform to pay respect.

Visitors place a gold leaf on the Buddha as a blessing as a way for others to be part of the Buddha, explains Khanya Moolsiri, the secretary for the temple. (A gold leaf on the forehead is a prayer for wisdom; on the heart is a prayer to find love or for good health.)

The temple welcomes everyone who is interested in or practices Buddhism, serving not just as a religious function but also as a welcome center.

There is a six-bedroom apartment where several monks live, sleeping on hard platforms. There is a screened-in kitchen with picnic-style seating, covered by what appears to be a tin roof.

The temple was designed by Nopporn Poochareon, a Thai native who has worked as a general contractor and owns two Thai restaurants in Miami. Poochareon went to Thailand to get most of the decorative details for the temple, including the gold roof etchings and wooden-carved chairs for inside.

There are plans to build a larger meditation hall on the grounds to hold the increasing number of visitors.

On Thanksgiving, for example, nearly 3,000 visitors attended the religious services.

IF YOU GO

Wat Buddharangsi

Location: 15200 SW 240th St., Homestead; www.watmiami.org or (305) 245-2702. Open daily 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission free. Meditation, 3-5 p.m. Sunday. Morning chanting at 6 a.m., evening chanting, 6 p.m. The temple is about 35 miles from Miami; directions at watmiami.org/location.en.php.

Offerings and blessings: Many visitors ask for blessings from the monks, who offer daily prayers, counseling and a sprinkling with holy water to wish everyone a happy and healthy life. They also perform marriage and funeral services. Visitors are also welcome to offer food to the monks, as is common practice in Thailand. (Prepared food is accepted in the morning; nonperishable food and donations are accepted throughout the day.)

Lunar new year: Thai Buddhists celebrate the Lunar New Year in April with a religious ceremony. (Chinese New Year is in February.)

[Last modified December 24, 2007, 22:29:22]