Immigrant Buddhism in Switzerland: Thai and Vietnamese Temples

The Thai Buddhist monastery Wat Srinagarindravararam at the outskirts of the village Gretzenbach (NW Switzerland). The monastery was officially inaugurated in 1996; the traditionally styled temple (in front) in 2003. The monastery is named after the mother of the reigning King Bhumipol, Princess Srinagarindra.

As in Asia, the monastery and temple are surrounded by a wall to demarcate the religious and profane spheres. The "Wat" (Thai for monastery) was financed by donations from Thai and Swiss people and gifts from the Thai Royal court. In particular, the royal mother Princess Srinagarindra (1900-1995) contributed generously and enabled to establish this religious and cultural centre for Thai people resident in Switzerland.

The traditionally styled temple (Thai "Ubosoth") was completed in summer 2003. Her Holiness Princess Galayani Vadhana, sister to King Rama IX, Bhumibol Adulyadej, inaugurated the new building. The building had cost about 4.7 million Swiss francs (US$ 3.8 mill.).

Inside the temple (Ubosoth) with the huge Thai styled Buddha figure at top of the altar. The Ubosoth is used for the assembly of monks, for ordination ceremonies of novices and monks as well as for the fortnightly recitations of the rules of discipline by the monks.

Close up view on the central altar with various Buddha figures. The towering golden Buddha is called Phra Buddhajinaraja, the emerald–green Buddha in front Phra Keo, of much importance in Thailand. The altar is splendidly decorated for the religious ceremony of Kathina, the ritual offering of gifts to the monks.

Looking from the back of the temple hall to the end wall with the golden Buddha. On the right side at the front gifts are piled to be donated to the monks next day. As the temple room is not that big to accommodate the numerous guests who come to the bigger Buddhist and royal festivals, a function hall is to be found in the cellar, underneath the temple.

The multi-purpose function hall, able to accommodate up to 350 people, has a stage at its end. The platform is used for both religious ceremonies and cultural events such as Thai dances and song contests. The hall is also used for educational purposes of the youth, a Sunday school is regularly held as well as classes in Thai language.

Monks perform a ceremony on stage of the function hall. To the back, the banners of the commemoration celebration of the 72nd birthday of the Thai Queen Sirikit are still displayed. At Wat Srinagarindravararam, in addition to the traditional Buddhist festivals various festive days honour the Thai royal family. Amongst others, monks perform ceremonies in honour of King Chulalongkon (Rama V) and Princess Srinagarindra (24th Oct.) and on the birthday of the reigning King Bhumiphol Adulyadej (5th Dec.)

The abbot of Wat Srinagarindravararam is Phraraja Kittimoli, Dr. Thongsoon Rongthong Suriyajoto. He has already lived in Switzerland for about ten years. The monastic sangha (order) at the Wat consists of six monks, all versed in Pali Studies and having obtained university degrees. The Wat is a branch monastery of Bangkok's famous marble temple Wat Benchamabopitr. This Wat was founded by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1899. Monks from this Wat are selected to stay in Switzerland to serve the religious and cultural needs of Thai people. The picture shows Phraraja Kittimoli in the middle (third from left) on the occasion of a visit of a student group from the University of Lucerne at Wat Srinagarindravararam in January 2003.

New plans are under way to further enlarge the premises of the monastic complex. Since spring 2004, donations have been collected to buy surrounding land in order to both provide more parking place and to realize plans such as a park and an old people asylum for Thai Swiss pensioners. Despite the brief history since its establishment, Wat Srinagarindravararam has become a landmark in both north western Switzerland and in the plurality of Buddhism in Switzerland.

In 2002 Vietnames Buddhists converted the second upper floor located in an ordinary middle-class house in the outskirts of Lucerne (central Switzerland) into a temple and shrine room. The first floor is used for communal and social activities and as a library. At the house's front side a plate states the name of the religious place as Chua Phat To Thich Ca — Association of Indo Chinese Buddhists.

Walking up to the shrine room, traditional grey robes hang in the stairwell. Lay Buddhists, both men and women, wear these robes while taking part in a religious ceremony such as the recitation of Buddhist texts. The robe is a mark of non-attachment, simplicity and equal status of all.

The shrine room can accommodate only up to 30 people as its best. Seated on the floor, the members of the monastic order sit in front while lay Buddhists are behind. Together, they recite the Buddhist sutras (texts), accompanied by rhythmic instruments such as gongs and drums. The Vietnamese temple has no residential monk or nun though it is visited by members of the sangha from Germany and France for Buddhist festivals and to conduct Dharma weekends regularly.

The Buddhist altar with various Buddha and Bodhisattva figures. Centrally, seated in meditational posture on a lotus flower, is a figure of the historic Buddha Shakyamuni. The altar is decorated with flowers, candles, fruits, and typical Vietnamese wood carving.

The altar and members of the sangha (Buddhist order) during the recitation of Buddhist sutras. Vietnamese Buddhists mainly belong to the tradition of Pure Land Buddhism. Transcendental Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are thought to provide gracious help in attaining rebirth in so–called "Pure Lands" (Vietn. "Tinh Do"), preliminary stages to reaching the final stage of nirvana ("final extinction").

The Buddhist lay women and men clad in grey robes while reciting the Amitabha sutra. According to Buddhist thought, the recitation of Buddhist texts is an important means to earn spiritual merit.. Spiritual merit (Skt "punya", Vietn. "Cong Duc") can be gained by way of good deeds such as donating alms, reading Buddhist texts, reciting names of specific Buddhas, honouring Bodhisattvas and Buddhas, contributing to the building of a temple or to the publication of a Buddhist book, donating to monks and nuns and many other ways. Accumulating merit is thought of as a necessary preliminary step to a brighter future in this life and a better rebirth in the next life.

Just as important as the accumulation of spiritual merit is the veneration of the ancestors and deceased family members. Towards the back, at the side of the shrine room, we find an altar for the ancestors and deceased. By the wall, small plates with pictures of late relatives are placed. Centrally placed is a picture of the Bodhisattva Kshitigarbha (Vietn. "Dia–tang"). According to East Asian Buddhists this bodhisattva provides help for the dead and rescues from the pain of the hells. The altar for the ancestors is decorated with candles, flowers and fruits.