Wat
Wat Champourukha Vanaram
Wat Champourukha Vanaram, also spelled Wat Champou Ruckha Vanaram, is a Khmer Buddhist temple and meditation center on 45th Street in San Diego, California.[1] It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and it serves the community through spiritual practice, cultural education and service.[1]
History
Published address listings for the temple date from 2011 to 2019.[2] In 2024 the temple opened a public meditation center on its grounds in the City Heights neighborhood. The City Heights Community Development Corporation supported the project with the Khmer American Mutual Association of San Diego and local Buddhist temple leaders, and the work included new accessible restrooms for disabled visitors.[3]
The grounds
The meditation center is on the temple grounds and is open to everyone. Yellow platforms are set out for individual meditation in the traditional cross-legged position, and a garden of green plants draws birds and butterflies.[3]
Leadership
In August 2024 the City Heights CDC named the Venerable Sang Kosol as abbot, with the Venerables Kim Saphia, Kim Sophia and Rin Lay.[3] The temple's own site names Pannapadipo as abbot and Tang In as president, and lists separate telephone numbers for the abbot (+1 619-608-0772), the president (+1 619-779-9978) and the abbot's assistant (+1 619-212-3858).[1]
Visiting
The temple is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.[1] The meditation center can be used only while the temple grounds are open.[3]
Associations
Khmer Buddhist Association And Meditation Center (associated organization).[4]
The historical temple directory supplies the paired association name. The current first-party site describes the institution as a Khmer Buddhist temple and meditation center and does not separately establish the current registered name.