Wat
Wat Khemararatanaram
Wat Khemararatanaram (វត្តខេមររតនារាម), also written Wat Khemara Ratanaram, is a Khmer Buddhist temple on 47th Street in San Diego, California.[1][2] The Cambodian Buddhist Society of San Diego, Inc. (CBSSD), a California nonprofit corporation, established the temple and receives contributions for it.[3][1]
History
The society's bylaws set out its purpose: to establish Wat Khemararatanaram as a place for the study of Buddhism, its philosophy, its culture and its impact on the world. The society holds meetings for those interested in Buddhism, keeps a Buddhist library, provides space for meditation, shares information on Buddhist culture and supports the work of Cambodian temples in the United States.[3] The bylaws give its principal office as 3616 47th Street; the temple's address is 3606 47th Street.[3][2] The temple's listed telephone number is (619) 269-3659.[2]
The society has one class of members. Members are accepted by the board, give regular monthly contributions and follow the bylaws, and each has one vote. A general meeting is held every July and elections every November. The board has 15 directors elected for one-year terms, and the abbot and the first and second assistant abbots sit on it automatically. The society takes no part in political campaigns.[3]
Religious life
The temple's website carries notices for the Buddhist year: Magha Puja, the Khmer traditional New Year, Visakha Puja, the start of the Rains Retreat with Asalha Puja, Kan Ben and Pchum Ben, a ceremony of gratitude, a silver-flower fundraising festival, and a sermon on the Vessantara Jataka.[4] It also publishes Khmer literature programs, including audio talks and a Magha Puja sermon by the Supreme Patriarch Chuon Nath.[4]
Temple committee (2024 to 2026)
The CBSSD organization chart for the 2024 to 2026 term lists these officers.[3]
- Ven. Doeun Sarom, abbot
- Ven. Soun Bros, first deputy abbot and first vice treasurer
- Ven. Ngeth Kheang, second deputy abbot and head treasurer
- Ly Yang, master of ceremonies (achar)
- He Ngan, vice master of ceremonies
- Ouk Meas, president
- Mao Song, first vice president
- Ou Kota, second vice president
- Long Man, second vice treasurer
- Ven. Sok Chanthorn, secretary
- Ven. Kim So Kha, first assistant secretary
- Kim Sras, second assistant secretary
- Board members: Chea Vanna, Hoeung Saveth, Sem Sorn, Heang Kimny, Yang Vath and Hean Pengkry
- Internal auditors: Ouk Kunarith and Cheang Lim
- Board advisors: Som Ratry and Sidh Dhammanath
Past presidents
The society lists these past board presidents.[3]
- Lim Cheang, 2005 to 2007
- Vanna Chea, 2007 to 2009
- Ratry Som, 2009 to 2011
- Savin Thieng, 2011 to 2013
- Pov Seng, 2013 to 2015
- Ven. Khouy Ngeth, 2015 to 2017
- Ratry Som, 2017 to 2019
- Ven. Khouy Ngeth, 2019 to 2021
- Song Mao, 2021 to 2022
- Meas Ouk, 2022 to 2024
Associations
Cambodian Buddhist Society Of San Diego, Inc. (operating organization).[5]
The temple's website names the society as the organization receiving contributions and describes it as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The society's bylaws (watkhmers.org, About us) state that it shall establish Wat Khemararatanaram, and the abbot and assistant abbots sit on its board. The website does not specify ownership of the premises.
Relationship checked 2026-09-25.