WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – A meditation center that has been two years in the making is finally open. The center, located at the Lao Buddhist Association in Kansas, opened on the last day of the Lao Festival and will soon be offering classes to the public.
The meditation center serves two purposes. To introduce people to meditation practices and to serve as a welcoming center for those unfamiliar with Southeast Asian culture.
It’s a new space for meditation and contemplation.
“For those who are interested, this is a way to take a break from their day jobs and just come here and learn and develop self-awareness,” said Stephanie Rattanabongsa, a contact person at Wichita’s Laotian Buddhist Temple. .
Starting in October, the center will hold weekly meditation sessions led by monks.
“Meditation is very important for all humans,” said Kamphu Mirayoum, abbot of Wichita’s Laotian Buddhist Temple. “People need meditation to develop their minds and develop their spirituality.”
Mirayoum said she hopes the center will be open to everyone in the community.
“Anyone can practice meditation, not just Buddhists,” Mirayoum says.
Even before the doors of the meditation hall opened, monks from all over the world visited the building. They spent months hand-carving religious and cultural art to decorate the interior of the space.
“When monks create works, they concentrate on their work by reciting sutras and meditating,” Mirayoum said.
“I think it’s their commitment to religion that will allow this place, this temple, to survive and last for generations for their children,” Rattanabongsa said.
Ratanavongsa said newcomers shouldn’t be intimidated by the close-knit community.
“When you come to a Lao temple, we leave all judgment behind,” Rattanabongsa said. “We are leaving the world behind.”
Specific times for guided meditations have not yet been set. It will probably be held on a Thursday or Sunday night from 6pm to 7:30pm.
