Midwest Buddhist Meditation Center

Objectives:
1. To maintain the Teachings of the Buddha.
2. To be the means in helping to spread the Teachings of the Buddha.
3. To be a tool in promoting Buddhist and Eastern Culture.
4. To make known the activities of Buddha Vihara to Buddhists in general.
5. To promote and spread activities of Buddhist and other religious organizations to public.
6. To be the means of promotion techniques and the ways to promote activities of Buddhist Monks in the US.

The Midwest Buddhist Meditation Center (MBMC) was established in 1992 as the Midwest Buddhist Association, Inc. filed and located in the State of Ohio, certified as a non-profit organization. The Center is recorded on Roll H371 at Frame 0045 of the records of Incorporation and Miscellaneous Filing on June 8th, 1992. The Midwest Buddhist Meditation Center, วัดพุทธวิหารนานาชาติมิดเวสต์, became a member of the Buddhist Council of the Midwest, a member of the Council of Thai Bhikkhus in U.S.A. in 1997, a member of Council for a Parliament of the World Religions since 1993.

Objectives :

1. To be the Meditation and Spiritual Community Center
2. To be the Buddhist-Eastern Studies and Learning Center
3. To Maintain and Support Buddhist Teaching and Eastern Culture
4. To be the Resource Center for mutual understanding and harmonious activities
5. To represent Buddhist Organizations in the Interfaith Activities
6. To coordinate with interfaith activities in order to promote world peace

The status of the Association was raised to that of The Midwest Buddhist Meditation Center in 1996-1997 academic year and relocated at the present address: 29750 Ryan Road, Warren, MI 48092-2244, U.S.A. This structure offers three bed rooms, 2 wash rooms, chanting and ceremonies room, meditation room, office room, car garage , and kitchen.

The Center has Achahn Chuen Phangcham, Ph. D. as the head monk serving various fields of activities as follow;
Activities:
1. Providing Buddhist-Eastern studies to those who are interested in the subjects
2. Providing meditation instruction and practice to the learners
3. Providing religious ceremonies such as wedding ceremonies, memorial service ceremonies, etc. to the public
4. Giving lectures in high schools and universities campuses in the State of Michigan
5. As a Member of Birmingham Board of Education, Michigan, join hands and coordinates with the curriculum committee Birmingham Public High Schools to set up program of study concerning Buddhist teaching and Eastern culture aimed at the resolution of moral, ethical and criminal problems in our communities
6. Coordinates with Oakland University, Oakland Community College, Michigan, as a visiting lecturer on Buddhism and Eastern Studies.
7. Providing Buddha Vihara Magazine 4 issues per year
8. Write and published many books and articles on Buddhism and eastern culture to distribute to the people in general
9. As a member of Board of Trustees, Council for a Parliament of World Religions, main office in Chicago, Joins monthly meeting of the Board meeting to help coordination with all traditions to prepare our work for a Parliament of World Religions 2005, for harmony and world peace.
10. Joins hands with NCCJ both in Michigan and Chicago areas, for harmony, mutual understanding and world peace.
11. Hosting Interfaith conference organized by "In The Light" Nonprofit organization, Michigan, on December 13, 2001. This conference has bee programmed to be hosted by MBMC one a year.
12. As a member of the Council, joined regular meeting of Council of Thai Bhikkhus in the USA
13. Arranges monthly meeting for MBMC., Warren, Michigan
14. Organized four meditation retreats at MBMC during the years 2001, and joined two intensive insight meditation retreats at Wat Thai Washington, D.C. during the year 2001.
15. Led two meditation retreats at Ratchapath Institute Ubon Ratchathani,Thailand. December 22-23, 2001 and January 16-17, 2002, on invitation of National Cultural Center of this education institution.
16. Participated in two conferences at the Ratchapath Institute Ubon Ratchathani on December 11-12, 2001 and 28 January, 2002



Daily Practice :
Morning Chanting and Meditation Practice at 6:00 - 7:00 A.M.
Evening Chanting and Meditation Practice at 6:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Medium of instruction are Thai, Laotian and English for meditation practice and Dhamma talks

Meditation Instructor is Ven. Dr. Chuen Phangcham, more than ten years experienced meditation teacher in Vipassana Meditation Center in Chicago. Ven. Dr. Phangcham sits on the Board of Trustees, Council for a Parliament of the World Religions, he was president of the Buddhist Council of the Midwest for 2 terms, in 4 years and sites in the American Buddhist Congress as a Co-president. Ven. Dr. Phangcham was born in Thailand in 1942, joined monastic life in 1961 studied Buddhism and meditation practice for more than 20 years before coming to the U.S.A. in 1986, he affiliates to Wat Paknam Bhasrichareon, Bangkok, Thailand. He is meditation student of Ajahn Kruang Subhaddho, visiting student of Ajahn Chah Subhaddho.