Wat Dhammikaram’s late abbot Ven. Nikamadhammo Mey Ros cremated

Templenews TV, December 19, 2010

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The Buddhist monks and devotees from the 8 New England regional temples, Wat Dhammagosanaram (Cranston, RI), Wat Buddhist Center of New England (Providence, RI), Wat Ratanarangsey (Revere, MA), Wat Sangkhikaram (Lynn, MA), Wat Buddharaingsey (Worcester, MA), Wat Triratanaram (North Chelmsford, MA) and Wat Ratanaram (Newtown, Connecticut), converged on Wat Dhammikaram on Sunday the 13th Waxing Moon of Magasira B.E.2554, December 19, 2010, Year of the Tiger, to pay their final respect and bid farewell to one of long-time ordained Buddhist monks, Ven. Nikamadhammo Mey Ros, abbot of Wat Dhammikaram, Providence, Rhode Island United States of America.

This past Sunday event is presided by the Most Venerable Siripanno Thon Sophon, president of the International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center of Pelham and abbot of Wat Sangkhikaram, Lynn, Massachusetts United States of America.

Before procession the Body of Ven. Nikamadhammo Mey Ros to be cremated at the West Warwick-based Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home, temple’s board president John Chea opened the speaking ceremony by telling a brief history of the temple.

Ven. Pannabotto Pen Thol read a brief biography of Ven. Nikamadhammo Mey Ros.

Local SRP-RI/Fall River delegate, the Sam Rainsy Party of Rhode Island/Fall River, also attended the service at the temple and the cremating ceremony.

Speakers: Rhode Island State Representative Scott Slater (District 10), Providence City Councilman John J. Lombardi (Ward 13), and the Cambodian Society of Rhode Island president Sarin Rath.

The Most Venerable Dhammathero Sao Khon, president of the Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center of the United States of America, abbot of Wat Triratanaram, former president of the International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center of Pelham (formerly led by the late H.H. Samdech Dr. Maha Ghosananda), and Upajaya (Buddhist Master) of the late Ven. Nikamadhammo, along with Buddhist monks and devotees from His temple paid their final respect on Friday Dec. 17. The Maha Thera Ven. Dhammathero Sao Khon could not attend the service to the end because he had to also attend another funeral service of the late laypeople's leader of Wat Sao Soksan in South Carolina on the same weekend.

Some former presidents, Taing Nam Meng, Sam Sokvann, Keo Samnang, Prak Lavong (Acting president), Ms. Molly Soum, Im Sophon, Chhouk Savan, former CSRI Executive Director Sip Chhem, of the local based non-profit Cambodian Society of RI were in attendance.

Wat Uddom Saharatanaram of Fall River, Massachusetts, Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline and Mayor-elect Angel Taveras had paid their respect in the previous days.

Wat Dhammikaram is the first established Khmer Buddhist temple in the United States of America helped established by the late His Holiness Samdech Dr. Maha Ghosananda, Supreme Buddhist Patriarch of Cambodia, also the first abbot of the temple.

The late Ven. Kim Phorn is the second abbot of the temple and the late Ven. Nikamadhammo is the third abbot.

Templenews TV’s complete video coverage of this special event to be aired soon. Please visit us again.

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Funeral Service for Ven. Nikamadhammo Mey Ros

Templenews TV, December 18, 2010

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<< Upasika Chanravy Mey of Long Beach, CA, oldest daughter of the late Venerable Nikamadhammo Mey Ros.

The Funeral Buddhist Service for Abbot Ven. Nikamadhammo Mey Ros, age 86, born on Juy 30, A.D.1925 - Sunday the 6th Waxing Moon of Magasira, B.E.2554, December 12, A.D.2010, year of the Tiger in Svay Rolom commune, Sa Ang district, Kandal province, Kingdom of Cambodia at Wat Dhammikaram Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America, on Saturday the 12th Waxing Moon of Magasira B.E.2554, December 18, A.D.2010 Year of the Tiger.

 

R.I. Cambodian community mourns Buddhist leader

By Karen Lee Ziner, Journal Staff Writer, December 15, 2010

<< Venerable Nikamadhammo Ros Mey, a Buddhist monk and religious leader for Rhode Island’s Cambodian community, died Sunday at 85. He is shown in 2006. A former land surveyor for the Cambodian government, he and his family escaped the Khmer Rouge and were among the first wave of refugees resettled in Rhode Island. The Providence Journal / Andrew Dickerman

PROVIDENCE –– Venerable Nikamadhammo Ros Mey, a Buddhist religious leader who conducted countless services and blessings at Cambodian weddings, birthdays and funerals in Rhode Island, died Sunday at Wat Thormikaram, the first Khmer temple in the country and whose legacy he helped preserve. He was 85.

A survivor of the Cambodian genocide that claimed the lives of a son and three daughters, Venerable Mey — the head monk, died surrounded by his children, grandchildren and temple members, according to temple spokesman John C. Chea. His death is believed to be from natural causes.

“Venerable Ros Mey was a great man,” said Chea, the temple’s vice president for public affairs. “A true teacher of peace. He taught it. He lived by it.” Chea said the temple “is not only a place for worship, it is a central focal point for all that seek shelter and refuge from all the sufferings.”

Chea also credited Mey with keeping alive the teachings and legacy of Maha Ghosanada, the supreme patriarch of Cambodian Buddhism until his death three years ago. Ghosanada and his supporters founded the temple (the Khmer Buddhist Society of Rhode Island). The temple served as a spiritual anchor for Cambodian Buddhists in Rhode Island and across the country.

Venerable Mey “was always there to help us, and to comfort us in our times of need. I am very sad that he is no longer with us,” said temple member Mak Him of Providence.

A former land surveyor for the Cambodian government, Mey labored under the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 until he and his family escaped to Khao I Dang refugee camp in Thailand four years later. They were among the first wave of thousands of Cambodian refugees who were resettled in Rhode Island through international auspices.

During the Khmer Rouge genocide that left up to 3 million people dead, Buddhism became the first target. Only a few thousand of the estimated 80,000 ordained monks in the country survived as the Khmer Rouge set the clock back to the “Year Zero.”

Mey was 62 when he was ordained as a Buddhist monk in Providence.

“I feel that I was a chosen one,” Mey said during a 1997 interview with The Providence Journal. “I wanted to pray for peace in Cambodia ... I want to keep the Buddhist religion alive.”

The original temple burned in 1997, and the communal hall was moved to an adjacent converted garage.

In 1998, Mey became the head monk and temple president. He is credited as a driving force behind the new worship hall on the site.

Memorial services are being conducted Wednesday at the new hall at 178 Hanover St. at 5 p.m. On Thursday, a wake and funeral services will begin at 4 p.m. and conclude on Sunday at noon, followed by a prayer service.

Cremation will follow in the White Dove Crematory of the Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home, 659 East Greenwich Ave., West Warwick.

Mey is survived by a daughter, Chanravy Mey of Long Beach, Calif.; two sons, Tha Mey of California; Peau Mey of Providence; and many grandchildren.

 

Venerable Nikamadhammo Ros Mey's brief Bio

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Venerable Nikamadhammo Ros Mey was born in Svay Rolom commune, Sa Ang district, Kandal province, Cambodia on July 30, 1925. Mr. Mey was the fifth child, with four older sisters and a younger brother. His father Ouch Mey and mother, Soeum Mon.

Mr. Mey worked for the Cambodian government as Land Surveyor. Mr. Mey was married to the late Mrs. Saythun Mey in 1945 in Cambodia. From this marriage, seven children, three boys and four girls.

In 1975, Mr. Mey, his family and the entire country of Cambodia was imprisioned by the Khmer Rouge, communist regime. Just as many Cambodian who lost their lives, Mr. Mey lost one son and three daughters. In 1979, he and his immediate family members ended up in the Refugee camp, Khao I Dang, Thailand. After a few years living as refugees, he and his family came to Rhode Island on 2/12/1982. In 1993, he was ordained as the Cambodian Buddhsit monk here at Wat Thormikaram of RI. In 1998, the Venerable Ros Mey became an abbot & president of our Temple.

He left behind his daughter Chanravy Mey, his sons Chantha Mey and Pov Mey, fifteen grandchildren and counting……

His Venerable is 85 years old.

 

 

Quotations:

“Venerable Ros Mey was a great man.  A true teacher of peace -- He taught it, He lived by it. He help keep the teachings and the legacy of Maha Ghosananda alive. I have had the privilege of serving with him for many years.  This Wat Thormikaram is not only a place for worship, it is a central focal point for all that seek shelter and refuge from all the sufferings.”  John C. Chea

“I am very sad. I truly am at a lost. There is no word for me to describe how I feel for losing Venerable Mey” Mr. Pao Thaing of Providence

“He was always there to help us, and to comfort us in time of needs.  I am very sad that he is no longer with us” Mr. Mak Him of Providence

 

PRESS RELEASE

Passing of Venerable Nikamadhammo Ros Mey, Cambodian Religious Leader

Date: December 13, 2010
For Immediate release
Contact: John C. Chea, Vice President of Public Affairs, 401-699-1222
Where: 178 Hanover St., Providence, RI 02907

Providence, RI-Ven. Sean Prum, Buddhist Monk; Ven. Prum Chik, Buddhist Monk; Ven. Pen Thol, Buddhist Monk, John C. Chea and the Cambodian Community of RI and surrounding New England states.

With our deepest sorrow, Venerable Ros Mey, abbot & president of our Temple passed away peacefully on Sunday December 12, 2010 at 8:39pm at the temple with his children, grandchildren and members of the board of the directors at his side.

Wat Thormikaram of Rhode Island, Inc. (Khmer Buddhist Society) was founded by the late Maha Ghosananda and supporters in 1980 here on this same location. It was officially incorporated on May 1, 1981 in Providence, Rhode Island. This is the first established Cambodian (Khmer) temple founded in the United States of America. It served as a focal point for many of the Cambodian refugees that came into the US and here in Providence, RI.

Venerable Ros Mey succeeded His Holiness Samdech Maha Ghosananda here at the Temple as the President.

Venerable Mey was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1993. In 1998, he became an abbot and president of our temple. During his tenure, in addition to the countless services & blessing at funerals, weddings, house warming, birthdays and everything else in between he help preserved this important site and help made the construction of our new worship hall possible.

Download an official press release in pdf

Courtesy Ven. Pannapadipo Pat Sophal

<< The late Ven. Nikamadhammo Mey Ros bid farewell to the Most Ven. Dhammathero Sao Khon after the memorial buddhist service for the late H.H. Samdech Maha Ghosananda at Wat Dhammkiram in December 2008.

The Venerable Nikamadhammo Mey Ros, age 86, abbot of Wat Dhammikaram in Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America, passed away due to illness on Sunday the 6th Waxing Moon of Magasira, B.E.2554, December 12, A.D.2010 Year of the Tiger.

His Body will be transported to Wat Dhammikaram on Thursday Dec. 16, 2010 for the Buddhist monks, his family, and devotees to conduct daily chanting for Him. Then on Sunday Dec. 19, a procession of His Body to the Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home in West Warwick, Rhode Island for religious cremation.

Wat Dhammikaram is the first Khmer Buddhist temple to establish in the United States by His Holiness Samdech Maha Ghosanda and its first abbot in the late 1970s and early 1980s when the Khmer refugees resettled in the states.

Today Providence Khmer community has three Buddhist temples.
Complete Funeral Services in Khmer