San Bruno B.A.R.T.

  Many who attended the prayer vigil could not understand the Thai monks as they chanted for the souls of those killed in the earthquake-tsunami disaster in South Asia this week.

  But there was a common language spoken among those who prayed in the small house filled with flower garlands and a large gilded Buddha: compassion.

  "We are here to pray for the people," said Sister Ita, from St. Roberts Catholic Church up the road. "It's all we can do. Donate some money and be in solidarity with them."

  About 30 people of varying races and faiths gathered at the Wat Buddhapradeep in San Bruno Thursday afternoon in honor of the more than 100,000 who have perished in the catastrophe.

  While the clothing and $7,000 in monetary contributions the temple has collected will go to the Thai consulate in Los Angeles and on to Thailand, the prayers were for all who have died and suffered in the past days.

  "The tsunami did not discriminate by race, language, color or religion," said the Rev. Steve Brown, of the neighboring Church of the Nazarene. "We need to look beyond the things that often divide us, pray for those regardless of their religion, color of skin or distance they are from us."

  Around 12:30 p.m., under gray skies and a smattering ofrain, people removed their shoes and began to filter into the small house on Poplar Avenue.

  Thana Chaichana, president of the Thai Culture Center of Northern California, lit candles and sticks of incense under a picture of the Thai King's 21-year-old grandson, who was killed in the tsunami. Then, after a few words in English, the five monks in marigold-colored robes began to chant.

  Even some who didn't understand closed their eyes and wept.

  At one point in the ceremony, brightly-colored orange robes wrapped in plastic were handed out to people in the audience. Those who understood the ritual brought the robes back, placing them before the monks.

  Those who didn't understand simply followed suit.

  "I didn't know what it meant in words, but I knew what it meant it my heart," said Antonia Lindsey, a Belmont resident who has studied meditation for 25 years. "I was making an offering to the monks on behalf of the community."

  Phramaha Sittiporn Mitwichian, abbot of the temple, later explained that the robes represented a new life for the dead and a connection to the monks who prayed for them.

  While it was a Buddhist ceremony, Sittiporn stressed the importance of the interfaith community.

  "We are monks, but we are all here together. We must join together," he said.

  For some, the vigil was not only a chance to show support for people a half a world away, but an opportunity to meet their neighbors.

  Cynthia Salamy, who has lived in San Bruno for 20 years, said she didn't even realized the house was a temple until she saw it on a recent television newscast.

  Still dabbing the tears from her eyes after the vigil was over, Salamy said she enjoyed the chanting, even though she couldn't understand it.

  "If you stay with it, it brings you more into yourself," she said.

  Wat Buddhapradeep will hold a second prayer vigil this Sunday from 5 to 6 p.m. The temple is located at 310 Poplar Avenue in San Bruno. Donations of clothing and money are appreciated.

E-mail Amelia Hansen at ahansen@sanmateocountytimes.com