Beautiful Wat Phra Dhammakaya Temple in Thailand — The Buddhist temple traditionally has a significant role in the Thai community. The temple is a centre to teach and exemplify ethical practice which is an implicit part of everyday life. The real essence of the temple is not to be found in the buildings, but in the community it serves - which can be divided roughly into two parts. Most people like to cisit the temple on a day-to-day basis to to support the monks, hear sermons, consolidate their own virtue and seek advice. The complementary part of the community comprises the determined few who give up their home life to enter the temple on a more long-term basis in order to train themselves. The latter must often undergo a long period of apprenticeship before being accepted into the community.

The Dhammakaya tradition in our era started in 1916 when the Great Abbot of Wat Paknam (Phramonkolthepmuni) strove with a determination to the degree he was prepared to lay down his life and re-discovered in meditation the knowledge known to the Buddhas. Meditation, previously considered nothing more than a mental exercise or spiritual austerity, became popular through this master's dedication to teaching and research in the Dhammakaya tradition he has discovered. The Great Abbot's most gifted disciple was a nun Kuhn Yay Upasika (Jan Kohn.nok.yung).

The temple was established on Magha Puja Day, 20 February 1970, on an eighty-acre plot of land donated by Lady Prayat Phaetayapongsa.visudhathibodi. The site, sixteen kilometres north of Bangkok International Airport, was originally called 'Soon Buddacakk.patipatthamm'. From acidic paddy fields, a woodland was created: a parkland for meditators. Buildings were kept to a minimum and emphasized finesse, easy maintenance, cleanliness and durability. The foundation stone for the main chapel laid by H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on behalf of H.M. the King in december 1977 marked the official foundation of the centre as a temple - Wat Phra Dhammakaya.



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