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Wat Phra Dhammakaya is a
Buddhist temple in Khlong Luang District, in the Pathum Thani
Province north of Bangkok, Thailand. It was founded in 1970
by the maechi Chandra Khonnokyoong and Luang Por Dhammajayo. It
is the best-known and the fastest growing temple of the
Dhammakaya Movement. This movement, also known as the Dhammakaya
meditation tradition (Vijja Dhammakaya), was started by the
meditation teacher Luang Pu Sodh Candasaro in the early-20th
century. Wat Phra Dhammakaya is one of the temples that
emerged from this movement and is part of the Mahanikaya
fraternity. The temple is legally represented by the Dhammakaya
Foundation. It aims to adapt its traditional Buddhist values in
modern society. It deploys modern technology, marketing methods
and interprets Buddhist doctrines in ways that have led to
controversy and a government crackdown. The temple plays a
leading role in Thai Buddhism with the Chinese religions
consultant and writer Edward Irons describing it as "the face of
modern Thai Buddhism".
Initially, the temple was founded
as a meditation center, after Maechi Chandra and the just
ordained monk Luang Por Dhammajayo could no longer accommodate
the rising number of participants in activities at Wat Paknam
Bhasicharoen. The center became an official temple in 1977. The
temple grew exponentially during the 1980s, when the temple's
programs became widely known among the urban middle class. Wat
Phra Dhammakaya expanded its area and the building of a huge
stupa (pagoda) was started. During the period of the 1997 Asian
financial crisis, the temple was subject to widespread criticism
for its fundraising methods and teachings, as Luang Por
Dhammajayo was charged with embezzlement and removed from his
office as abbot. In 2006, the charges were withdrawn and he was
restored as abbot. The temple grew further and became known for
its many projects in education, promotion of ethics, and
scholarship. The temple also became accepted as part of the
mainstream Thai Sangha (monastic community). After the 2014
military junta, the abbot and the temple were put under scrutiny
again and Luang Por Dhammajayo was accused of receiving stolen
money from a supporter and money-laundering. The temple has been
referred to as the only influential organization in Thailand
that has yet to be subdued by the ruling junta, which has shut
down most opposition since taking power. The judicial processes
against the abbot and the temple since the 1990s have led to
much debate regarding the procedures and role of the state
towards religion, a debate that has intensified during the 2017
lockdown of the temple by the junta. As of 2017, the whereabouts
of Luang Por Dhammajayo was still unknown, and in 2018, Phrakhru
Sangharak Rangsarit was designated as the official abbot.
Wat Phra Dhammakaya emphasizes a culture of making merit
through doing good deeds and meditation, as well as an ethical
outlook on life. The temple promotes a community of
kalyanamittas ('good friends') to achieve its vision. In its
beginnings, the temple emphasized mostly the teaching of
meditation, then later an emphasis on fundraising was promoted.
Finally, the temple broadened its activities to include more
engagement in society. The temple uses a satellite television
station and a distance-learning university. In its large temple
complex, the temple houses several monuments and memorials, and
in its construction designs traditional Buddhist concepts are
given modern forms. The temple aims to become a global spiritual
center to help cultivate its slogan "World Peace through Inner
Peace". As of 2017, the number of followers was estimated at
three million people worldwide. |
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