Contents

Foreword - The Sun of Peace 11

Preface 16

Biography The Most Venerable Phrarajbhavanavisudh 18

(Luang Phaw Dhammajayo)

BorntoRestoreHarmony 20

AChildhoodLifeMovingforwardliketheCurrentofWater 22

HisBigChildhoodDreams 25

TheSearchfortheAnswersofLife 27

SparksofAnswers 28

TheSearchforaTeacher 30

DiscoveringaTeacherwhoshowedHimtheWaytoPeace 32

UnderstandingLife'sGoal 35

PerseveranceinMeditationPracticeuntilTruePeaceisObtained 38

MovingTowardstheSaffronRobe 42

TransformingthePaddyFieldintoaSacredLand 46

SpreadingPeacewiththeGreatFaithofHumankind 50

TheUtmostGratitudetowardstheTeacher 54

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Peace Projects of Phrarajbhavanavisudh 58

Training Programme and Dhamma Teaching to the Public 63

DhammaTeachingonSunday 64

WeekendMeditationRetreat 67

MeditationRetreatProgrammes 68

MeditationRetreatProgrammesforForeigners 70

TrainingProgrammeforPublicandPrivateSectors 72

Youths and the Future of World Peace 74

DhammadayadaTrainingProgramme 78

YouthMoralDevelopmentProject 90

VolunteersforBuddhistWorkProject 92

DhammaQuiz:PathofProgressProject 94

Peace starts from within the family 104

HomeofLightProject 106

KalyanamittaHomeProject 110

MeditationPracticetoBlessTheirMajestiestheKingandtheQueen 114

CreatingWorldPeacebyabstainingfromdrugsandbadtemptations 118

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Peace among Buddhist Monks 122

TrainingBuddhistMonkstobecomeDhammaTeachersforWorldPeace 124

PaliStudiesGraduateCongratulationsCeremonyformonksandnovices 128

TheSystematicTrainingProgrammeforSpreadingBuddhism 129

"TrueMonk"BuddhistStudiesContest 131

Scholarshipawardsformonks,novicesandstudents 133

Humanitarian Aids 136

Donationofferingceremonytohelp266templesofthesouthernprovinces 137

TsunamiRelief 141

FloodRelief 144

ColdWeatherRelief 145

Posit ive Media in the Age of Globalisation 146

DMCChannel 148

Productionofvisualaidsandpublications 152

Extending True Peace to the World Cit izen 154

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Collaboration with International Organisations 176

The Award of the Determination of Truly Making World Peace 178

Creating Peace Together in the Era of the Sun of Peace 186 World Peace Begins With Inner Peace 192

Byknowingthemind,youarediscoveringthepathtoserenity 196

Ifyoudonotknowyourownmind,howwillserenityarise? 198

Findingyourmindisnotadifficulttask 200

Youcanfindserenityifyouknowthewaytocontrolyourmind 202

Trainingyourmindtobeatthecentreofthebody 204

Trainconstantlyandyouwillseechanges 206

Innerserenitywillspreadtobecomeexternalpeace 208

DiligenceinpursuingtheDhammaofpeacewillleadtoserenity 210

Meditation for World Peace 218

Contributors 224

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Foreword The sun of peace

T hesunisagreatsourceofenergy.Itleadsthesolarsystemaswellassupportingallofthe celestial bodies.The sun’s raysbenefit all. The sunlightprovided isof inherentlygoodvaluetothecreaturesoftheearth.

From the genesis to the demise of earth’s creatures, the sun ceaselessly takes responsibility forsustaining life on earth. The sunmoves on its path through the endless reaches of outer space,providingitssustenancewhileundernobody’scontrol.Nomatterhowmuchtimemaypass,allofusearthlydenizensexistinhappinessbeneaththesun’slight. It is a life forcewhich the sun bestowswithout our asking until we take for granted itsimmenseworth.If we only imagine that the setting sun will not rise again as it always does, then we willcomprehenditsvastvalue.Thesunoffers itskindness to theworld, its lightenablinghumanbeings tosee.Thesunbringswarmthandsafety.Yetallthesethingsonlyhavebenefitsforourexternalselves.But thisworldhasapersonwhohasdevotedhis life like thesun; sendingbrightness tominds;makingitpossibleforallpeopletoknowthetruthaboutlife;enablingpeopletoconducttheirlivesinthecorrectmanner,tobefreefromsuffering,toattainpeace,andtohelptheworldachievetruepeace.This person resembling the sun of the mind, he is The Most Venerable Phrarajbhavanavisudh

h

(Luang PhawDhammajayo), a faithful disciple of the LordBuddhawho has devoted his life tofulfilhisduties,dedicatinghislifeforalmost40yearscreatingbenefitsforpeopleallaroundtheworld.Hestartedwithasmallgroupthathadalmostnothing.Hehadtoovercomeenormousobstaclesanddemonstratedgreatforbearanceinthefaceofmanypeoplewhodidnotunderstandhim.Hedidnotacttoreceivepraiseoranyotherformofrestitution.Hecontinuedtoshowgreatdiligenceandconfidenceinhiseffortstoestablishbrightnessinhumanminds, changing theblindness of ignorance into thehappiness that ariseswith purity, brightness,anda thoroughunderstanding. He ledpeopleand thosearound themtogoodness, inaccordancewiththeteachingsof theLordBuddha,bynotdoingevil,byonlydoinggood,andpurifyingthemind.Heemphasisesthatwhenthepeopleoftheworldactinaccordancewiththeseprinciples,trueworldpeacewillarise.Foralmostfourdecades,LuangPhawDhammajayohashelpedhisfellowhumanbeings with continual compassion. He has helped no matter whether this involved physical ormentalproblems,withoutconsideringanyone’snationality,religion,ethnicityorsocialstatus.Hehasdevotedhimself physically andmentally tobuild an assembly formakingmeritwith theheartofavirtuous friend.Hehassuccessfully invitednumerousdisciplesand thosewith faith toworktogetherforpeace.ItisasLuangPhawDhammajayooftensays:thesuccessachievedisnotonlyhis,butcomprisesofallthosewhoprovidetheircollectivephysicalandmentalstrengthtocausegoodnesstoarise.

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Themostimportantthingisthathehasintroducedeveryonetotheinnersun.Hehasofferedhisextraordinary knowledge: the principles of meditation for achieving the inner body ofenlightenment.Thisknowledgeallowsustoleadourlivesinhappinessandtobeofvalueinthisworld.Theseprinciplesstartwithmakingthemindstillatthecentreofthebody,untilthemindattainsitsoriginalpure state.Furthermore,hehasbeenan industrious teacheranddevotedhimself tohelpmanyothersthroughthevariousprojectshehasdeveloped,workingtobringhappinesstoboththebodyandmind.Theperformanceofhisdutiesmakeshimlikeashiningsunthatactswithsincereloveandgoodintentionsinordertoproducehappinessandpeacefortheworld.On this, the auspicious occasion of Luang Phaw Dhammajayo receiving the Mahatma GandhiPeaceAwardfromtheAllIndianGandhianWorkerSocietyin2005, theUniversalPeaceAwardfromtheWorldBouddhistSanghaYouthin2006,andtheAtishDipankarPeaceGoldAwardfromthe Bangladesh Buddha Kristi Prachar Sangha in 2007, I, the representative of the publicationcommittee,alongwithLuangPhawDhammajayo’sdisciplesfromaroundtheworld,haverequestedforpermissionfromhimtopublishhisbiographyandanaccountofsomeofhisworkforpeace.Thiswillbeanexampleofhisworthyconduct forhisdisciplesandvirtuous friendsaround theworld.Itisagiftforallpeoplewhoarereadytojointogethertosafeguardtheworld,soitisfreefromwar andkilling, until it is possible to have lastingpeace. It alsoprovidesmoral support for allpeopleworldwide.ThisbookalsoreassuresyouthatthereisadiscipleoftheLordBuddhawhoispreparedtowalkwithyouuntiltheworldhasfinallyattainedbeautifulpurityandwhenallpeoplehaveachievedinnerpeace.

IwouldliketoexpressmysincerethankstoLuangPhawDhammajayowhokindlygavepermissionforustopursuethiseffort.Iwouldalsoliketothankthosewhocontributedtothisbook,includingthosewhofundedthepublicationcosts.IwishthatyouwillalwaysbewiththepoweroftheTripleGem,thatyouwillhavehappiness,materialandspiritualprosperity,thatyouwillattaintheinnersun,thatyouwillhaveyourownpeace,andthatyourpeacewillrapidlyspreadtobecomeworldpeace.

Mr.AnantAsavabhokhin

StockExchangeofThailand’sBestCEOoftheYear,2004BusinessweekMagazine’sStarofAsia,2003

LayChairmanoftheDhammakayaCetiyaConstructionProject

On behalf of the Publication Committee and Luang Phaw Dhammajayo’s Disciples Worldwide

3March2007

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Preface

“Allpeoplearefromonefamily.Webreathethesameair,

Drinkwaterunderasinglesky,Beholdthesamesun,moon,andstars.

WewilllivetogetherinthisworldfromourbirthUntilthelastsecondofourlives.”

TheMostVenerablePhrarajbhavanavisudh(LuangPhawDhammajayo)

madethesestatementswithhisheartrepletewithgoodwillforthepeopleoftheworld.Nomatterwhattheirnationalities,languages,religions,orethnicities,

hehasgreatdiligenceinleadingthepeopleoftheworldtodiscovertrueinnerhappinessbymeditation.

Whenthehumanmindisfullofhappinessandcompassion,worldpeacewilltrulyarise.

Throughoutmanyyearshehasconductedhislifeinpursuitof

thesegoodintentions.Everywordthathehastaught,everyvirtuousactionhehasperformedtopresentagoodexample,theseinspire

hisstudentstofollowhisgoodintentionsinordertoreachthedayweallawait.

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R Biography

The Most Venerable Phrarajbhavanavisudh (Luang Phaw Dhammajayo)

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Born to Restore Harmony

P hrarajbhavanavisudh (Luang Phaw Dhammajayo) was born ChaiboonSuthipolonSaturday,the22ndofApril1944,thefirstnightofthewaxingmooninthe6thmonthoftheLunarCalendarat6p.m..Hegrewupina

small house located on the banks of theChao PhrayaRiver a sub-district ofBanPaeng, in the district of Promburi, within the Province of Singhburi. His father,JanyongSuthipol,workedasanengineerattheIndustrialFactoryDepartmentfortheMinistryofIndustry,andhismotherwasJureeSuthipol.

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This led to therecollectionofadreamhismotheroncehad that tookplaceatPhichitProvince,wheretheylivedbeforemovingtoSingburi.Whilepregnant,shedreamtofaholyBuddhaimageofPichit,called‘LuangPhawPetch’thatthepeoplerevered.Hepresentedtoherabeautifulchildandsaid,“Thisboyisaveryspecialchild.Pleasetakeverygoodcareofhim.Hewillbearefugeforthepeopleinthefuture.”Later,shedreamtthatshereceivedaverybeautifulBuddhaimage,andshecleanedandpolishedituntilitwasevenshinier.Whilepolishingthestatue,itbecameabrightglowthatradiatedacrossthewholecity,makingitbrightwithboundlessradiance.Herdreamsbroughthappinesstoeveryoneinthefamily,especiallyherhusbandJanyong,whohadthe intentionof supportinghis first child to attainmaximumprogress andprosperity, so thathecouldbearolemodeltoeveryone.ThedayChaiyaboonwasborn,anauspiciouseventoccurred.Allofhisrelatives,whowereangryandhadnevervisitedeachotherforalongtime,wererestoredtofamilyharmonybythebirthoftheirfirstnephew.Thebirthofbabyboywasanauspiciouseventforharmony,likerainfallingondryandcrackedground,restoringitbacktoasmoothsurface.

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A Childhood Life Moving forward l ike the Current of Water

S incehisfatherwasagovernmentemployeewhohadtoregularlyrelocatetodifferent provinces, Chaiyaboon was raised by his mother and cousins.Becausehehadtomoveonaregularbasis,hisfather,concernedaboutthe

boy’s education and future, registered his son in the first grade of TalapatsuksaSchool,aboardingschoolatSao-ShingshainBangkok.Thiswas a good fortune for this young student. The owner of the boarding school that hewasattending,whowasofroyalblood,hadnochildrenofhisown.Helovedtheyboyverymuchandasked theboy’s father ifhecouldadopthim tobehisheir.SinceChaiyaboonwas theonlyandbeloved sonof the family, his fatherdeclined theoffer.However, theowner still lovedhimandwouldalwaysbringhimto theSraPratumPalace.Thisallowedhimtheopportunity to learn thecustomsofroyaltyfromthattimeforward.Italsogavehimthechancetojointheschoolownerinmakingmeritwithmonksregularly.Thiswasthestartoftheboy’sinterestinDhamma.

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In 1950, his father received an order to relocate toPhetchaburi.Chaiyaboonhad to be separatedfromtheschoolownersincehewastransferringtoAroonpraditSchoolforthefourthgrade.Afterlivingwithhisfatherforalittleoverayear,hemovedtoSarasitPithayalaiSchoolwhereafamousschoolstoodinBanpongDistrict,RajchaburiProvince.Hisfatherallowedhimtostaywithakind-heartedandgenerousteacher,SamarnSang-Aroon,untilhecompletedtheninthgrade.When hewas thirteen, Chaiyaboon passed the competitive entrance examination to enroll in thetenthgradeatSuankularbWittayalaiSchoolinBangkok.Hewasoneofonehundredfiftystudentswhopassedthetestfromapooloffivehundredcandidates.Sincehewasonhisownmostofthetime,helearnedhowtoeconomizeandsave.Therefore,thisexperiencetrainedhimtobevigorous,confidentandresponsibleinthishedifferedfromotherboyswhogrewupinwealthyfamilies.Hischildhoodexperiencespreparedhimforhisimportantfuturetasks,andafterlonghardworkhefinallyreachedhisdream.

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His Big Childhood Dreams

C haiboon’sUtmostDedication toAttainingKnowledge of theWorld and theStartofAttainingKnowledgeofBuddhism.

YoungChaiboonwas eagerwhen it came to acquiringknowledge, andwashappy spendinghisfreetimegainingmoreknowledgeatbookstandsoratthemarketswhereavarietyofbookscouldbe found. He liked to spend time in and around Khlong Lod and Sanam Luang, unlike otherteenagershisagewhoonlywantedtohavefunalldaylong.Hecouldalwaysbefoundwearingat-shirt with his favourite shorts, reading books from various bookstands. If he found books onDhamma,hewouldfindhimselfreadingthemoverandoveragain.Themoreheread,themoreherefinedhisthoughtssothathecouldbetterunderstandthesufferingoftheworld.Evenbiographiesof important peoplewere read repeatedly, so that hewas able to accuratelymemorize all theirnamesandcontributions.Thesepromptedquestionsinhismind:Whywereweborn?Whatisthegoaloflife?Thesequestionsweretooadvancedforsomeonehisage.Hewrotedownhisthoughtsinajournalattheageofthirteen:

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“IfIweretopursuesecularinterests,Iwouldwanttoattainthehighestobjective.IfIwere topursuereligious interests, Iwould like toreachtheutmostDhammaanddisseminateBuddhismtothewholeworld.”Who could have imagined that a youngman’s dreamwas going to come true? Because, in thepresent day, this personhasbecomea reveredAbbotwhohasbrought radiance from the sunofpeacethroughmeditation,andshoneitacrosstheworldtopeace-loverseverywhere.

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The Search for the Answers of Life

WhilehewasattendingSuankularbWittayalaiSchool,hehadachancetolisten toDhamma lectures, frommany scholars, and that inspired himandhisfriendstoestablishaBuddhistYouthSociety.Wherever there

were Dhamma lectures, as far away as LanAsoke atMahathat Temple or otherplaces,healwaysattended.Ashebecame a teenager, his appetite to learnmoreDhamma increased.Whenever he had freetime,hewouldalwaysstealawaytotranquilplacestocontemplatethequestionsthatlingeredinhismind.Whywereweborn?Wheredowegoafterwedie?Domeritanddemeritexist?Hereadand studied Buddhist texts that said: Knowing only the Dhamma of the Lord Buddha is notenough. It is like having only one eye. One will be only an expert in the area of Dhammaknowledge,butwhateverbenefitsmaybegainedby that isneverknownbecause it isneverputintopractise.Then,morequestionswillremain.He regularlygazedat thevast skyas ifhewas trying to find theanswers to thequestions thatresideddeep inhismind.Hediffered fromotherpeopleofhisagewhowereonly interested inhavingfun,thoughtsofthefutureandwealth,havingalifepartner,orotherdistractions.Butinthedeterminedeyesofyoungboy,behindthosedarkglasses,hewasresoluteandcontinuedhispursuitoffindinganswers.Hecontinuouslyresearchedvariousbooks,andsoughtaftertheknowledgeofmanywellknownscholars.

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Sparks of Answers

T hen one day, he came across a book titled, “Dhammakaya.” This bookwas written in the format of a sermon by The Great MasterPhramongkolthepmuni(SodhCandasaro)orLuangPuWatPaknam.There

wasoneparticularquote:“IfonewantstofollowintherightpathofBuddhism,onehastopractiseuntilonegainscompletecomprehensionandunderstanding.”

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Theword“Dhammakaya”appealedtohim.TheGreatMastersaid,“DhammakayaistheBuddha.”HeevenreferencedaPalitermfromtheTripitika:“Dhammakayo-(ahamฺ itipi,” (Pali) to confirm that theBuddha is theDhammakaya.At the endof this book, itshowedaconfirmationthatWatPaknamwasabletoteachuntilattainingcompletecomprehensionandunderstanding.”Thisstatementdelightedhimbecauseheknewhehadfoundtherightpath.Later,hereadanarticlein“VipassanaBantuengsarn”thatspokeabouttheadvancesinmeditationofKhunMaeAcariyaChandra,anexpertintheDhammakayaMeditation.Shewasanunwhowasa disciple of Phramongkolthepmuni (Sodh Candasaro), Luang Pu Wat Paknam. This propelledChaiboontowanttolearnmeditationatthetemple.Fromthatpointon,heplannedtogotoWatPaknamtostudytheDhammakayaMeditation.

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The Search for a Teacher

I n 1963, at the age of nineteen, he was preparing to take the entrance examination foruniversity-levelstudies.TheyoungmanmadeadecisiontogotoWatPaknamBhasicharoentomeetKhunMaeAcariyaChandratostudytheDhammakayaMeditation.Whenhearrived

atthetemple,heaskeddifferentpeople,“DoesanyoneknowKhunMaeAcariyaChandra?”butnoone knew. They told him: “There is no Khun Mae Acariya Chandra. There is only a TeacherChandra.”Thismadehimthinkthattheseweretwodifferentpersons.Sincehecouldn’tfindher,heconcentratedhiseffortsontheentranceexam.HepassedtheexamandwasacceptedatKasetsartUniversity.Inthefirstsemester,hewasveryfocusedinhisstudies.Later,attheendofthefirstsemester,histhoughts ofmeeting Khun MaeAcariya Chandra resurfaced. So, he decided to go back toWatPaknamagaininOctober1963,butwasstillunsuccessfulinlocatingher.Later,someonesuggestedthat, if hewanted to learn how tomeditate seriously, he should learn from a seniormonkwhowouldbeglad to teach theDhammakayaMeditationTechnique.Afterpractisingmeditation foraperiodof time,hediscovered, froma fellowmeditatorof the sameage, thatKhunMaeAcariyaChandrawasTeacherChandra.So,hewastakentomeetTeacherChandra.Finally,theybothhadtheopportunitytomeetoneanother.

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Discovering a Teacher who showed Him the Way to Peace

When he firstmet KhunYay (KhunMaeAcariya Chandra), shewasfifty-threeyearsold.Shelookedlikeanordinarynun,whowasverythin,butwhoseeyeswerebrilliantandbright;asignofsomeonewith

extreme knowledge. Shewas firm, strong, powerful, and brimmingwith kindness.Althoughshewasnoteducatedorliterate,shecouldprovideclearprofoundanswerstodeepDhammaquestions.Herprofoundanswersbrightenedpeople’sminds,madethemstopandthinkandremovedthemfromthestronginfluencesofthewaysoftheworld.

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On their firstmeeting, the youngman believed that he had found the teacherwho he had beensearching for, for such a long time. Therefore, he requested, with confidence in her, to be herstudent. Later,KhunYay said to him, “You are the onewhose birth Luang PhawWat Paknamaskedme to request during theWorldWar period.” This statementwas unclear to him, but thewordsthatKhunYaysaidwereaccuratesincehewasbornduringWorldWarII.From that point on, Chaiboon felt confident that he had chosen the right teacher because theknowledge he received from Khun Yay enabled him to address and settle everything he oncequestioned. This also inspired him to spread the peace found inBuddhism, to thewholeworld.Thishelpedmakethebigdreamthathehad,whenhewasachild,cometofruition.Anydoubts or questions that theyoungmanhad inhismind, hewould askKhunYayand shewould be able to answer everything, above andbeyondhis expectations,which raised his spiritsevenhigher.ThisencouragedhimtospreadBuddhistteachingsandbringpeaceandharmonytothewholeworld.

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Understanding Life ’s Goal

O nthefirstdayofmeditationpracticewithKhunYay,thefirstquestionthe new student askedwas: “KhunYay, does heaven and hell exist?”KhunYaysimplyanswered,“Yes,theybothexist.Heavenandhellare

real.I’vebeentherewhenIwenttohelpmyfather.Myfatherwenttohellbecausehe drank alcohol daily and would get drunk. I requested the help of theDhammakaya tohelpbringmyfather intoheaven.Wouldyou like togo there? Iwillteachyouandwecangotheretogether.”

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Itwas a clear and direct answer thatwas completely different from any answers he had heardbefore.This indicatedtheconfidenceshehadinherexperience,andwhatsheknewandsawonherown.This isbecauseKhunYayhadmeditated in theMeditationWorkshopwithothernunsandmonkswhentheGreatMaster,LuangPuWatPaknam,wasstillalive.ThesemonksandnunswereselectedbyLuangPuWatPaknambecausetheyhadremarkableconcentrationinmeditation.Atthattime,KhunYaymeditatedwithdeterminationforsixhoursduringthedayandsixhoursatnight. Shehad such superb results fromhermeditation experiences thatLuangPuWatPaknamextolledheramongothermeditatorswith:“DaughterChandraisthebest.Sheissecondtonone.”After meditating with Khun Yay for only a short amount of time, young student Chaiboondiscoveredtheanswerstothequestionshehadsoughtforsolong:“Whywereweborn,andwhatisthetruegoaloflife?”Theresultsfrommeditationprovidedtheanswersthat,“wewereborntopursueperfections,andNibbanaisthehighestgoalofeveryone’slife.”

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Perseverance in Meditation Pract ice unti l True Peace is Obtained

I nordertofullygraspandunderstandtheanswers,hehadtoseriouslydedicatehis life to the study ofDhamma.His daily life revolved completely aroundmeditation.Everydayat6a.m.,hewouldmakehisdaily trek fromKasetsart

University to Wat Paknam, which required him to take three different buses.Whether he sat or stood in thebus, hewould always closehis eyes andmeditateuntil he reachedWat Paknam at around 8 a.m.Hewould then go straight to seeKhunYayinorder tocontinuethenext lessononmeditationpractice,until8p.m.HereturnedtoKasetsartUniversityataround10p.m.

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Evenduring the earlyhoursof themorning, at 3 a.m.whenmost of his friends slept,Chaiboonwouldwakeup tomeditatebecauseof favourablesilence,andhisbodyhad justenoughrest.Hewouldmeditate in an areawhere noneof his friendswould seehim.But, sometimeshis friendswouldwakeupinthemiddleofthenighttousetherestroom.Whentheysawhimcoveredunderablanket,theywouldbestartled.Astheyknewthathewasmeditating,theydidnotmakefunofhimortellanyone.Oncehisfriendsbecamemorefamiliarwiththis,hestartedinvitingtheoneshewasclosestto,togomeditatewithKhunYayattheWatPaknam.Later,ashisgroupoffriendsgrewlarger,hisfriendswhowereseniorsandjuniorsfollowedhimtothetemple.Whenitcametostudyingattheuniversity,aneducatedgraduatetendstobelievethatwellroundedstudyneeds tocombinebothworldlyknowledgeandDhammaknowledge.Worldlyknowledge isnecessarytohelponeearnaliving,andDhammaknowledgeistoinstructthemindtobevirtuousandtoeaseanydoubtaboutthesecretsoflifesuchas,“Wheredowegoafterwedie?Doheavenandhellexist?Howdoweproveit?”Thisprofoundknowledgewasnottaughtatanyuniversity,but itwasderivedfromtheLordBuddha’swisdom.ThiscausedChaiyaboon to lean towards thestudyofDhammamorethanstudiesintheclassroom.Evenonthedayhehadanexaminationinthemorning,hewouldtakethebustogotomeditateintheafternoon.Hedidthisregularlyuntilhegraduated.

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With a determined attitude towards meditation, along with his respect for the teachings of histeacher, young Chaiboon excelled in his progression when it came to meditation. This pleasedKhunYaygreatly.Evenpeople,whopractisedmeditationwithKhunYaybefore,acknowledgedhis proficiency. Hence, Khun Yay was comfortable in allowing him to lead the meditation forpatronsandsupporters.Once he meditated deeply and attained inner peace, his confidence in the knowledge found inBuddhismcontinuedtoincrease.Hesawthatthefruitsofmeditationcouldreleasehumanbeingsfromtheirsuffering,andhadindisputablyansweredthemanyunresolvedquestionshehadinhismind.

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Moving Towards the Saffron Robe

L ater,youngChaibooncametoaclearrealisationthat theknowledgeof theworldcouldnot truly keep humankind from suffering, or be able to attain true happiness; only thewisdom derived from meditation could help. He then decided to ask Khun Yay for

permission to become ordained as a monk. Khun Yay not only refused his request for theordination, but also urged him to finish his degree first. She reasoned that, “You have to beknowledgeable in theworld, andbea scholar inDhamma, too, so thatyouwillbebeneficial toBuddhism once you have ordained.You can’t be dependent only onBuddhism.”He respectfullyfollowedherrecommendation.Through his recollection of Khun Yay’s benevolence for the kindness she bestowed with theteachingsofDhamma,alongwithanact todemonstratehisgratitude,onKhunYay’sbirthday in1968,Chaiboonwanted to present a gift to her bymaking a vow of truthfulness and to remaincelibatefor theremainderofhis life.Thiswasconsideredthemostpreciousgiftbecause,for theperson who wishes to advance consistently in his meditation, it is essential to have the highestdegree of purity, pertaining to chastity, and remove all the burdens of the life of a householder.KhunYaywasverypleasedandhappywithhisgreatdetermination.Shefeltthatshehadn’twastedhereffortsindevotingherselftoteachingandmentoringhim.

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In theApril of 1969,Chaiboongraduatedwith aBachelor’sdegree,with amajor inAgriculturalEconomics.Afterreceivinghisdegree,heimmediatelyinformedhisfatherofhisdesire toordainforlifeintheBuddhistmonkhood.Ittookaconsiderableamountoftimebeforehisfatheracceptedandrejoicedinhisson’sdesiretoordain, sincehekept his promiseof completinghis college educationbeforebecomingordained.Hismotheralsorejoicedinhisordinationwithgreatjoyandelationthemomentheaskedforherpermissiontoordain,sothathecouldextendthelivelihoodofBuddhism.27August1969,afullmoondayontheninthmonthofthelunarcalendar,wasanauspiciousdayasMr.ChaiboonSuthipoldonnedthesaffronrobeandbecameamonk,ashehadwished,at thechapel of Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen. The Most Venerable Phrathepwarawaetee (currently,Somdejphramaharatchamangkalajahn, Abbot of Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen, Thailand), was hispreceptor,VenerablePhrakrupipatdhammakaneewashisseniorexaminingmonk(Kamavacacariya)at the ordination, and Venerable Phravicheankawee was his junior examining monk(Anusavanacariya).Hereceivedthemonastictitle“Dhammajayo”,whichmeans“ThevictorthroughDhamma”.

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Lateron,LuangPhawDhammajayoreflectedhisthoughtsonordinationthat:“Ordaining as a Buddhistmonk is not an easy task, just simply donning a saffron robe is notenough.Onemusttrainoneselftotake227preceptsaswellasthedailyroutineofamonk’slife,inaccordancewithmonasticdisciplines.IfonewishestoattainfullfruitionfromthemeritaccruedfromordainingonemustbeabletobearefugeforBuddhism,notjusttakingrefugeinBuddhism”.Suchsolidprinciplesarenotsoeasilycomeby,onemuststudyandtrainforoneselftorealizethesignificanceof theLordBuddha’s teachings.Basedontheaforementionedquotation, ifonetrulygraspstheconceptofLuangPhawDhammajayo’swordsonewillhavethewillpowertodedicateone’s life toBuddhism.His sole purpose in becoming amonkwas to spread teaching of LordBuddhaallover theworld. Hisordinationwasagreatexample thatallowedmanyfollowers tocomeandordainashedidandthistraditionstillcontinuestothepresentday.

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Transforming the Paddy Field into a Sacred Land

I nhisnewlifeasamonk,LuangPhawDhammajayowasverydisciplinedinthe monastic codes of conduct and studied very hard in the Lord Buddha’sTeachings. During all of this, he also gave sermons to laypeople at ‘Ban

Dhammaprasit’ (Meditation Centre in Wat Paknam) instead of Khun Yay on aregularbasis.Until‘BanDhammaprasit’becamesoovercrowdedthatpeoplehadtosit in the street to be able to listen to his sermons, it was now time for thecommunity to relocate toabiggerarea. Itwasup toLuangPhawDhammajayo’steamwhichconsistedofspecialyoungmenandwomenwhohadacomprehensiveknowledgeoftheworldandtheperseverancetocompleteanytasksgiven.

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On Magha Puja Day the 23rd February 1970 (2513 B.E.) was the ground breaking day in theconstructionofWatPhraDhammakaya.Theconstructionbudgetwasonly3,200bahtalongwith80acresoflandwhichwasdonatedbyKhunYingPrayadPhaetayapongsa-Visudhadhibodi.Theteamhelpedeachothertobuildthetemplegivingalltheireffort,workinghardtotheirutmostcapability,willingtodevotetheirlifeforthebenefitofBuddhism.Theyeveneconomizedtheirdailyexpensesbyconsumingsimplefood,onlywhatwasnecessaryforenergyandnotforpleasure.Nevertheless,their heartswere still fulfilledwith encouragement that theywould achieve the goal despite notbeingabletoseeanysolutionsatthattime.Oneofthemainproblemsthroughouttheconstructionwasraisingthenecessaryfunds.InreferencetotheconstructionofWatPhraDhammakaya,LuangPhawDhammajayostated,“Withallthenecessitiesthathavebeendonatedtothetemple,laypeoplehavepaidhomagetotheTripleGems and thenmade a resolution prayer powered by themerit of havingmade these donations,thereforewemustmake fulluseofallnecessities thathavebeengiven”.For this reason,all theconstructionofWatPhraDhammakayahasbeendonetowithstandthetestoftime.

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Itssimplicityindesignwastoensurelow-costmaintenanceandyetisstillabletokeepitsrefinedelegance.ThesebuildingsaresymbolsofBuddhismforpeopletocomeandpayhomageto.Thechapel isanexampleof thissimpleeconomicaleleganceaswellasbeingoneof themostusedbuildingsatWatPhraDhammakaya.For instance, the concrete thatwasused in the constructionof the chapelwasnot anyordinaryconcrete.ThebestsandhadtobeselectedfromthesanddunesonthecoastlineandtransporteduptheChaoPhrayaRiverviabarges.Theconcreteitselfalsohadtobeofthebestquality.Oncethemixwasavailable,itthenhadtoundergorigoroustestingtoensurelong-lastingqualityandonlywhen the specialist teamhadgiven its approvalwould the construction continue.Evenwith theouterwall of the chapel, thegravel thatwasusedhad tobe selectedbyhand. It had tobe thewhitest andpurest and similar in size toagrainof rice.At that time, the supporters and localswere so impressedwith the attention todetail that they chipped in andhelped select thegravelwiththeirownhands.

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Spreading Peace with the Great Faith of Humankind

WatPhraDhammakaya rapidlygrew,alongwith theheartsandmindsof its supporters which had grown in great numbers throughout theyears. Somuch that the original 80 acreswere not large enough to

accommodatethecommunityandthereforeitssizewasincreasedto1000acresforthepurposeofservingasaWorldMeditationCentre.

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Theveryfirstmeditationhall,accommodatingonly500people (named ‘Catummaharajika’),wasfilledtoitscapacityinonly5years.Thenumberofpeoplewhoattendedthesermongrewataveryfast pace similar to ‘Ban Dhammaprasit’. People ended up sitting outside on the grass lawn inorder tobeable toparticipate inanyreligiousceremonyledbyLuangPhawDhammajayo.Evenwhen it rained,peoplewouldsitoutside to listen tohim,obviously thiscouldnotgoon for toolonganditwasdecided thatanewmeditationhallwouldneed tobebuilt.Therefore, the12,000capacitythatchroofedMeditationHallwasbuilt,butinonlyashortperiodoftime,thesamethinghappened,over-fillingwithpeople.Then, itwasdecided that thecommunitywouldneedamuchlarger staging area formeditation and ceremonies. Therefore, the ‘DhammakayaAssemblyHall’,withthehelpofallofitssupporters,wasbuiltwithinanareaof500,000squaremetersandabletohost300,000people.Eventothisday,thebuildingisstillbeingexpandedfurther.However,ithasbeenutilizedasthemainstagingareaforallreligiousceremoniessince1996.Having seen the number of supporters regularly increase, Luang Phaw Dhammajayo decided tobuild thenextphase,whichconsistedof the ‘Maha Dhammakaya Cetiya’, (TheGoldenPagoda)andThe Grand Meditation Stadiumbothdesignedtolastforathousandyearsandhaveanareaof1,000,000 squaremeters in order to serve 1,000,000monks and laypeople fromaround theworldwhowillregularlycometopractisemeditationinthefuture.

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Theday1,000,000people fromover theworldcome tomeditateatMaha DhammakayaCetiyawill be the day that the people of theworldwill stop, think and ask themselveswhy somanypeoplehavegatheredinoneplacetomeditate.Theimagesthattheyseewillembodythemselvesintotheirheartsandtheywillstrivetofindtheanswerforthemselves.BesidetheMaha Dhammakaya Cetiyastructure,inordertopayourhighestgratitudetotheGreatTeacher, the Memorial Hall of Phramongkolthepmuni and the Memorial Hall of Khun Yay Acariya Maharattana Upasika Chandra Khonnokyoong are used as a gathering place formeditationandforallpeopletocomeandpayhomage.Aroundthesametime,KhunYayAcariyaMaharattanaUpasikaChandraKhonnokyoong’sdininghallwasbuiltinordertoallowsupporterstoofferfoodtothecommunityofmonks.Currently,WatPhraDhammakayaisacentreforBuddhistsalloverThailandanditisalsooneofthemainstagingareasformajorBuddhistceremoniesworldwide.SuccesswaspossiblebecauseofthegreatdevotionanddedicationofLuangPhawDhammajayoandhisteam.Forthisreason,hewasbestowedaHighRoyalOrderofthemonastic‘Rajlevel’byHisMajestytheKingofThailandto be recognised as a leadingmonk inmeditationwith the title “Phrarajbhavanavisudh”, on 5thDecember1996(2539B.E.).

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The Utmost Grati tude towards the Teacher

E very success and achievement of the Wat PhraDhammakaya,whetheritwasthecompletionofthetemple site, creatinga religiouscommunity,or the

disseminationofBuddhismforthepurposeofinstillingpeaceinthemindsofhumankind,waspossiblebecausetherewasasignificantandimportantfigurebehinditall.ThiswasKhunYay, the teacher who provided Luang Phaw Dhammajayowith the wisdom and illumination in Dhamma, and thesupport and encouragement to perform meritorious deedsuntilherverylastbreath.KhunYay’stremendoussignificanceisimmeasurable.Therefore,itwasonly fitting that Luang Phaw Dhammajayo extolled her magnificencewith this title: “Our Great Teacher Khun Yay Maharattana UpasikaChandraKhonnokyoong,theFounderofWatPhraDhammakaya”.

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Khun Yay departed from this world on Sunday the 10th of September 2000. With the utmostgratitudeandrespectthatLuangPhawDhammajayohadforKhunYay,herequestedallthemonks,novicemonks,andupasakaandupasikaofWatPhraDhammakaya,alongwithalldevoteesofKhunYayworldwide,tojoininbodyandmindinthemostperfectandmajesticcrystallightingceremonyandcremationheldon3rdFebruary2002.Thiswasagestureintendedtodemonstratehisimmensegratitude and to declareKhunYay’s significance for thewholeworld to appreciate. The crystallightingceremonywasthebiggestandgrandesteventeverheldatWatPhraDhammakayawithanestimated500,000participants.Itwasalsothefirsttimethatover100,000monksandseniormonks,fromover30,000templesthroughoutThailand,hadevercongregatedtogether,whentheyattendedthecremationceremonyforKhunYay.Asawaytodemonstratetheirkindness,monksfrommanyother countries travelled across many miles in order to participate in the ceremony. ThecongregationofthisgreatanumberofmonkshadneverhappenedbeforeinthehistoryofThailand.

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Thatdayisconsideredthemostwonderfulofdays.ItwasthedaythatallthedevoteesofKhunYay demonstrated their enormous gratitude to her, and also had the opportunity to witness thepresenceofover100,000monks. Itwasanauspiciousoccasion tohave theopportunity tomakeofferingstoamonasticorderofover100,000monks.Itwasalsoauniqueandspecialoccasiontohavehadthechancetocontributetoallthemeritsandreceiveblessingsfromover100,000monks,whichisconsideredtobeanauspicioussound. Even though Khun Yay is no longer with us today, Phrarajbhavanavisudh or Luang PhawDhammajayo, continues to devote and dedicate all his time and effort into his ever increasingamountofwork,andtopreserveandcarryonthewisdomofDhammakayameditationthatKhunYayreceivedfromLuangPuWatPaknam,andtransferredtoLuangPhawDhammajayo,inordertocreateaninnerhappinessthatcandeveloptoalastingpeaceonearth.Everythingthathasbeendone, and everything that Luang PhawDhammajayo proceeded forwardwith, derived from oneprimarygoal:PeaceonEarth.

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Peace Projects of Phrarajbhavanavisudh

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“WorldPeace,Itcannothappenthroughoneperson.

Wecannotaccomplishitalone.Itcomesfromthethoughtsofallbeings.

Excludingnoone…”

T hese are thewords that show the intention in themind of Luang PhawDhammajayo.Hewisheseveryoneinthisworldwillfindtruehappinessinlife.Forthisreason,hededicatedhisentirelifetocreatingarepresentative

staff that could perform the duty ofKalyanamitta, each as a “good friend” to thepeopleof theworld.Hebeganwithasmallgroupofpeoplewhoshared thesamegoal until now, there are several hundred thousands of peoplewho also know thevalueofmeditationandsharethesamegoalofWorldPeacebystartingfrompeacefromwithin.

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LuangPhawDhammajayorealises thathumanbeingsare themostvaluablenatural resourceandone of the most important factors for guiding society in the future. He focuses on developinghumanbeingsbyutilising theknowledgeofBuddhismtodevelopone’smind touplifteveryoneandtodogooddeeds.Bystarting to teacheveryone toavoid thebaddeeds, thatcauseconflict,takingadvantageofothers,andharmingeachother.Byavoidingbaddeeds,wecanfindawaytobringpeacetotheworld.Anotherwayistoteacheveryonetodoallkindsofgooddeedstoexpandthefruitsofgoodnessineveryonearoundus.Becauseifoneperformsgooddeedsmoreoften,thepersonwillgetusedtoituntilitbecomesagoodhabitintheirminds.Therefore,aslongashumanbeingskeepdoinggooddeeds,thenwecanensureaworldpeacethatwillendureforever.

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Thelastwayis toteacheveryonetoknowhowto purify their minds by practising meditationwhich is most important because meditation isthemethodoftrainingonetocontroltheirmindtobeawareofgreed,angeranddelusion.Greed,angeranddelusionwillforcehumanstodobaddeeds. Besides this, meditation can give us thewillpowertodomoreandmoregooddeeds.Luang Phaw Dhammajayo initiates variousactivities by using three principles: encouraginghuman beings to avoid bad deeds; promotingthemtodogooddeeds;andpurifyingtheirmindsbymeditation.Thesearetheuniversalprincipleswhichcanbringloveandabetterunderstandingto human beings. Starting from the family unit,the smallest unit in society, we can promoteeverlastingpeaceonearth.Alloftheseactivitiesare aimed at reaching the goal of world peace.Wethereforeneed topubliciseDhammatopeopledirectlyandworkhand inhandwithdifferentBuddhistandotherspiritualorganisationsbothinThailandandaroundtheworld.

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Training Programme and Dhamma Teaching to the Public

SincethebeginningofbuildingWatPhraDhammakaya,thedutyinbuildingthe temple was heavy, but one that Luang Phaw Dhammajayo gave asbeingthemostimportant:trainingandteachingDhamma.Hehasinitiated

manyvirtuetrainingprogramstogetherwithbuildingthetemplewithouttiring,suchas;

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Dhamma Teaching on Sunday EverySunday, thosewhocome tovisitWatPhraDhammakayawillbe impressedfrom seeing people in white with joyfulminds. The image of everyone, from allwalks of life regardless of sex, age, career and some of them travelling fromdifferent places, with different cultures, and speaking different languages but allmeditating together happily. Luang Phaw Dhammajayo always teaches meditationhimself.ThesearetheimagesthatarealwaysvisibleatWatPhraDhammakaya.

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Currently, every Sunday, about 10,000 people come to meditate at the temple. Usually the firstSundayofeverymonththereareabout30,000people.OnBuddhistauspiciousdays,suchasMaghaPuja Day, Vesak Day or Kathina Ceremony, a special ceremony takes place in the afternoonsession.Usuallyover200,000peoplecometoattendthemeditationpractice. Thetempleispreparedtoservebreakfastandlunchforeveryone,alsoservingpre-packagedfood,offeringrefreshmentsintheeveningforpeoplewhoarefromtheoutskirtsofBangkok,withnofee.This is to support peopleof any status in theirmeditationpractice.All expenses aredonatedbythosewhocansupportthem.Morningactivitywillbeameditationsession.TheafternoonsessionwillbeDhammateachingforpeopleasaguidelineforlivingtheirlives.

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Weekend Meditation Retreat

WeekendMeditationRetreatatWatPhraDhammakaya isoneveryFriday,SaturdayandSundayatnocost.Thisisforpeopleofallages,maleandfemale,childrenandadults, who love tomeditate andwant to train to increase their virtue. This is a

simple life style, observing the guidlines of the retreat and to be able tomeditate continuously.Eachyear,thereareabout100,000peoplewhoattendthisprogram.Theyfindhappinesswithinandatthesametimeareabletotrainthemselves.Thiseffectivelyhelpsthemreduceorquitalltheirbadtemptations.Thisisthewaytobringgoodnesstothemselves,theirfamiliesandsociety.

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Meditation Retreat Programmes

Theseprogrammesaredesignedforthosewhowouldliketotemporarilygetaway from the hectic world and spend more time on continuousmeditation.LuangPhawDhammajayo,throughhiscompassion,designed7

day meditation retreat programmes, held in peaceful locations, close to nature.Participantsmustobservethe8Preceptsandmeditateduringthe7dayretreatperiod.Manyparticipants experience innerpeace and invite their friends and relatives to join the retreatprogrammeshopingtheywillexperiencethesamepeaceandhappiness.

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Meditation Retreat Programmes for Foreigners

LuangPhawDhammajayo’s vision is not to bring happiness to only Thaipeople,butalsototheworldatlarge.Healwaysmentionsthatpeopleofthisworldshouldhaveanequalopportunitytoattainhappinessregardless

oftheirrace,religion,language,nationalityorculture.InFebruary2006,heinitiatedameditationretreatprogrammeentitled,“TheMiddleWay”towhichforeignerscanapply online through “www.meditationthai.org”. Only a year after this programmestarted,theprogrammehasprovidedmeditationinstructiontomorethan300peoplefrom32countries.At the conclusion of the programme, participants have a better understanding of the benefits ofmeditation. They experience inner happiness as never before, and resolve to keep practisingmediation regularly after theprogrammehas ended.Manyof thembelieve inhisgoal and shareLuang Phaw Dhammajayo’s vision and become a part of his team to bring about world peacethroughmeditation.

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Training Programme for Public and Private Sectors

I fallworkingpeople,nomatterwho theymaybeorwhatever they represent:whetherpartofthegovernmentsector,stateenterprisesorcorporateandpublicsectors, recognise the benefits of practising meditation, and are able to

maintain their elevated state of mind, society and countries will develop moreefficientlyandeffectively.Atpresent,manygovernmentsectorsandpublicorganisationshaveencouraged theirpersonnel toparticipateinmoralitydevelopmentprogrammesandmeditationretreats,forexample,the“TrainingProgrammes forVirtuousTeachers” for those teacherswhohaveakey impactoncreatingworldpeace.When teachershaveaclearunderstandingofmeditationand itsbenefits, theycanpassonthisknowledgetotheirstudents.Henceweareonanacceleratedpathtocreatingworldpeace.

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Youths and the Future of World Peace

L uang Phaw Dhammajayo pays special attention to resolving youths’problemssincetheyarethefutureoftheworld.Worldpeaceisdefinitelyoutofreachifournextgenerationhasatendencytocreateproblemsfor

themselves.Heisawareofouryouths’significantroleinworldpeaceandhasinitiatedseveralprojectstobringDhammatoyouthsofallages,fromelementarygradestocollegelevelstudentsaroundthecountry.Theobjective is to introduce therightwayof living toyouthsaccording toBuddhistphilosophy.Theseprojectsinclude:

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Dhammadayada Training Programme

TheDhammadayadaTrainingProgrammewas firstorganised in1972.Thetrainingwas initiatedbyLuangPhawDhammajayowith theobjectiveofpromotingethicsandmoralityamongyouths,inadditiontotheiracademic

education. Education alone cannot adequately cultivate ethics and morality in aperson.

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A wise person who is highly educated may use knowledge and skills in the wrong way. Forexample,theuseofadvancedphysicsintheproductionofnuclearbombsduringWorldWarIIhasinflictedapermanentwoundinmankind.Hence thecultivationofaconsciousnessofgoodness instudents isextremelycrucial,so that thewise person will combine both education and morality, and in turn, bring the benefits of both,therebyusingknowledgeinacreativeandbeneficialmanner,whichisanotherpathtoworldpeace.TheDhammadayada Training Programme emphasises both practical and theoretical training.The training uses Buddhist principles as a template for developing ethics and morality. It is believed that Buddhist principles are one of the best principles that can be used to achieve the full development of youths.Aftertraining,thetraineewillhaveafirmunderstandingofethicsandmoralityandbecapableofefficientlyincorporatingtheseprinciplesintotheirdailylives.Thetrainingperiodcoincideswiththesummerbreakatuniversities.Thetrainingisopentomalecollegestudentswhosearchforaself-improvementprogramme.Duringtrainingeachtraineestaysinatent,learnsDhamma,strictlyobserves8Precepts,andmeditatesintensivelyforaperiodofonemonth. This particular training period is to prepare each trainee for his coming ordinationphysically,verbally,andmentally.

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Traineeswhopassthemonthstrainingwillqualifyforthemassordination,whichlastsforanothermonth. This last month of Dhammadayada training programme focuses on establishing theunderstandingofBuddhismboththeoreticallyandpractically.TheDhammadayadaMonksdonotordain according to tradition, but rather ordain to self-train themselves to achieve perfect sila(morality),samadhi(meditation),andpanna(wisdom).Afterfinishingthetraining,DhammadayadaMonks disrobe, again becoming laypeople, but who are equipped with goodness of living andreadytobringprogresstotheircountry.Since1972,theDhammadayadatrainingprogrammehasofferedtrainingtohighschoolandcollegestudentseveryyear.Theoriginalprogrammehasbranchedoutintothefollowingsubprogrammes:

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1. Dhammadayada training and mass ordination programme for high school and college male students during the summer break -DhammadayadaTrainingandmassordinationprogrammeforcollegestudents -DhammadayadaTrainingandmassordinationprogrammeforhighschoolstudents -DhammadayadaTrainingandmassordinationprogrammeformiddleschoolstudents -DhammadayadaTrainingandmassordinationprogrammeforelementaryschoolstudents

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2. Dhammadayada Training and mass ordination programme for the general public -DhammadayadaTrainingandmassordinationprogrammeforthegeneralpublicduringBuddhist Lent -DhammadayadaTrainingandmassordinationprogrammeforpayinggratitudetoLuangPhaw Dhammajayo.ThisprogrammeopensforDhammadayadawhooncefinishedsummertraining andordinationprogramme. -SpecialDhammadayadatrainingandmassordinationprogramme(forspecialevents,i.e.topay gratitudetotheKing,orasrequestedbyprivateorgovernmentalsectors.)

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3. International Dhammadayada Training Programme This training was designed for male foreigners of all ages who would like to ordain to bemonksornovicemonks.TheprogrammeisconductedinChineseandEnglish,andlastsfor1month. The trainee will meditate intensively during the programme. They will learn to adaptmeditationintotheirlives,andalsotheirfamilymembers,colleagues,andfellowcountrymen.Thiswillcreateauniversalpeacefulenvironment.

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4. Summer Training Programme for Female Students Dhammadayadatrainingandmassordinationprovestosubstantiallyimprovebehaviourandthelife ofmanytrainees.LuangPhawDhammajayorecognisesthebenefitofthistrainingprogramme andkindlyextendedtheDhammadayadatrainingprogrammetofemalestudentsforthefirsttime inthesummerof1986.Thetraininglastsfor1-2months.Thetraininghasbeenorganisedevery andausterepractices.Therehavebeenaround400participantseachyear.Thistrainingisseparated into2agelevels: -Dhammadayadatrainingprogrammeforfemalecollegestudents -Dhammadayadatrainingprogrammeforfemalehighschoolstudents

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Inconclusion, theinitialDhammadayadatrainingprogrammehasbranchedout intoseveralotherprogrammes.All programmeshave successfully improved the ethics andmoralityofparticipantsthus providing good citizens for society. Between the years 1996-2006 there were 46,914participantswhohadjoinedatleastoneoftheDhammadayadatrainingprogrammes.Therewasnorecordkeepingduring1972-1995.Nonethelessthetotalnumberofparticipantsisbelievedtoexceed100,000.

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Youth Moral Development Project

Children from all age-groups can join programmeswhich they can enjoyandsimultaneouslyabsorbsomegoodmoralvaluesinsertedinourvariousactivities,suchas:

1)DhammakayaYouthClubwhich assists in taking care of children aged 3-12who accompanytheir parents to the temple by setting up suitable activities for them to enjoy. Children can sitlistening to stories with morals, and fables, and at the same time get to know Thai traditions.Mannersanddisciplinecanalsobelearned.TheclubrunsactivitiesoneverySunday.2)MobileProject forDhammaStudywhich aims to educatemiddle andhigh school students inBangkok, including its suburban areas so theyget to learn theLordBuddha’swordsofwisdom.Currently,thereareabout20schoolsandinstitutionscoveredintheprojectwhichstartedin1997.3)YouthCreativenessDevelopmentProject founded in1991. “WatPhraDhammakaya”openedaseven-day programme to educate and counsel girls and boys, aged 9-11. The purpose of theprogramme is to enable them to learn standards of being a good person both in their civic andspirituallife.Itteacheschildrentobecreativeandextroverted,andtoworkaspartofaneffectiveteamintheirgroups.

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Volunteers for Buddhist Work Project

Luang Phaw Dhammajayo has created many activities to provideopportunitiesforyoungerpeopletocomeintoclosertouchwithBuddhismat the temple, especially on important religious days. Many times, large

numbers of people come to join sacred events and each time, we carry out ourmissionsuccessfullywiththeaidofvolunteerworkerswhocometohelpandserveasfacilitatorsforvisitors.Itisbecauseoftheirdedicationandsacrificethatwecannot do without them. Volunteers are generally students who, encouraged by theirparentsorteachers,comeandhelpoutatthetempleonweekendsorwhenevertheyareofffromschool.Volunteers not only help the temple carry out many successful projects, but also learn ethicalconceptsthroughsacrifice,respect,humilityandresponsibility,whenworkingasateam.TheyalsolearnthroughcompassionandhardworktoadvocateBuddhism.Whenthesevolunteersfinishtheireducationand start earninga living,manyof themstill comebackand spend their free timebycontinuing volunteerwork at the temple. They also coach future generations of volunteers there.This is why currently there are about 10,000 volunteers from all walks of life. Luang PhawDhammajayo creates better younger generations and is still able to maintain the best of formergenerationsofvolunteers,withastrongmoralbasethatwilllastforever.

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Dhamma Quiz: Path of Progress Project

Withintoday’s trends insociety, theenvironment is fullof temptationsand exposesour young children tonegative influences.LuangPhawDhammajayo is very concerned about that fact, so he supports the

projectoftheDhammaQuiz.ThisactivitycanstimulatethemotivationforDhammastudyamongstyoungsters.TheQuizprogrammegiveseverybodyachancetostudyDhamma (Buddha’s Teachings) in detail. It brings the “38 Blessings of Life”,Teachinginto lightbysimplifyingthem,sothatpeoplecanreadilyunderstandandadaptittotheireverydaylives.

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Even thougheachQuizCompetitionmay last onlyoneday, youngparticipantswill still have tospendquitesometimestudyingDhammabeforehand.TheyinturnabsorbDhammaintotheirmindwithoutknowingit.Thispositivelyaffectstheirtrainofthought,speechandactionaccordingly.ThestudentswillstarttouseDhammaastheproperguidelinefortheirwayoflife,apartfromdrugsandbadtemptations.Besides,theywillalsomakethemselvesusefultosocietyandcountry.TheDhammaQuizProgrammecalled‘PathofProgress’hasbeenastrongstimulusforourstudentsto become alert inDhamma studies,which subsequently has effects on the development of theirviewpointsandmoralbehaviour.Wefindthatmostyoungcontestantswhoparticipateinthequizwillimproveatschool,andrespecttheirteachersandparentsmore.Theyalsoexhibitmorepositiveattitudes towards people, and are better behaved than groupswho never participated in the quizProgramme.Dr.NathPantumanawin,AssistantProfessor,andtheresearchteamofKasetsartUniversity,basedon thereflectionof theresearchofDhammaquiz“PathofProgress”,havefound that ithelps toimprovethebehaviourofthestudentinsociety.Theadministratorandtheorganiserofthisprojectagreedthatthisistheactivitythatgivesthebestresultfromtheirhardwork.

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YouthswhoparticipateintheDhammaquizallfeelthepositivechangesinthem.Thereforetheyprepare tostudyandwant toparticipate in thequizcontinuously.Someof themtalkabout theirimpressions;

“ThoughIcannotwintheQuiz,IamhappythatIhavealotofknowledgesuchas“NotAssociatingwithFools”.Iwanttotakethequizagainifitisgivennextyear.EvenifIcannotattaintheperfectscore,Istillgainknowledge.Ifeelverysatisfiedandhopetheycontinuetohavethisprogramme.Iftheteacherssupportus,wearewillingtodoitandarehappytodoit.”(ArriLuenggern,8thgrade)“SinceIstartedtoreadthebook,The 38 Blessings of Life,thequizhasbegun(forme).ItbenefitsmeandupliftsmymindasIreadallthedetailsandfollowthrough.ItcalmsmymindandIhavegoodthoughts.Thecontentsofthisbookletusknowthewayoflifeindifferentsituations.Sometimeswefeel irritable,havingnegativethoughts,butifwestopandthinkabouttheteachingsofThe 38 Blessings of Life,wecanstopsomebadactions.Thebenefitsoftakingthequizarethatwecantesthowmuchunderstandingwehavefromreadingthisbook.Wehavetousecommonsensetoanswersomequestions.

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Inmyopinion,theDhammaquizistheactivitythatshouldhavealotofsupportbecauseitisonewaytodevelopthecountryindirectly.Beforethequiz,participantshavetoreadthebook.Usuallymost people overlook a good book like this one if no one suggests to them to read it. So theDhammaQuiz Contest is the best way tomake people read the basicDhamma book. It upliftspeople’smindsandisanindirectwayofdevelopingthecountry.Therewillbemoregoodpeopleandonlygoodpeoplecandevelopthecountry.Theprizeisjustabonus;itisnotthemainpoint.”(Ms.ChanphenSiriwan,SeniorHighSchool)“I’mveryimpressedwiththiscontest.Thequizisnotsodifficult.Itisaboutthevirtuesthatguideourlife.Thebookteachesuswhatisgood;whatisnotgood.Anyonewhohastakenthisquizwillhaveacheerfulmindanditwillmakethemhappy.”(Ms.KavinnaSuwanarat,11thGrade)

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Even though youths are not Buddhists, they will also gain benefit from this “Path of Progress” Dhamma Quiz, as someone said:

“I’verealisedthatthiscontestbenefitedmeindifferentways.EventhoughIamnotaBuddhist,I’vestill learnedaboutthe38BlessingsofLife.Thecontest iseasywhenwehave read thebook. It givesus some ideasof how to liveourlives.Thiswasthefirstcontestinmylife.NextyearifIhavethechancetotakethePathofProgresstestagain,Iwillreadthebookandstudymorebecauseitisbeneficialtome.I’mthankfultomyteacherwhogavemethechancetotakethe

PathofProgressquiz.”(Ms.SujanyaKhetjarassang,11thGrade)

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The “Path of Progress” EthicsQuiz Contest receives royal grace fromHisMajesty theKing ofThailand,whokindly bestows theFirst PlaceHonour upon the first placewinners in the nation.TheAward ofHonour for first place in the teacher and professor category is sponsored by thePrimeMinister.TheMinisterofEducationalsoprovidescertificates.Therearegrowingnumbersofinternational organisations supporting this programme. The participants in the “Path of Progress”Ethics Quiz Contest has increased exponentially from hundreds to thousands, and to tens ofthousandeachyear.Thenumberofparticipantsjumpedfromtensofthousandsto1,355,154in1998.Mostrecently,in2006,therewere4,732,291participantsfrom19,839educationalinstitutes.Most schools in Thailand have incorporated the “Path of Progress” EthicsQuiz Programme intotheircurriculum.Theoutcomeprovesverysatisfactoryforallsectorsespeciallywhentheywitnessanimprovementinyouthmoralityandbehaviour.Theprogrammeprovidessolutionstomanyyouthproblemsincludingdrugusage,improperactivitiesasgivenintheRoadtoRuin,crimes,aggression,prematuresexualactivities,etc.The“PathofProgress”EthicsQuizContestwashonouredasoneof the“Programmes of Peace and Non-Violence of the Century” by UNESCO. The program was also selected to give apresentationandshareexperienceswithrepresentativesfrom1,600Non-GovernmentalOrganisationsatthe“FutureofourChildren”conferenceinSeptember2000,GenevaUniversity,Switzerland.Atthe

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“HumanSecurity andDignity:Fulfilling thePromiseof theUnitedNations” conference inNewYork,USA, theEthicsQuizContestwas selected to present under the title, “ThePsychologicalAspectofPeacefromYouththroughMaturity”.The presentation impressed representatives from international organisations focusing on youth.Theyhadstudiedthe“PathofProgress”EthicsQuizContestprogrammeinfurtherdetailandusedit to improve theirmoral development programs for the youth in their own countries.This is atestimony that Luang PhawDhammajayo has the right vision for creatingworld peace throughethicsandmoraldevelopmentinyouth,anapproachofgreatinteresttotheworldscommunities.Additionally,LuangPhawDhammajayohasaplantoexpandtheprojectinternationallyallowingbothThaisand foreigners inThailandandabroad toparticipate in the“PathofProgress”EthicsQuizContest.TheInternationalEthicsQuizContestwillbeheldforthefirsttimeon4thFebruary.2007. The “Path of Progress” Ethics Quiz Contest will be conducted in 4 languages: English,Chinese,Lao,andThai.TheInternationalQuizContestisateamcontest,whereeachteamconsistsofthreefamilymembers.Theobjectivesarenotonlytopromoteethicsandmoralsbutalsoloveandunderstandingwithinparticipating families.Trueworldpeacecanonlybebuiltupon“warmandhappyfamilies”.

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Peace starts

from within the family

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Home of Light Project

HomeofLightisanotherprojectthatworkedhandinhandwiththeotherstocreateapeacefulsocietyinThailandandtheworld.Thisprojectwasinitiatedin1999,theyearThaiscommemoratedthe72ndbirthdayofHis

MajestytheKingofThailand.ItaimedatconvincingbothThaiyouthsandadultstodo virtuous deeds as a tribute to His Majesty the King, and to morally developthemselvesthroughasharedeffortamongfamilies,temples,andschools.

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ThisprojectplayedakeyroleinteachingandguidingyouthswiththerightwayoflivingaccordingtoteachingsfromLordBuddha.Theproject’spurposewastoimprovetheirmorality;maintaintheirbeautifulculture;andinstilltheirloveinthenation,religions,andHisMajestytheKing.ThiswillpermanentlyuniteThaisociety.The project lasted for 2 months from December 1999-January 2000. There were 3,342,053participantsfrom16,853institutesacrossthenation.Theactivitiesincludedkeepingavirtuejournalbyeachparticipant: students, teachers,andparents.Eachmember receivedadiaryand“HomeofLight”signsforeachfamily.Thefamilyactivitiesincludedchanting,meditatingandofferingalmsas a tribute toHisMajesty theKing. Participants also joined the ceremony commemorating thebirthdayanniversaryofHisMajesty theKing;wrote letters tofelicitate theKing,andalso joinedspecialactivitiesorganisedbytheirinstitutes.

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Thevirtuejournalingactivitywithintheshorttwomonthsprovedtoimprovebehavioursofstudentparticipants.Theyweremorejoyfulandresponsible,hadmoredisciplines,andwereabletospendtheir free timebeneficially.Theyweremorewilling to lendahelpinghandto theirparents thanbefore.Thesegoodbehaviourswerealsoaconsequenceoftheirobservinggoodexamplesmodeledbytheirparentsandteachers.Many families benefited from this project; parents decided to quit drinking, smoking, andgambling,sincetheywereawarethattheirchildrenwerelookinguptothemasrolemodels.The“HomeofLight”wasaverysuccessfulproject.Inthefuturewheneveryregionintheworldbringsfamilyandschooltoworktogethertopromotevirtuousdeeds,wewillallreceivethepromiseofincreasinglygoodcitizens,whoareourbestresourceforcreatingworldpeace.

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Kalyanamitta Home Project

KalyanamittaHomeProject (HomeofGoodFriendsProject), a first steptowards world peace, was created from the vision of Luang PhawDhammajayo. It stressed the fact thatweneed to firstcreatepeaceand

happinesswithinthefamily,thesmallestunitofsociety.Theproject’spurposewastobringDhamma to the family.Their understandingofDhammawill shield themfrombadinfluencesandnormswhichareabundantincurrentsociety.Itisoperatedunderthemotto“wherever you turn, you will see Kalyanamitta”.

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The word “Kalyanamitta” means good friends or true friends who wish their friends well, whoadvisethemtodovirtuousdeeds.Themembers’objectiveis tobringat least3familymembersandfriendstochantandmeditatedailyforatleastonehour.Theprojectcreatesmorefamilytimewhenfamilymembersgetinvolvedincreativeactivitiespromotingloveandhappiness.At the beginning of the project, a sign “Kalyanamitta home”was given to each familymember.Anyonecanparticipate;theywillonlyhavetogatherfamilymemberstomeditateeverydayintheprayerroomineachhouse.Theprayerroomshouldnotonlybetheplaceforworshipbutalsoafamily-unitingplacewherethewholefamilycanaccruemerit.Otheractivitiesincludeofferingalmstomonkseverymorning,makingmeritatnearbytemples,andlearningDhamma.Uptothepresenttime,theprojecthasextendedloveandhappinesstoover100,000families,bothin Thailand and abroad. The numbers of participants are continuously increasing. With therealisationthatonecannotbetheonlygoodpersoninsociety, itbecomesnecessarytobetterourenvironment and our society with Kalyanamitta as well. It is therefore our responsibility to beKalyanamitta to each other; subsequently our community and society will be immune fromharshness.

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Meditation Pract ice to Bless Their Majest ies the King and the Queen

I nthevariousauspiciousoccasionsofHisMajestytheKingandHerMajestytheQueen,LuangPhawDhammajayohasinvitedpeopletojointhemeditationpracticetogetheringivingblessingstothemonarchs,suchas:

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Thenovicemonkordinationceremonyon8thFebruary1998atWatPhraDhammakayaforgivingablessingtoHisMajestytheKingrelatedtoHis70thBirthdayCelebration.Therewerestudents,government employees, soldiers, policemen and the general public joining this ordination,altogethertotalling13,842participants.On 7-9August 1998, theUpasikakaew ceremony (laywomen’s retreat) offered a blessing toHerMajesty theQueen and expressing gratitude towards our “Mother”.Over 140,000women joinedthisceremonyasparticipants.ItwasagreathistoricalmomentforThaiwomen.On 1-3 January 1999, the Upasokkaew ceremony (laymen’s retreat) offered a blessing to HisMajestytheKinginthe13worldwidecentresofWatPhraDhammakaya.Therewereonethousandparticipantsjoininginthisproject,composedofbothThaiandforeigners.

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OnJanuary29-31,1999,LuangPhawDhammajayoorganisedtheUpasokkaewceremony(laymen’sretreat)toofferablessingtoHisMajestytheKingrelatedtothecelebrationofthe72ndanniversaryofHisbirthday.Therewerealmost200,000participantsbothlaymenandlaywomen.Channel5andChannel11ofThailandbroadcastthisprogrammefor2hours.LuangPhawDhammajayooncesaidthatapartfromthegatheringofthosewhopractisegooddeeds,peoplewhositandmeditatetogethercreateapowerwhichcomesfromeveryone’sstillandpurifiedmind. This power will eventually affect the whole world because all human actions affect theatmosphere as the axiom: “Picking flowers reverberates to the stars”.Hewholeheartedly believesthat themore there are peoplewho practisemeditation, themore theworldwill change for thebetter.

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Creating World Peace by abstaining from drugs and bad temptations

Drugsand thepath tobad temptations (i.e.gambling)are theshortfall increating world peace. They undermine both the physical and mentalfitnessof thoseenslaved to them.Theysubsequentlydestroypeaceand

happinesswithinthefamily,societyandtheworldeconomy.

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Whenthereisnopeaceinafamilybecauseofdrugsandtheroadstoruinproblem,thedreamofworld peace will unfortunately remain a dream. Hence Luang Phaw Dhammajayo initiated acampaign“NoalcoholNotobacco”.Thecampaignhasbeensuccessfullycarriedoutsincethen.Theactivitiesincludedpouringawayalcoholandburningcigarettes.Therecordsshowthatduring2003-2004 the “no alcohol no tobacco” activitieswere organised over 1,000 times by college studentsfromover 100 universities across theworld. From these activities thereweremany drinkers andsmokerswhoquitdrinkingandsmoking,aswellassomealcoholandcigarettesretailersquittingthesaleoftheseproducts,someliquormanufacturerscompletelycloseddowntheiroperations.OneoftheverymemorableexampleswastheclosingdownofatraditionalliquorfactoryandthebiggestwineryinthenortheastinNakornrachasimaandSrakaewprovince,respectively.Duringthewinery shutdown, over 100,000 bottles of wine (7 million Baht in value) were poured awaycompletely.

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LuangPhawDhammajayo’s “noalcoholno tobacco”project campaignsagainst theuseofdrugsandbadtemptations:whicharecausesofunhappinesswithinthefamily,societyandcountry.ThecampaignsmadeanownerofthelargestprostitutionhouseinSamutsongkramprovincerealisethathisbusinesswasasourceofsocialproblems.Theproblemsstartedfromthefamily,propagatedtosocietyandeventually thecountry.Hedecided toclosedownhisbusiness,demolish the facilitywhichbroughtinmanyhundredthousandsofBahtamonth.Furthermore,theownerofthelargestcock-fightingpitinthecentralregionofThailandagreedtoclosedownhiscock-fightingpitwhichbroughtinaheftysumofmoney.HisdecisioncameafterlearningDhamma fromLuang PhawDhammajayowho does not support gambling and the badconsequencestowardsoneselfandsociety.

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Peace among Buddhist Monks

I n addition to the direct teaching of the Dhamma to adults and youths, Luang PhawDhammajayoissupportingthetrainingprogrammeformonksandnoviceswhoarevirtuousrolemodels indoinggooddeedsforhumankind.Therearemanyactivities tosupport them

suchas;

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Training Buddhist Monks to become Dhamma Teachers for World Peace

I norderforhumankindtoattaininnerpeace,itisnecessarytohaveanadvisorwho can point out the right direction. Buddhistmonks play amajor role inteaching and guiding theworld.Buddhistmonks also act as leaders, so that

peopleintheworldcanfollowthroughuntiltheycanattaininnerpeacewithin.

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For this reason, Luang Phaw Dhammajayo has set a policy for Buddhist monks at Wat PhraDhammakayatoreceivetrainingenablingthemtohaveastrongdetermination,agoodobservanceof the precepts, and good moral values arising from meditation practice, so that they can beamenablemonks,andcanbebeaconsoffaithforfollowersandtobecapableofteachingtheLordBuddha’sDhammasothattheycanbringtruepeacetotheworld.Besides setting a strict policy for the Buddhist monks to practise themselves, Luang PhawDhammajayoalsofullypromotesthestudyofBuddhisttheoryformonksandnovicesatWatPhraDhammakaya, by establishing The School of BuddhistDoctrine. The school officially opened in1985allowingmonks,novicesandinterestedlaypeopletolearnbothBuddhistdoctrineandthePalilanguage.At present, there have been a total of 5,890 graduates, includingmonks and interestedlaypeople.Itisconsideredtobealargeteachingcentrewhichyieldsoutstandingperformance,andhasalwaysbeenacknowledgedbytheThaiBuddhistmonkhierarchy.

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During the course of their education, Luang PhawDhammajayowould like students to see thevalueoftheirstudiesoftheLordBuddha’steachings,andwantsthemtobeproudandlovetheirstudies.Moreover,hewantsstudentstostudydiligentlyandregularlyandencouragesthestudentstoknowthetruthoftheLordBuddha’steachings,notjusttopassthetest.Meanwhile,thestudentsshouldpayattentiontomeditatingregularlybecausetheoutcomefrommeditationwillgivethemabetterunderstandingoftheacademicstudyofBuddhism.Beyondtheintentionofdevelopingmonkstobecometruemonks,includingthestudyofBuddhisttheory,conduct,andliberation,LuangPhawDhammajayohasencouragedthemonks’projects inordertomaintaintheincreasingprosperityofBuddhism.

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Pali Studies Graduate Congratulations Ceremony for monks and novices Thisceremonyhasbeentakingplaceeveryyearsince1988.ThepurposeistocongratulatemonksandnoviceswhohavegraduatedfromthehighestlevelofPalistudies.TheceremonyalsosupportsandencouragesmonkstostudyPali.Itisknownthatachievingthe9thGradeinPaliStudiesisanextremely challenging feat. Pali students have to devote themselves to study for many years inlearninggrammar,memorisingthevocabularyandstudyingfortheexaminations.Atthesametime,theyare alsodevoting themselves to studying theLordBuddha’s teachings.Eventually, theywillbecomequalityinstructorsofDhammaandwillleadpeopletopractisevirtuousdeeds.

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8 8 The Systematic Training Programme for Spreading Buddhism

TheSystematicTrainingProgrammeforSpreadingBuddhismisalsoknownas,“TheKalyanamittaMonkTrainingProgramme”,whosemainobjectiveis teaching Buddhist principles to laypersons to promote agreement in

knowledge and direction, and to give opportunities to monks who complete thetrainingprogrammetobetterperformtheirdutiesinguidingtheirowncommunitiesthroughoutthecountry.

TheSystematicTrainingProgrammeforSpreadingBuddhismbeganin1999-2007,withatotalof71classescompletingtheProgramme.Therehavebeen8,090monksfrom5,833temples,fromacrossthecountrythathavecompletedthisProgramme.Therehavebeen2,385templesthathavededicatedthemselvesasnon-smokingtemples.This Programme not only increases the knowledge of Buddhist doctrine and practice to theparticipants, but also gives the Buddhist monks who are scattered around the country theopportunitytomeetandsharetheirexperiencesintheteachingandspreadingoftheDhamma.Thispromotesstrongrelationshipsamongsteachother,beneficialforthecooperationneededinspreadingpeace throughout the world, by following the Lord Buddha’s peaceful direction until the worldreallydoesbecomeapeacefulworld.

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“True Monk” Buddhist Studies Contest

On April 22nd, 1999 (2542 B.E.) and on April 22nd, 2001 (2544 B.E.),LuangPhawDhammajayointroducedaBuddhistStudiesContest,“TrueMonk”basedonatext“TrueMonk”whichcomesfromtheTipitakaas

reference. Over 100,000 monks from all over the country participated in bothcontestsattheAssemblyHallofWatPhraDhammakaya,PathumthaniProvince.

Thecontestservestoemphasisetheaimandidealsofordination,whichisarealisationofNibbanaandtheself-disciplineoffollowingtheprinciplesofmaintainingtheprecepts,pursuingmeditation,andobtainingwisdom.Notonly that, such self-disciplinebenefits thepractitioners, theycanalsobecomerole-modelsforothers,aninspirationtofollowthemonksandnoviceswhichin turncanbringharmonytoself,family,society,country,andtheworld.ThetwocontestsarepartoftheRightViewinBuddhism.Thelaypeoplehaveanopportunitytoseea rare and historical image of a congregation of one hundred thousand monks. Luang PhawDhammajayohasdescribedsuchgatheringofmonksbysaying:

“Monks and novices are the heart of the world and the universe. This is the sign of true happiness”.

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Scholarship award for monks, novices and students

LuangPhawDhammajayorecognises the importanceofeducationunder theguidanceoftheSanghaOrderandtheofficeofgeneraleducation.Hehasbeenawardingscholarshipsformonks,novices,studentsandtheirinstitutionsfrom1991tothepresentday.

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Humanitarian Aids

I ncreatingworldpeace,animportantvirtue inone’smindiscompassiontoothers.Thus, intimeswhenthecountryanditspeopleexperiencenaturaldisasters,LuangPhawDhammajayohasnever remained indifferent.Hebroadcastsnewsof such sufferingviaDMCso that the

people of Thailand and the world can help the victims, which reflects the power of unity andcompassionineveryone’sconscience.

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Donation of fering ceremony to help 266 temples of the southern provinces Theinterminableunrestsinthesouthernprovinceshavecausedtroublesforthemonksintheregionastheycannolongerperformtheirmonasticresponsibilities.Theylackthefourrequisitesessentialfor survival.With compassion andcare for themonks andBuddhism,LuangPhawDhammajayoestablishedthedonationofferingceremonyforthetemplesinthe4southernprovinces(andnearbySongklaprovince)foratotalof266temples.TheeventhasbeentakingplacemonthlysinceJune2005(2548B.E.)andwillcontinuetotakeplaceuntileverythingreturnstonormal.

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8 Thisprojecthelpseasethesufferinginthelifeofthemonksandnovicesinthesouthernprovinces.It alsogives encouragement to them to stand firm in this region andbe a fieldofmerit and aninspirationtotheBuddhistsinthe4southernprovincestocontinuelivingtheirlivesthere.LuangPhaw Dhammajayo realises that in times of danger for Buddhism, Buddhists should not remainindifferent and instead search for a peaceful solution following hiswords, “Treat privatematterswithequanimity,uniteforBuddhistmatters”.Nowisthetimeforthemonksandthelaypeopletouniteliketheonlysuninthesky.Withsuchunity,nodangercanundermineBuddhismanditwillensurethatBuddhismwillcontinuetoshinethelightforthepeopleoftheworld.

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Tsunami Relie f

When the southern provinces ofThailandwere confrontedwith tsunami, over 10,000people lost their lives. Luang Phaw Dhammajayo directed the DhammakayaFoundationtodeliverrequisitesforthevictimsandserveasco-ordinatorbetweenthe

government and NGOs and as organiser of the commemoration ceremony for the deceased inPhuket on 5th January 2005 (2548 B.E.) and in Pangha on 19th January 2005 (2548 BE.) Theceremoniesfurtherservedtogiveencouragementtothevictims.

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Flooding Rel ie f

When there ismajor flooding, Luang PhawDhammajayo has directedtheDhammakayaFoundationtohelpwithrequisitestoeasethepainand sufferingof thevictims, especially in theyear2006 (2549B.E.)

Themostseverefloodinghadcausedsufferingtomanypeople.LuangPhawDhammajayohaddirectedtheDhammakayaFoundationandtheRattanaVedhDoctorsClubtodelivertheessentialsandtakecareofthehealthofthevictims.Thefoundationhasassistedwiththiseffortsincethefloodingbeganandcontinuedtodosountilthesituationimprovedaftermanymonths.Over5millionitemshavebeendeliveredtothevictims.

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Cold Weather Rel ie f

When there is severe cold weather, Luang Phaw Dhammajayo has directed theDhammakayaFoundation to deliver blankets to the people especially in provincesthatexperiencesevereweathersuchasLoei.Manypeople lackclothing toprotect

thecoldweatherandmustrelyonbonfires.Manylosetheirliveseveryyearfromsuchseverecold.

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Posit ive Media in the Age of Globalisation

I n the age of globalisation, televised media have a significant influence onhumanminds.Most televisionnetworks tendtooffernewsandentertainmentthat contain extreme violence and immoral contents. This causes viewers,

especiallyyouth,toabsorbsuchviolenceandimmoralityandfurthercreatesthefireintheworld.Forthisreason,LuangPhawDhammajayohascreatedpositivemediaforpeopletoacquaintthemwithmeditationwhichwillnotonlymakepeacebutalsoputout thefireinones’mind.It is thefirststeptowardsachievingindividualpeaceofmindwhichleadstopeacefulnessintheworld.

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8 DMC Channel

T he positive televised media, which has been initiated by Luang PhawDhammajayo under the nameDMC (DhammakayaMediaChannel), hasbroughtbenefitstomanydiverseaudiences.

AtthemomentDMCbroadcasts24hoursadayineveryregionoftheworld.Itprovidesavarietyofresourcefulandcreativeprogrammeswhichissuitableforviewersofanyage.Inaddition,itistranslated intoanumberof languagessuchasEnglish,Chinese,Laos,German,French,Spanish,Japanese,Cambodian,etc.ThistrulymakesDMCaglobalchannel.Every Monday to Saturday from 19.30 to 22.00, Luang Phaw Dhammajayo teaches in theprogramme called Dream in Dream Kindergarten School. It is broadcast live and is the mostpopularprogrammewithviewersaroundtheworld.Theprogrammeincludesacasestudyof theLaw ofKarma. Images and songs are used to illustrate the case study. This not only helps allviewersunderstandtheshowmoreeasilybutalsomakesitmoreenjoyableandinteresting.

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DMCcausesviewersaround theworld toperformmeditationwhich is theeasyway to find truehappinessinoneself.AlotofThaiandforeignviewersareabletodiscovertheirownpeacefrommeditationtaughtbyLuangPhawDhammajayoandtheyalsoapplytheknowledgefromDMCintotheirlives.AnexamplecanbemadeofthepeopleoftheSolomonIslandwhoseancestorswerecannibalsandunaware ofmeditation. After they had known aboutmeditation fromDMC, they found a peacewhich they had never experienced before. It made their lives better and clearly proves thatmeditationisthewaytocreatethetruehappinesswhichcanbeachievedbyeveryhumanregardlessofnationality,religionorethnicity.

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Not only isDMCpopular for residents, it has also expanded to people in schools, dormitories,policestations,hospitalsandevenprisons.Theideasofindividual’sandworldpeacehavewidelyexpandedtoeverygroupofpeopleincludingstudents,police,doctors,nurses,patientsandevenprisoners, whose freedom has been taken away, yet discovering internal peace. It is found thatprisonerswhohavelistenedtoDhammatalkfromDreaminDreamKindergartenSchooltendtobehavemorepeacefully.

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8 Product ion of v isual aids and publications

L uang Phaw Dhammajayo is aware of the necessity of using visual technology andpublications to spread Buddhism; therefore, he has created a project which produces avarietyofmediasuchasDhammabooks,monthlyjournals,tapes,VCDvideo,slidemulti-

vision,radioprogrammesandcommunitytelevisionprogrammes,etc.

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Extending True Peace to the World Cit izen

Withtheawarenessof thegreatbenefits frommeditation, followersofLuang Phaw worldwide both Thai and foreign gathered to practisemeditationandaskedLuangPhawDhammajayotoassignhisdisciple

monkstoteachmeditation.

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WithhiskindnessforThaipeopleinforeigncountriesandforeignerstobeabletolearnBuddhismand practise meditation, Luang Phaw Dhammajayo decided to choose suitable people, monks,upasakaandupasikawhohadlanguageskillsandwerewelltravelled.ThisallowedtheexpansionofBuddhismtoforeigncountriesbycreatingthefirstBuddhismcentreinCaliforniaintheUSin1992.Nowthereare60centres in29countries,overseveralcontinents includingNorthAmerica,Europe,Oceania,AsiaandSouthAfrica. North America:Thereareatotalof13branchesintheNorthAmericancontinent. Europe:Thereareatotalof16branchesin9countries. Asia:Thereareatotalof21branchesin15countries. Oceania:Thereareatotalof8branchesin3countries. South Africa:Thereareatotalof2branches.

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EachcentrehasregularmeditationpractiseandactivitiesincludingofferingsustenancetoBuddhaon every first Sunday of themonth, dedicatingmerit to the decreased, releasing fish and othercreatures, improving standards in the centres, and any other preparations needed for specialceremonies.Inaddition,peopleareinvitedtomeditateandpractiseDhammaineveryceremony.Moreover,anumberofcourseshavebeenopenedfor foreigners toattend.Theactivities includepreventingtemptations,suchaspouringawayalcoholandburningtobacco.TherehasalsobeenameditationcoursesetupforstudentsandtheDhammadayadaordinationprogrammeforThaiandforeignpeople.TheestablishmentofMeditationcentresinforeigncountriesistoprovideanopportunityforpeopletopractisemeditationcontinuously.Thebenefitsarefindingtruehappinessandpeaceforpeoplearoundtheworld.

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Views from the Followers :

L astSunday,January21,2007,IhadthepleasureofbeingpresentatthehistoricoccasionoftheopeningoftheDunedinMeditationCentre.IfeelthattheopeningoftheCentre,and the presence of Buddhist monks and devout Buddhist laypeople will be of great

benefittotheDunedincommunity,totheSouthIslandofNewZealand,andwillhelpbringaboutworld peace. I want to thank The Most Venerable Phrarajbhavanavisudh (Most VenerableDhammajayoBhikkhu)forhiswisdomandgenerosityinfoundingtheDunedinMeditationCentre.Dr. Elizabeth Guthrie Assistant Lecturer Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Otago Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND

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T hebenefitsthatIhavereceivedfromthepracticeofmeditationareenormous.Firstly,ithas relieved serious stress problems fromwhich I previously suffered. Secondly, it hashelped to solve certain philosophical questions which I have always been troubled by.

Thirdly,ithasopenedupthegreatchasmofcollectiveunconscious,makingpreviouslyinaccessibleinnerexperiencesavailabletodetachedawareness.Dr. Jeffrey Wilson Associate Supervisor and Research Consultant University of Sydney, AUSTRALIA

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I firstmettheAbbotDhammajayoinNovember2006.IntheconversationIsawhisbeautifulheartformankind.OnceIheardthathewouldlovetoseeeveryoneinthisworldmeditateandgainpeaceinside,Iwasoverwhelmed.InAfrica,wehaveamixofraces.Amazingly,

theAbbot includeseveryone inhisvisionofworldpeace.Whenhesays,“Worldpeace throughinnerpeace,” it issooutstandingandinnovative.Meditation issosimple that itdoesn’t takemelonger than2weekstocalmdownandbecomepeaceful.ThankyousomuchmydearestAbbotthatyouhavesentmonkstoteachmeditationinmycountry.Weoweyousomuch.Ronald Hutchison Businessman Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA

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I would like to thank Luang Phaw Dhammajayo the most for guiding us on life goal andanswering why we were born. Luang Phaw has restored Buddhism and propagatedDhammakayameditation,aimingattheattainmentoftruehappinessthatexistswithinevery

singlehumanbeing.LuangPhawteacheshisstudentsregardlessofrace,socialclass,religion,andbelief, so that they can learn how to accumulatemerit and pursue perfectionswhich lead to theattainmentofDhammakaya.Sukasem – Maitrijit Supannanon Taipei, TAIWAN

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L uangPhawDhammajayoiscompassionate.Hecarestheothers,wishingallpeopletobehappy and attain inner peace. He has established DMC channel in which he givesteachings to propagate Buddhism daily. So, people know Dhamma and the practice

leading to inner happiness and profound knowledge in Buddhism. Foreigners who watch DMCprogramscanlearnaboutDhamma,andtheypraisethatBuddhismisgoodforitsrationale.Whatthey are impressed the most is the teaching of non-violence. This is the primary teaching thatmakes theworldfreefromtrouble. Ifeveryone in thisworldwatchesDMCandunderstands theLordBuddha’sDhamma,hisorherheartwillbecoolandcalm.Nowarwillexist,andthisisthepathtotrueworldpeace.Madam Kumtan Ratanasamai Strasbourg, FRANCE

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Collaboration with International Organisations

R ealising the importance of collaboration with international organisationsand institutions that desire to make world peace, Luang PhawDhammajayo has also collaborated to produce policies with such

organisationsas:TheDhammakayaFoundationwasendorsedasanon-governmentalorganisation-NGO,DPI/NGO-type,bytheUnitedNationsin1986,andpresentlythefoundationhasbeenelevatedtobeNGOinECOSOC type. Dhammakaya foundation has been joined with and encouraged policies of theUnited Nations in various aspects such as peace, youth, education, through internationalcollaborationoverthepast20years.

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DhammakayafoundationhasalsobeenamemberofTheWorldFellowshipofBuddhists(WFB)and theWorldFellowshipofBuddhistYouth (WFBY)since1986.TheDhammakaya foundationhas participated in many activities and has taken part in managerial works by sending thefoundation’sdelegations tooperate in severalpositionsof theboardscommittee. Inaddition, thefoundation is also co-ordinatingwith Buddhist organisations and educational institutes includingother religious organisations in Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Taiwan,Japan,Australia,NewZealand,Switzerland,Italy,GreatBritain,andtheUSA.

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The Award of the Determination of Truly Making World Peace

Regarding successfulworks of Luang PhawDhammajayo in the pastmany years,recognitionhasbeengivenbymanyinternationalorganisations.TheyhavebestowedhonoursandawardsuponLuangPhawDhammajayosuchas:

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Honorary Doctorate Degree in Buddhist Studies from Mahachulalongkorn Raja Vidyalaya, Bangkok (under H.M. the King’s patronage), given to Phrarajbhavanavisudh (Venerable Dhammajayo Bhikkhu), ReceivedDecember5

th,1994.

Outstanding Award for excellent social work within the community and a national contribution from the United Foundation Society of Thailand ReceivedNovember25

th,1994

Honourable plaque from the operation centre for defeating drug usage, Klong Luang District ReceivedJune1

st,2003

The operation centre for defeating drugs usage, Klong Luang District, Pathumthani Provincepresented an honourable plaque to Phrarajbhavanavisudh for his excellent encouragement to theoperation centre. By continuously cultivating morale to people living in Klong Luang District,which is the location of Wat Phra Dhammakaya since it was established in 1970, the localcounteringofdrugswasachievedsuccessfully.

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The World No Tobacco Day Awards 2004 from WHO The World Health Organization (WHO)consideredtheworkofLuangPhawDhammajayowhohasbeenteachingmoralityandintegritytopeople,freeingthemfromvicesforover30years.TheNo-SmokingandNo-DrinkingcampaigngatheredThaipeople to resistevery typeof temptation,especially alcohol and cigarettes. This campaign has been continuously held through schools,universities and the Kalyanamitta network, including Christian, Islamic, Hindu and Sikhorganisationsandhasextendedaroundtheworld.Theseactivitiesgobeyondthebordersofcountriesandreligiousboundaries.Theseactivitiesmakepeoplerealisethenegativeconsequenceofalcoholandcigarettesintermsofphysicalandspiritualconcerns. Therefore, WHO considered presenting to Luang Phaw Dhammajayo the award of“WorldNoTobaccoDayAwards2004”on31stMay2004.

Honorary Mahatma Gandhi Award from the Akhil Bharat Rachnatmak Samaj Organisation AkhilBharatRachanatmakSamajOrganisationconsidersthatLuangPhawDhammajayohasbeendedicated tomakingpeace in theworld throughthepeaceofBuddhism.Beginningwith teachingintegrity to people regardless of gender and age for over 40 years, Luang Phaw Dhammajayoconceptualises that realworld peace emerges from inner peace coming frommeditation practise.Furthermore,theinstillingofmoralvaluesprojectfortheyouthproveshishighachievementtotheworld such as the Path of ProgressDhammaQuiz Contest whichwas initiated by Luang PhawDhammajayo and also gained acceptance fromUNESCO.The committees of the organisation allagreedtooffertheMahatmaGandhimedalforpeaceon22ndApril,2005.

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Honorific Plaque from Senate Offeredon23

rdFebruary2005

This award offered to Luang Phaw Dhammajayo is from the generosity of the DhammakayaFoundationdonating reliefmaterials toTsunamivictimswith his deepgenerosity to thevictimswhoneededhelpandmentalsupportinthemomentofdisaster.Inaddition,thememorialserviceandmourningtothevictimsfromTsunamidisasterwasheldatSaphanhinStadium,Phuketon5th

January2005andTakuapaStadium,Phangngaon19thJanuary2005.Anditalsocreatedharmonyandunity amongThaipeople and foreigners.H.E.SuchonChaleekrua, the speakerof theThaisenate,istherepresentativetoofferthehonorificplaquetoLuangPhawDhammajayo. Honourable Plaque from the Prison Department OfferedonOctober13

th,2004

RegardingthePrisonDepartment’sappreciationofmeritandthecontributionofLuangPhawDhammajayotowards thePrisonDepartment,LuangPhawDhammajayogaveDMCsatelliteswith installations toThaiPrisonsacrossthecountry.DMCsatellitesbroughtDhammatorefineandcleansetheinmates’mind,releasetheir suffering, and cultivate morals. When inmates come back into society, they can apply Dhamma tobecome good people in society and the nation. Therefore, the Prison department presented Luang PhawDhammajayoaplaqueinordertoendorsethekindnessofLuangPhawDhammajayototheworld.

Honourable Plaque for Nationwide flood relief wasOfferedon3

rdDecember2006and7

thJanuary2007

On 3rd December 2006, the representative group from the 4 provinces suffering from the flooddisasterinAyudhaya,Aongthong,Singburi,andChainath,allagreedtoofferanhonourableplaqueand Province-symbol souvenir to Luang Phaw Dhammajayo, the President of the DhammakayaFoundation,whomademerittomanyofthefloodvictimsinmanyprovinces,donatingreliefbagsandcontinuouslyprovidingthemedicalmobileunitforseveralmonths.Furthermore, on 7th January 2007, a representative group from The Ministry of Education andrepresentatives from many organisations in the 4 provinces who encountered floods includingPathumthani,Suphanburi,NonthaburiandNakornPratomallagreedtoofferthehonourableplaquseandprovincialsouvenirstotalling41awards.Theawardsconsistedof3awardsfromtheministryofeducation, 18 awards from Pathumthani, 7 awards from Suphanburi, 11 awards from NakornPrathom,and2awardsfromNonthaburi.

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Universal Peace Award

WorldBuddhistSanghaYouth (WBSY) isaworldclassBuddhistorganisation.Theorganisationhas many members who are Buddhists from every Buddhist sect; Theravada, Mahayana andVajarayana.BuddhistleadersfromdifferentcountriesallagreedthatLuangPhawDhammajayoishighlydedicatedandmakes tremendousbenefits toBuddhism.Theexcellent achievementof theBuddhismpropagationprojecthasbeenreceivinggreatacceptanceworldwidefor40years.WBSY, therefore, offers the great achievement of Universal Peace Award which is a BuddhistAwardgrantedontheoccasionofthecelebrationofBuddhism2007,attheannualconferenceinSriLankafromthe2ndto5thofDecember2006.The official award offering was presented by the delegation of Sri Lanka President MahidharaRatchapaksaontheMaghaPujaDay,3rdMarch2007.

Creating Peace Together in the Era of the Sun of Peace

Wat Phra Dhammakaya and Dhammakaya Foundation, led by LuangPhaw Dhammajayo, are currently organising activities that willimprovesocietyinavarietyoflocalities,bothwithinandoutsidethe

country,withgreatdedication.Allactivitiesarearesultofhisvisiontoseeeveryonelivetogetherhappilywithbrightmindsfromtheinnerlightofthesunofpeace.ItiswaitingtoshineouttobecometrueWorldPeace.Wat Phra Dhammakaya and the Dhammakaya Foundation, under the leadership of Luang PhawDhammajayo,continuetheirdeterminationtospreadWorldPeacethroughmeditationandavarietyofrelatedactivities.Theyarepreparedtocollaboratewithvariousorganisationsaroundtheworldtocreate and sustain goodness. They are willing to dedicate all their physical strength, morale,intellect,knowledgeand talentso that theworldpopulationcanexperience truepeaceforever,asLuangPhawDhammajayooncesaid:

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“IncreatingWorldPeace,asinglegroup,asingle teamorasinglecountrycannotdoitalone.Everyoneintheworldmustbeapartofthiscreationofpeace from the beginning. If someone believes what he is doing and cancreatepeace,heshouldcontinue.Butwemustdoittogetherinorderfortruepeace tohappen in thisworld.TheLordBuddha said, “NatthiSantiParamSukham”.(Pali)Thereisnogreaterhappinessthanstillingthemind.Peaceiswhateveryonewants,butitcannotbecreatedalone.Everyoneintheworldmust help. It has to arise from the thought of every person in thisworld.Evenasinglepersoncannotbe leftout.Everyonehas to thinkin thesamewayandworktogetherinafrugalbuthighlyeffectivemanner.Thereisnoneedtospendmoney.Justcloseyoureyeslightlyandrelax.Thenourwishwillcometrue.Itbeginswithstillingthemindatthecentreofthebodyandsettinganexample inspiringotherpeople todo the same.Then,peacewillhappenbeforeoureyesandbeforewecloseoureyestoleavethisworld”.

“WorldPeacewillarisewheneveryonemeditates.Sincewewereborninthistimeperiod,weshouldbeapartincreatingpeaceinthisworld.Beforewe

leavethisworld,weshouldfeeljoyousandproud”.

Message from Founder and Secretary General of WBSY

Itwasagreatlyinspiringoccasionfor theWorldBuddhistSanghaYouthofSriLankatoorganizetheThirdGeneralConferenceoftheWorldBuddhistSanghaYouth during 2nd - 5th December 2006. The international conference wasconstructivelysharedtheideaunderthetitle‘ToleranceandHarmony’.Inadditiontotheconference,the2550BuddhaJayantiawardceremonyishonorarypresidedbythePresident of Sri Lanka,MahindaRajapaksa to remarkably reflect thework of theoutstandingVenerableswhodedicatedthemselvesforBuddhistPropagation. The Universal Peace Award, the noblest peace prize of the 2550 BuddhaJayantiawardwasconferreduponmostVen.Phrarajbhavanavisudh,thepresidentofDhammakaya Foundation and the abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya Thailand, torecognizehiswonderfulsuccessinestablishingthetruesustainablepeace,theinnerpeacewhichwasdevelopedindividuallythroughhisdiligentdedicationtoDhammapropagation. On everyday his enthusiasticDhamma students covering all range of

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agesaroundtheworldattendtheclass‘DreaminDream’,thebiggestclassroominthe world. His promotional teachings arouse everyone to be aware of one’s ownactionagainstthelawofkamma,theuniversallaw.Theminddevelopmentthroughthe simplest meditation technique introduced by Most VenerablePhrarajbhavanavisudh practically proved by all, irrespective of races, faith orbelievestobeanefficientmethod.Theclean,calmandbrightlymindwhichisthebaseoftheindividualpeacegraduallyenlargefromonetomany,fromfamilytothenationandfromnationtothepeaceintheworld. On behalf of the 2550 Buddha Jayanti Award committee I would like toexpressmycongratulationtoMostVenerablePhrarajbhavanavisudhforhissuccessofworld peace promotional through the inner peace and for theUniversal PeaceAward,thenoblestpeaceprizeandthesimplestreflectiontohishardwork. Iwishandpray,lettherebepeaceintheworldandletalllivingbeingsbehappy.SriLanka (Ven.MugunuwelaAnuruddhaThero)December4,2006 SecretaryGeneral, WorldBuddhistSanghaYouth

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R WORLD PEACE

BEGINS WITH INNER PEACE

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H appiness is what all human beings seek. A philosopher can considerhistory up to the present and define happiness according to manyconcepts and theories.But this philosopher cannot answer thequestion:

Whohasachievedordiscoveredtruehappinessforhumanbeings?

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Ibelievethatifwelookateachindividualperson,wewillseethatweareallmadeofthesamecomponents:ourphysicalbodyandourmind.Wecanfavourourbodybygivingitbeverages,food,andthefinestthings.Butifourmindisinturmoil,orevenif it isamusedorpleasedbysomeformofentertainment,canthisbecalledtruehappiness?Ifourbodyisinpain,constrainedbyillness,dowewanttocallthistruehappiness?Butwhenwelearnhowandact toattainequilibriumbetweenthebodyandthemind,peoplecanfindhappinesswithinthemselves.Andtheycantellthemselvesthatthisistruehappiness.Theentiretyofhumanitycandiscovertruehappinessand thepurposeofourexistence.Wecanconductour lives inacorrectandbeautifulmanneruntilallpeopleobtainalastinginnerpeace.Thisisthefoundationforpeace,theobjectivetowhichLuangPhawDhammajayohasdedicatedhimselftobuilding.

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By knowing the mind, you are discovering the path to serenity

I fsomeonecomestoaskaboutthefundamentalsofbusinessstrategy,youcantellpeoplethedetailsofeverystepforobtainingefficiencyandprofit.Orsomeonemightaskyouabouttheprincipalsanewly-electedofficialshouldusetoleadacountry.Youmightbeabletoexplain

thisasanexpert inpoliticalscience.Orsomeonemightaskforrecommendationsaboutwheretotravelforavacation.Youwouldbeabletoelucidateclearlyabouteveryinexpensiveandinterestinglocationfortravel.Buthowwillyouanswerifsomeoneasksthelocationofyourmind?Youwillbe evenmore astounded if someone asks “How is yourmind?”Will you have an answer for amatterlikethissoclosetoyourownbeing?

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If you do not know your own mind, how wil l serenity arise?

T heresponsibilitiesofdailylifeareconstantlypullingyourmindtoattachwithexternal forces toyoubecauseyouare fixatedonyourexpectationsfor great successes in your investments. Or you are tense and anxious

aboutchangesinpoliticaleventswhichmighthaveanimpactonthegoodbusinessinwhichyouareengaged.Andintheend,youstillcannotprovideagoodanswerforthequestions“Whereisyourmind?”or“Howisyourmind?”Thisisbecauseyouremotionsarecaughtupinthingsexternaltoyou.Youhavenotyetlookedinsideyourselfandhavenothadyourfeelingsturntoshowinterestinyourself,eventhoughthephysicalbodyandthemindarepresentinpeopleofeverynationalityandethnicity,includingyou.Thetruthisthatifthebodydoesnothavethemind,yourbodyismerelyawalkingcorpse.

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Finding your mind is not a di f f i cult task

C omfortably leanup against thebackof a chair andgently closeyour eyes.Yes, right.Youarefeelingallyourthoughtspassingthroughyourmindoneafteranother,mattersaboutwhichyou are proud andmatterswhich are problemsyou still havenot solved.

Thisisanormaloccurrencewhichalmosteveryoneintheworldexperiences.Wearenotaloneinthisworldandwearenottheonlyoneswhohaveresponsibilities.Soyoumustadmitthatyouareinthemidstofawaveofvariousthoughts.Youmusttrytocalmyourmind,tocoolyourmind,evenifthisrequiresgreatresolve.Andevenifthiscalmnesslastsonlymomentarily,trytoarrangeyourmentalprioritiesuntilyouarefocusingononlyonethoughtatatime.Ifyoucandothis,youarenearing the sourceofgreat inner energy. It is a sourceofpureenergywhichwillmakeyouknowyourmind.

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You can f ind serenity i f you know the way to control your mind

Knowingthemindbytryingtofocusononlyonethoughtatatimeseemslikeaneasy task. Butwhenyouattempt todo this,you find thatyoucannotaccomplish thisgoal immediately.And it isdifficult tomaintain

thismentalfocuscontinuously.Thisisbecauseweareaccustomedtowhatwewanttoget,whatwewant tohave,whatwewant tobe,untilwestruggletopursueallthesedesires.Thesedesiresleaveyourmindconstantlylackingfulfilment.Sometimesfeelingsofannoyanceandirritationarise.Orapersonexplodessuchthatothersseethefeelingshehaskepthiddeninside.Orintheoppositemanner,sometimesyoumayfeelenjoyment,amusement, and satisfactionwith your boundless enchantment or sweet dreams.And in the end,thesevarious thingsdisappearandyou returnback to the trueconditionsofyourexistence.Thismakesyougiveup.Sometimesyouseemtobehappy.Sometimesyouseemtobesuffering,inpain.Andyouwillprobablyremaininthiscycle.Youshouldtrytoreducethesefeelingstobeevenwithoneanother,regulatingthemtobeinanappropriatebalance.Youdefinitelycandothiswhenyouknowyourmindandthetrainingmethodforcontrollingyourmind.

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Training your mind to be at the centre of the body

A tthemomentyoucloseyoureyes,temporarilyforgetthevariousmattersthatoccupyyourmind.Makeyourselffeelasthoughyourmindisemptyof thoughts, clear. Then breathe in and out deeply, gently. You will

observethatthephysicalpointatwhichyourbreathendsinthecentreofyourbodyisthepointofgreatestcomfortandclarity.Thispointisthestartingpointforyoutodiscoveryourmind.Intruth,thisisthecentreofthebodywhichallpeoplepossess.Thenimagineyouhavearound,clear,andbrightcrystal,likeamiddaysun,afullmoonoranight-timestarshiningitstwinklinglight,atthecentreofyourbodyoraroundyourstomach.Whileyouaredoingthis,variousthoughtsmayenteryourmind.Remaincalmandsoftlyrepeatashortmantra,thesoundofwhichwillseemtoemergefromthebrightcrystalatthecentreofyourbody. For example, use the short mantra “Samma Arahang” or “Clear and Bright”. Repeat themantramanytimesuntilyoufeelfreeofthesevariousthoughts,exceptforthefeelingthatyouarestartingtotouchthebrightnessandinnertranquillity.

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Train constantly and you wil l see changes

T histrainingmethodappearstobeabeginner’slesson.Butwecantrainthisway constantly, at all times and in all positions by imagining a clear,bright crystal ball and quietly repeating the mantra continuously until it

becomessecond-nature.Andyouwillfindthatyouarediscoveringsomethingamazing,thatyouareseeingchangesinyourbody and your mind, that you are witnessing the gradual start of good physical and mentaldevelopments.Evenifyoudonotfeeltheseresultsinoneortwodays,continueyourefforts.Youmustmaintainyoureffort,likeatreeyouareplanting.Theseedwillsproutandgrowfromalittlesaplingintoafully-maturetree.Thisprocessisgradual,itrequirestime.Wecannotdetermineitsprogressbymeasuringhowmanycentimetresthetreegrowseachday.

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Inner serenity wil l spread to become external peace

T hemanythoughtsswirlingarounddissipateuntilthereisonlyonethoughtremaining.Andintheend,yourfeelingsbecomeonewiththelightofthebrightcrystalballinthecentreofyourbody.

Whenthisoccurs,youwillfindpurehappinessandtranquillity.Itwillbeahappinessthatyoucanfind on your own. And it is a happiness which anyone can achieve, regardless of a person’sethnicity, language,orreligion.Thisisauniversalhumanhappiness.It ishappinessthatapersondoesnotneed toseekorpursue fromexternal factors.And it is important thatallhumanbeingshaveabodyandamind.Onlyonestartstopractise,onewillstarttoknowone’smindandhowtocontrolthemindsothatitexhibitsbeautyandappropriatequalities.Moreover,youwillunderstandothers’feelingsandhowtocontrolyourdesires.Andyouwillbeabletodistinguishbetweenrightand wrong, good and evil. And if people in your family, in society, or anywhere in the worldpractiseasexplained,allofthemwillbeabletotellthemselvesthatthisistruehappiness.Whatiscalled“innerserenity”willcause“externalpeace”,apurepeacewhichdoesnotcomefromusingweaponsorvictoryinwar.

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Diligence in pursuing the Dhamma of peace wil l lead to serenity

T hefirsttraininglessondescribedalreadyismeditationpractise.Thisisthepath for building peace in human society. This is the diligence ofPhrarajbhavanavisudh (Venerable Dhammajayo Bhikkhu) who wishes to

spread thismethodofmeditationpractise so the people of theworld can find themarvel in each of them. This knowledge is not a nonsense theory but somethingwhichapersoncanperform.Apersoncantrulyseetheresultsandattaintruepeace.

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Thehumanmindhasgreatpowerbut ifaperson’smind isstillconstrainedbygreed,anger,anddelusion,humanbeingswillfightwith,competewith,andexploitoneanother.Inthelonghistoryofhumankind,thereareconflictsandwarsineveryera.Whatistherealreasonforwarsandworlddestruction?Itisbecausethehumanmindhasnotachievedserenity,theprerequisitefortrueworldpeace.AsLuangPhawsays:“Thehumanmindcanbethestartingpointofbothwarandpeace.Ifthehumanmindisinturmoiloriginating fromgreed,anger,ordelusion, feelings thatare thecauseofconflictwillarise.Warsandfightingwhichhaveexplodedfromthebarrelsofgunsaroundtheworldandcausedsufferingforhumanbeings,alltheseoriginatewiththefirefoundinpeople’sminds.It is like thesmall flamefroma litmatch thatspreads toburndownanentirecity.At thesametime,whenthehumanmindiscalmandcool,fullofconsciousnessandwisdom,endlesshappinesswill arise. The result is peace for individuals, for families, for communities, for societies, fornations,andfortheworld.Itisworldpeacethatarisesfrominnerserenity.Therefore,themindistheimportantcauseofworldwarorworldpeace”.

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Meditation for World Peace byLuangPhawDhammajayo

Startby sitting in a relaxedhalf-lotuspositionbyplacingyour right legonyourleftleg,yourrighthandonyourlefthand.Theindexfingerofyourrighthandshouldtouchthetipofyourleftthumb.Placeyourhandspalmsupgentlyonyourlap.Sitwithyourbodyandheadstraight.Ifyoucannotsitinthisposition,youmaysit inachairoronasofa.Adjustyourpositionsoyoufeelcomfortable,untilyoufeelyourbreathandcirculationareflowingfreely.Closeyoureyesgently,justlikeyouareabouttofallasleep.

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Then take 2-3 deep breaths. Inhale deeply, so you feel the air in your stomach. Exhale slowly.When you are inhaling, let yourself feel as though every cell in your body attains the fullesthappinessandjoy.Whenyouareexhaling,releaseeveryoneofyourworriesandstresses.Takeamomenttoletgoofthesevariousconcerns.Thenbreathenormally.Whenyouhaverelievedyourmind,youcanstarttorelaxyourbody.Relaxeverymuscleinyourbody,fromyourheadtothetipsofyourtoes.Relaxyourentirebodyatallpoints.Nopartshouldbetense,pulled,orstressed.Youshould feelclear, light,andatease.Thenmakeyourmindcheerful, fresh,clean,pure,andbright.Emptyyourmind,freeitfromallthoughts.Makeitseemasthoughyouaresittingaloneinaclearandwide-openspace,aplacefulloffreedomandpeace.Imaginethatyourbodyisfreeof internalorgans, that it isclearandhollow.Youmightfeel thatyourbodyis lighter, thatyouhavebecomepartoftheatmospherearoundyou.Thenbringyourmindtorestatthecentreofthebody,inthemiddleofyourstomach,atalevellocatedtwofingerwidthsabovethenavel.Itisnotnecessary to find the exactpoint at the centreof thebody.Simplycontinuously rest yourmindgentlyandsoftlyintheareaatthecentreofyourbody.Dothiswhilereleasingthetensionfromyourbodyandyourmind.

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Whenyouhaverelaxedyourbodyandmind,startgentlyenvisioninganinternalimage,visualizingaclear,perfectlyroundandunblemishedcrystalball.Itcanbeanysizebutshouldbebrightasthemiddaysunor lucidasa fullmoon.Visualize iteasilyandcalmly,without forcing the image toarise,withoutcompellingitsappearance.Ifitisnotclear,donotbeconcerned.Whateverappearssimplyletitoccur.Andkeepyourmindcontinuouslycalm,atrestandstill.Ifyourmindwanders,supportyourselfwithamantra.Letthesoundofthemantraslowlyemergefromthemiddleoftheclear crystal ball at the centre of your body. Themantra is “SammaArahang”,whichmeans tomakethemindpureanddetachedfromallformsofsuffering.Oryoucanusethewords“ClearandBright”, Recite themantra continuously while observing the crystal ball calmly until yourmindbecomes still. Then you will stop reciting or naturally forget to recite themantra. All that willremain is the imageof thecrystalball appearingclearly in thecentreofyourbody.Calmlyandserenelymaintainyourconcentrationtosustaintheimage,withamindthatisstillandsoftatalltimes.

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Ifyouhaveaninternalexperiencethatdiffersfromwhatyounormallyexperience,donotbecomeagitatedorhappy.Keepyourmindunperturbed,justobservedispassionately.Donotbepleasedordispleasedwithwhatyousee. In theend,yourmindwillbecomemorerefinedandsettleat thecentreofyourbody.Yourmindwillenterthecentreofyourbody,thepointofpurity,brightness,truehappiness,andawareness.Thisawareness isprofound internalwisdom,whichgrowsdeeperwith continuedmeditation.Youwill reach the purity that iswithin all of us naturally fromourorigins.Thispurityissomethinguniversaltopeopleacrosstheworld.Whenyourmind isstill, there ishappiness inyourmeditation.Beforestoppingyourmeditation,performloving-kindnessmeditation,sendgoodwishestoothers,andshareyourhappinesswiththerestoftheworld.Startbyunifyingyourmindsothat it isstillandat thecentreofyourbody.Feelthatyouloveandsendgoodwishestoeveryoneintheworld.Letyourmindcoalesceintoaclear,brightcrystalballthatembodiesthepowerofloveandgoodwishesforalllivingbeings.

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Let this crystal ball expand beyond your body in every direction: right, left, front, back, above,below.Letitspreadoutineverydirection.Letitbeamindthatwishesallbeingsfreeofsufferingandable toattainevergreaterhappiness.Wish thatallbeingswilldiscover thegreatest thing: toattaintheutmosthappinesswhicharisesfrommeditation,meditationwhichtakesyoutotheoriginalpurity that resides inallofus.Youcanbring thispurity intoyourdaily lives. Itwillmakeyourliveswholesome,fulfilling,andrepletewithgoodness.Itwillbenefityouandothers.Letthecrystalballofyourmindexpandbeyondyourbodyuntilitsurroundsyouandotherswhoarebothneartoandfarfromyou.Letitexpandtoencompassyourpresentlocation.Letitgroweverlargeruntilitreachesthesky.Dothisuntilyoufeelthatyourmindisboundlessandhasloveandgoodwishesforyourfellowhumanbeingsoneverycontinentandineverycorneroftheworld.

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Let yourmind connect with all beings. Let them only have happiness. Let all countries in theworldprosperandbefullofgoodpeoplewhoworkfortruehappinessandpeaceforallpersons.Letthepowerfromthepurityofyourstillmindatthecentreofyourbodyspreadtothosepeoplewhoaresufferingbecauseofwar.Lettheirsufferingturnintohappiness.Andletthishappinessbelasting.Letitbethecasethatthepeoplesoftheworldstopexploitingandharmingoneanother.Letpeople’smindschangefromdarknesstobecomerichinloveandcompassion.Theenergyofpuritythatcomesfrommeditationisapurepower.Thispowerspreadsquietlyintotheatmosphere.Itdispelsflawsanddarknessinourhumanmindssotheywillreturntobrightness.Letusconductourlivescorrectlyinhappinesswithgoodminds,andchangetheworldtoachievetrueworldpeace.

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The Sun of Peace Contributors

Honorary Consultants: Phrarajbhavanavisudh(Ven.DhammajayoBhikkhu) Phrabhavanaviriyakhun(Ven.DattajeevoBhikkhu)Consultants: Ven.ChatchaiChattanchayo Ven.AmnuaysakMunisakkovv Ven.RonnapobJotilabho AnantAsavabhokhin BoonchaiBencharongkul PrakobChirakiti(Ph.D) VannaChirakiti MettaSuvachitvong Executive Editors: Ven.SanchayaNakajayo WichayaTriwichienandTeam SuparatVinaiwat WalailuckMongkolkawil SupakijNantarojanaporn PeterWong

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Editors: Ven.NielBhaddakho Ven.PaulSobhano Ven.AekarinApishato AaronStern(Ph.D) AchanunAsavabhokhin ChanidaJantrasrisalai JenniferKitilJenarewong Jo-AnnSainz(Ph.D) LucilleKluckas MarcHubbard RaymondKilby SalinNimmanhamin SarineeVorasubin SiripornSirikwanchai(Ph.D) SunisaCharoenpakdee SuparatBencharongkul Around-the-worldNewshawkTeam Translators: Ven.WiratManikanto AnchaleeStern AungkanaVoraphankit JarinKamphonphanitwong PanaddaThanasuansan PhataraInlarp

RichardTimer SarinratanaSukhabutr ShinavitSukhawat SithChaisurote SugandaCluver SupaneeKude SupichayaPanprasert TawatchaiPetchsinto ThiranopWangkijchinda VeerachartSiriwattanapat WarapornChettabudr WiwatKamolpornwijit(Ph.D) WorawitSiriwattanapat Photographic Editors: Ven.ChaiyotYasawangso Ven.PairojBoonyapaso Proofreaders: Ven.BurinThitakusalo Ven.SuchinSuchino Ven.AnuchitTikkaveero Ven.PisitJittasutdho RaymondKilby

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Art & Graphic Design: MettaSuvachitvongandDM&SCo.,Ltd.,JongkolViriyawong,SumaleeKruawan, TanitChokpipatporn,SuvitKlubsri,SakonLersin,DuangrudeeAmnuayverojIllustration: PhotographicCentreandPhotographicEditors, BuddhistArtDivisionandAnimationTeamFirst Published: 3March2007 6,000copiesAll Rights Reserved: TawandhammaFoundation P.O.Box122 KhlongLuangDistrict PathumthaniProvince THAILAND12120 www.tawandhamma.org info@tawandhamma.orgPrinted in Thailand by: NewWitekCo.,Ltd.

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The Flag of Victory

Aworldofobstacles Anunchangingpictureofcalm,

Canbesurmountedbyyourstrength Compassion,

Thebattleisalreadywon Strength

Whenyourmindissetonvictory Towhichwebow

Noburdenistooheavy Aswewalkdownapathofthorns

Nochallengeistoolarge Weareunafraid

Forthemindtoovercome Ourdebttoyoucanneverberepaid

Atreeshadesuswithitsbranches Thestrengthofourbond

Themountainstandsfirmagainstthesky Millionsofwordscannotdescribe

Inthemidstofthunderousstorms Wewillcontinuedoinggooddeeds

ThebannerofDhammaunfurlsand Withdevotionandasteadfastfaith

You,TheSunofPeace,shineon Untilweshineaspurelyasthesun

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