Dhammakaya

The Dhammakaya Cetiya is located on the compound of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Pathum Thani, north of Bangkok, Thailand. More than eight times the size of Vatican City and twice the size of Cambodia’s ancient Angkor Wat, it is quite possibly the world’s largest religious complex. The Dhammakaya Cetiya is approximately 16 kilometers from Bangkok International Airport. The Dhammakaya Cetiya is "a symbol of mankind's peacefulness arising from the helping hands of people around the world creating world peace through inner peace."

Laws prohibiting speech likely to insult Buddhism remain in place under the 1997 Constitution. The police, have authority under the law to issue written warnings or orders suspending the publication or distribution of printed materials considered offensive to public morals; however, they did not use it to restrict the publication or distribution of religious literature during the year. The police used the law in 1999 to confiscate a book written by a Phra Dhammakaya temple follower, that attacked a monk who is one of the chief critics of that temple. In December 1999, the police issued an arrest warrant for the author for defamation of character.

Critics say Dhammakaya interprets Buddhism in unorthodox ways. Instead of focusing on detachment from worldly suffering, Dhammakaya teachings are infused with talk of a cosmic battle between light and dark, urging supporters to bring others into the fold to bring about world peace. Dhammakaya sees worldly activity as crucial for its divine mission, and has drawn a strong following among middle-class people who had trouble connecting with traditional Buddhism. In the late 1990s, Wat Phra Dhammakaya became known for its modern management and iconography, and began using modern media and public relations on a scale previously unknown in Thailand. The temple even received a prize for best marketing strategies from the Business Association of Thailand.

In Wat Phra Dhammakaya's perspective merit is dependent on intention, not merely the amount donated. But in Thailand, there is a tendency to revile such materialistic merit-making in favor of teachings about detachment.

Though the temple says it’s politically neutral, some view it as supporting former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The temple has been referred to as the only influential organization in Thailand that has yet to be subdued by the ruling junta, which has shut down most opposition since it took power. King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun stripped the temple’s abbot, Luang Por Dhammajayo, of his titles. The government slapped criminal charges on senior monks. The National Office of Buddhism (NOB) is pushing for the appointment of an outsider as Dhammakaya Temple’s new abbot.

Phra Dhammachayo, the temple former abbot, and Phra Thattacheevo, the temple’s former acting abbot, are to face monastic investigations and both monks are facing legal charges. They had been stripped of their monastic ranks. On 08 March 2017 Phra Dattajivo was stripped of his monastic rank for spending the temple's money on the stock market and providing refuge for Phra Dhammajayo, a suspect wanted for money laundering and receiving. The move did not defrock the founder of the Dhammakaya sect. Only the Supreme Sangha Council can take that step. But he no longer has or can use the title Phra Thepyan Mahamuni Sri Dhamma Kosol.

The Dhamma Body or the Dhammakaya is the essence of Buddhism. Meditators who channel their mind through the Middle Way at the centre of the body from the Physical Human Body to the Subtle Formless-Brahma Body are still meditating only at the level of Calm [samatha]. The eyes of these aforementioned bodies are still blind to the way in which the aggregates are subject to the Three Characteristics [ti-lakkhana]. Only when the mind can attain the Dhamma Body can one’s meditation be said to have reached the stage of Insight [vipassana]-because only then are you able to see for yourself that the aggregates are subject to the Three Characteristics of impermanence [anicca], suffering [dukkha] and not-self [anatta].

The ‘Dhamma’ eye is the eye of the ‘Body of Dhamma’ which has the ability to penetrate to the truth. Especially to know the origins of defilements, how they come to enslave the mind and how they can be overcome. This is a major difference from the naked (physical) eye to which the defilements are invisible. The limits of human senses are to know the manifest symptoms of defilements – for example we realize “these are the signs of greed”, ”these are the signs of hatred”, “these are the signs of delusion”. As long as one has not yet attained the Dhamma Body, one will be continually defeated by one’s defilements - actions which led to retribution and leading to continuing rebirth in the cycle of existence.

The Dhammakaya Cetiya covers 1 square kilometer and is divided into 4 zones :

• Zone 1 : "Buddha-Ratana" or the zone with all the personal Buddha images. This zone has 300,000 Buddha images 15 x 15 cm with a 18 cm base width. The Cetiya has the shape of a hemispherical dome, thirty-two meter [104 feet] high and hundred and eight meters [350 feet] in diameter.
• Zone 2 : "Dhamma-Ratana" This zone is connected to zone 1. It symbolizes the peacefulness and happiness that Dhamma (the teaching of the Buddha) brings to every sentient being. It also represents the continuous teaching from the Buddha to the Sangha (monks).
• Zone 3 : "Sangha-Ratana" is used as seating for the monks who participate in or organize the sacred ceremonies.
• Zone 4 : is the ground that encircles the Sangha-Ratana. It is big enough to assemble approximately one million participants for a ceremony.

The parts that hold the 300,000 personal Buddha Images on the hemispherical dome and its terraces of the Dhammakaya Cetiya are called "cladding". Both Buddha Image and cladding are built from silicon bronze which is normally used in submarine’s propeller for its strength and endurance. From the knowledge of the world's first Bronze Age civilization of Ban Chiang in Udon Thani, Thailand, archaeologists have unearthed Bronze images believed to be approximately 5000 years old. Considering the climate in Thailand, a humid rainy country, and the fact that there is also acid rain, it was decided to use a titanium and gold coating on the surface of the silicon bronze Buddha images to protect them and ensure that they last 1000 years. The technique for using those two elements to coat the Buddha images is called "Titanium-Gold Ion Plating." This technique will result in the Buddha images on the Dhammakaya Cetiya being a golden color.

The size of the individual personal Buddha image is 15 centimeters by 15 centimeters widening to a base of 18 centimeters. Anyone donating a particular amount of money for building a personal Buddha image may have his/her name or the name of a beloved inscribed on the base of a personal Buddha image.

Ven. Dhammajayo Bhikkhu gave the concept and design of the building to the architects and engineers of the project in February, 1994. The first pile (foundation) was settled on September 8, 1995. On April 22, 1998, the first personal Buddha image was affixed to the top of the hemispherical dome. The other 299,999 personal Buddha images have been placed on zone 1 of the Dhammakaya Cetiya. According to the construction schedule, all 300,000 personal Buddha images must be completed by mid-December, 1999 to celebrate the Millenium of Gems on December 31, 1999.

Dhammakaya Hall, covering an area over forty acres, is believed to be the largest public building in the world. In 1997 The Dhammakaya Foundation decided to build a larger assembly hall that would be able to serve a much larger body of people. The new building is called the Dhammakaya Hall. As the number of temple attendants in major ceremonies increased from several thousand to over one hundred thousand, the former assembly hall designed to accommodate 20,000 could not handle the ever-increasing numbers of people attending/participating in temple activities.

Dhammakaya Hall is located in front of the Dhammakaya Cetiya. It was designed to be a multi-functional, two-story building suitable for meditation, various activities, and Dhamma instruction. The upper level was designed to accommodate 100,000 with the lower level used for parking. If the number of attendants exceeds 100,000, the lower level can be converted to a gathering place for another 100,000 people. Parking is then moved to the surrounding open space.

The Ubosatha (or chapel) is the place where important religious activities are held. Traditional ceremonies that take place inside the Ubosatha include the ordination ceremony, the recitation of monk's codes of conduct (held on the days of full moon and new moon), Dhamma sermons, etc.

Inside the Ubosatha, there is a Buddha image in the meditation posture situated right in front of the back wall. The calmness expressed on the Buddha’s face effectively causes visitors to experience peace within themselves. The image also reminds visitors of the Buddha as if he were present at the Ubosatha.

The Ubosatha of Wat Phra Dhammakaya was built following the Buddhist philosophy of peacefulness, cleanliness and tranquility. Construction of this building begun in 1977 and was completed in 1981. The size of the building is exactly the same as the Ubosatha of Wat Benjamabopitra, commonly known as the "Marble Temple", which is 246 square meters. The Ubosatha’s roof style was derived from the roof style of Northern Thai traditional architecture. There is a corridor around the building which has a total area of 1,145 square meters. To build within the concepts of Buddhist philosophy, the building materials had to be strong, easily obtained, and inexpensive. This building can serve 200 monks participating in Buddhist ceremonies.

The Dhammakaya Foundation, under the leadership of Ven. Phrarajabavanavisudh or Ven Dhammajayo Bhikkhu, president of the foundation, set the goal to establish the Dhammakaya Cetiya in order "to create world peace for all mankind by developing a peaceful mind in every individual. In fact, world peace will be a result of everyone having a peaceful mind. Therefore, we need a center for mindpower development for everyone so that people will be spiritually happy and find true happiness within themselves. Besides developing the mind's power through meditation, we also cultivate moral conduct for interested people. Therefore, we will organize many activities beneficial to all mankind."