THE ESSENCE OF BUDDHISM
The Middle Way has been interpreted as the moderate way of life, not so hard, not so little. It is the principle of Buddhism taught by The Lord Buddha. It has also been discovered that the middle way is the inner path of the mind that could be attained and followed by those who practice the middle way meditation. The word “Dhammakaya” is an ancient word that means the Body of Enlightenment (Dhamma means the truth or the enlightenment and Kaya means body). This term was found in many places of different Buddhist scriptures both in Theravada and Mahayana schools. It is not a new term or new theory from the Teaching of the Lord Buddha.
BODY OF ENLIGHTENMENT
Dhammakaya is the body that transformed Prince Sidhatta to The Lord Buddha. The enlightenment of the historical Buddha is explained as his mind became perfectly refined and purified to the same level of the refinement and purity of the Dhammakaya, and thus attains the body of enlightenment. The Dhammakaya is therefore seen as central to the Teaching of the Lord Buddha.
Dhammakaya is a source of peace, wisdom, and true happiness that exists in all human beings and can be attained through the process of self-refinement and self-purification.
MEET THE MASTERS
Enlightened teachers of great wisdom
The way of life at the center stems from the profound wisdom and discoveries of great Buddhist masters. Their teachings are what drive our mission to share with the world and make a lasting contribution.
Let us introduce you to our masters:
THE GREAT MASTER
Phramongkolthepmuni (Sodh Candasaro)
Born as Sodh Mikaewnoi on October 10, 2427 B.E. (1884) to the family of a rice merchant in Amphoe Song Phi Nong, Suphanburi, a province 100 km to the west of Bangkok. At the beginning of July 2449 B.E.(1906), aged twenty-two, he was ordained at Wat Song Phi Nong in his hometown and was given the Pali name Candasaro.
Luangpu Sodh devoted the rest of his life to teaching and furthering the depth of knowledge of The Middle Way meditation, a meditation method which he also called “Vijja Dhammakaya”, ‘the direct knowledge of the Dhammakaya’.
In 2497 B.E.(1954), Luangpu Sodh made an announcement that he would die soon, and instructed his students to continue their duties without him, especially to propagate The Middle Way meditation. Two years later, he was diagnosed with hypertension. Luangpu Sodh died in 2502 B.E.(1959). His body was not cremated, but embalmed, so that after his death people would still come and support Wat Paknam.
THE MASTER NUN
Chand Konnokyoong
On January 20, 2452 B.E.(1909), Khun Yai was born in a farming family in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand. With no formal education in 2470 B.E.(1927), Chand heard that a meditation master in Thonburi was able to use meditation to communicate with beings in the afterlife. This was the Great Master Phramongkolthepmuni.
After a while, the master Tongsuk started to teach Chand in private and Chand quickly made progress in The Middle Way meditation. With her determinate heart, she practiced and was very successful so that the Great Master Phramongkolthepmuni, praised her that “Second to None”. Becoming the role model of someone that attained the highest level of wisdom through the practice of The Middle Way meditation
After Luangpu Sodh died, Khun Yai Chand transmitted the Dhammakaya tradition to a new generation at Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen, which eventually was named “Wat Phra Dhammakaya”. Despite the initial difficulties, in the 1980s and 1990s the temple grew to be the largest in Thailand.
THE MIDDLE WAY
In Buddhist teachings the foundation of all problems in society take root from people violating the 5 Sila. Therefore, the 5 Sila is considered as the standard moral guideline and a practical guide to preventing the creation of bad karma in one’s life.
The 5 precepts (Sila) include:
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Refrain from taking life. (Not killing any living being.)
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Refrain from taking what is not given. (Not stealing from anyone.)
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Refrain from any adultery or sexual misconduct.
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Refrain from wrong speech. (Not lying, impoliteness, slandering or gossiping about other people.)
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Refrain from alcoholic drink and intoxicants that cloud the mind.
HARMONIOUS LIVING
Upholding the precepts has many other benefits, from sustaining a loving family to positive personal health and reputation. When we uphold the 5 Sila, avoiding all evilness, safety in our life, our asset and our family structure is ensured. We would also be acting on sincerity, so that, our society would be suspicion-free and peaceful, so people can live together in good harmony.
Fully ordained monks guide their everyday actions against 227 rules of conduct which help to enhance the possibilities of finding a higher level of inner peace and true enlightenment.
To Give Is To Receive
One of the ways that Buddhist’s from all across the globe contribute to creating good karma in this life and the next, is through the gift of giving. As one way of making ‘Merit’, we follow one of the Buddha’s main teachings which he shared, to “Give, even if you only have a little” because the act of giving will always creates good positive energy that will karmically come back to the giver in one form or another.
Our center is a non-profit organization that rely’s on the kindness and merit giving of the local community to stay open. Our website has the facility for any contribution’s and online merit giving to be made. These gestures of digital giving help us continue teaching meditation and help people rediscover the path to inner peace.
READY TO START YOUR JOURNEY TO INNER PEACE?
Join us at one of our upcoming retreat experiences and rediscover the benefits of being present, focusing your energy, and reconnecting with yourself. Inner peace and harmony comes from slowing down your mind, bringing clarity to your thoughts, and eliminating the behaviours and situations that trigger stress. Give yourself the gift of disconnecting and time to discover your true-self.
