The temple is located on the beautifully landscaped campus of the Dhammakaya Buddhist Meditation Institute at kilometer 14 of the Damnoen Saduak – Bangpae Road, in Damnoen Saduak District of Rajburi Province, 93 kilometers from Bangkok. It encompasses 120 Acres. The 30 Acres surrounding the main monastery were registered in 1991 as Wat Luang Phor Sodh Dhammakayaram, in loving memory of Luang Phor Wat Paknam, Phra Mongkol-Thepmuni (Sodh Candasaro).

FOUNDINGs

• 21 May 1991: Registered as a Wat [a temple] by the Ministry of Education and recognized by the Sangha body
• 2 May 1992: Consecrated as a Temple by His Holiness Somdej Phra Buddhaghosajahn, Former Abbot of Wat Sampaya, Bangkok, and Sangha Council Member.

RECOGNIZED EXCELLENCE

• 1999: Recognized by the Sangha Body as Rajburi Provincial Pali Studies Center.
• 2004: Recognized by the Sangha Body as Rajburi Provincial Meditation Institute.
• 2005: Designated by the Sangha Body as an “Exemplary Development Temple with Noteworthy Success.”
• 2006: Established as Sangha Ecclesiastical Region 15 Academic Services Unit for Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (for four provinces).
• 2006: Wat Luang Phor Sodh Buddhist Meditation Institute established as an Associated Institution of the World Buddhist University.
• 2008: Elected the National Coordination Center of Provincial Meditation Institutes of Thailand.
• 2009: Established by the Sangha Body as the Center for Development of Virtues and Ethics for the Security of the Nation, Religion and Monarchy.

INTERNATIONAL MEDITATION RETREATS

Wat Luang Phor Sodh Buddhist Meditation Institute (BMI) teaches Concentration-Insight Meditation technique, also called Dhammakaya Meditation, rediscovered by Phra Mongkol-Thepmuni, Luang Phor Wat Paknam, in 1916. This is direct implementation of Lord Buddha’s key meditation instruction given in the Greater Discourse on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. It has proved extremely effective and effi cient. The technique integrates concentration into trance states of absorption (jhāna) with development of transcendental insight. The meditator stops still at the center of the body, delving deeper and deeper inside, climbing higher and higher up a ladder of more and more refi ned inner bodies, feelings, minds, and Dhamma, transcending to Dhammakaya and advancing through Noble Disciple states to experiencing Nibbāna.

BMI offers Meditation Guidance or semi-private tutoring in English all year round, starting whenever you choose and lasting as long as you like. If you have the time, please try to come for 10 days to two weeks, for the best result. It generally requires 5-7 days to develop the inner calm necessary for rapid progress. But, individuals vary greatly, so all are welcome for either longer or briefer periods. Please see our website dhammacenter.org, where you can register online or email us at somkuanyim@gmail.com.

MEDITATION RETREATS

BMI offers three intensive retreats per year, May 1-14, and December 1-14. Retreats are similar to guided meditation, but more intensive, with a sunrise meditation at 05:30. They usually involve 20-50 international meditators. Several hundred monks and laity attend the Thai retreat simultaneously in May and December. During retreats there is more access to the venerable Meditation Master in joint Thai-English sessions. This is especially useful for those who become advanced. There is also more chance to study Buddhist practices, Vinaya, Dhamma and Chanting. The large number of participants necessarily implies less silence.

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