"The reason behind the peace and prosperity in Thailand sits solely on the way Buddhism has been protected and preserved in the kingdom. And the heart of Buddhism rests on the steadfastness of the heirs of Buddhism in sustaining the teachings of the Lord Buddha; therefore, the transfer and continuation of the sacred tradition of ordaining is extremely critical in the preservation of Buddhism. This important duty is a responsibility of every Buddhist in Thailand."

The Summer Mass Ordination Program for 100,000 Monks from Every Village throughout Thailand

The Summer Mass Ordination Program for 100,000 Monks from Every Village throughout Thailand was initiated by Phrathepyanmahamuni (Luang Por Dhammajayo), the abbot of the Wat Phra Dhammakaya and President of the Dhammakaya Foundation. Overview and Objectives: Thailand, known as the land of Dhamma, is a country that has been firmly rooted in Buddhism for more than two thousand years and where the teachings of the Lord Buddha intertwine with every aspect of the citizens’ lives. This virtuous way of living has evolved into a wonderful Buddhist culture and earned Thailand the praise ‘Siam, the land of smiles’ or the Kingdom of happiness on Earth. The reason behind the peace and prosperity in Thailand sits solely on the way Buddhism has been protected and preserved in the kingdom. And the heart of Buddhism rests on the steadfastness of the heirs of Buddhism in sustaining the teachings of the Lord Buddha; therefore, the transfer and continuation of the sacred tradition of ordaining is extremely critical in the preservation of Buddhism. This important duty is a responsibility of every Buddhist in Thailand. Historic programs such as the Mass Ordination Program of 7000 Monks from 7000 Villages, the Mass Ordination Program of 100,000 Monks from Every Village throughout Thailand, and the Mass Ordination Program for the Rains Retreat of 100,000 Monks throughout Thailand during the years 2010 -2011 have all been well received by the public. For this reason, the Thai monastic community, Buddhist lay devotees and the numerous organizations that sponsored the programs have delightfully and unanimously agreed that it was time to re-establish the sacred tradition of ordination as a custom for all Thai males, as it was during the Lord Buddha’s era. The Monastic Community across Thailand, in collaboration with the Committee on Religious, Arts and Cultural Affairs of the Thai Congress, Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Dhammakaya Foundation, Head of District Association of Thailand, International Buddhist Society under the patronage of H.H. Somdej Phramaharajamungalajarn, and many organizations have joined together to organize “The Mass Ordination Program of 100,000 Monks from Every Village throughout Thailand”. This program, taking place from 22 March – 13 May 2012 at local participating temples in every province of Thailand, is designed to give the Buddhist Community an opportunity to engage in a grand and meritorious event. It will also be an important step that will further cultivate and sustain peace in Thailand. Objectives:

1. To allow the teachings of the Lord Buddha to spread to all the regions in Thailand, help extinguish all the crises and turn them into opportunities to cultivate strength and prosperity.
2. To allow the citizens and younger generations from every village throughout Thailand to pursue Perfections through the mass ordination programs and to become primary examples that will inspire future programs throughout Thailand.
3. To allow monks who ordained in this program the opportunity to study the Lord Buddha’s teachings and practice meditation in order to have a reference in leading proper and virtuous lives.

Goals: A. Participants in the Mass Ordination Program of 100,000 Monks from Every Village throughout Thailand shall have the following qualifications:

1. Be a true male between the ages of 20-50
2. Have completed at least an 8^th grade level education
3. Be physically and mentally healthy; do not have any contagious disease; do not suffer from any psychological disorder or serious illness; and do not have an addiction to intoxicants
4. Do not have any disability (blind or deaf) or missing limbs
5. Do not possess large or inappropriate tattoos that are visible when the monk’s robe is worn
6. Must meet other qualifications as set by the Council of Ecclesiastics

Schedule:

• Application Period: from now until 22 March 2011
• Length of program: 53 days, from 22 March – 13 May 2012
• Program starts on Thursday, 22 March 2012 at local participating temples in every province throughout Thailand
• Ordination Ceremony as a Novice Monk: Saturday, 31 March 2012 at Wat Phra Dhammakaya
• Ordination Ceremony as a Monk: 8-10 April 2012 at various temples throughout Thailand
• Dhutanga or Pilgrimage: 7 – 12 May 2012
• Closing Ceremony and Certificate Presentation: Sunday, 13 May 2012

B. 20,000 High School students, Vocational School students and University students Schedule:

• Application period: from now until 22 March 2012
• Length of program: 40 days, from 22 March – 30 April 2012
• The program begins on Thursday, 22 March 2012, at participating temples in every province throughout Thailand
• Ordination Ceremony: Saturday, 31 March 2012, at Wat Phra Dhammakaya
• Closing Ceremony and Certificate Presentation: Monday, 30 April 2012

Training Location: Local participating temples in every province throughout Thailand Objectives:

1. Be a great and wholesome event that promotes peace and prosperity for the Kingdom of Thailand.
2. Encourage friendly collaboration between local temples and the general public in order to develop virtuous citizens for the country.
3. Cultivate leaders who will be ideal role models for every society in Thailand.
4. Provide an opportunity for participants to learn Dhamma that they can apply to their daily lives.

For more information, please call. 02-831-1234.