IDOP stands for the International Dhammadayada Ordination Program. Dhammadayada means “Descendants of Dhamma”—those who are committed to the practicing of good deeds according to the Teachings of Lord Buddha, and who play an important role in prolonging the longevity of Buddhism.
IDOP is a short-term ordination program initiated by Phra Thepyanmahamuni, Abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, the largest Buddhist temple in the world, located in Patumthani, Thailand. The goals of IDOP are to give members of the international community an opportunity to be ordained as Buddhist monks.
Wat Phra Dhammakaya organizes two IDOPs each year, one in July and one in February (Winter Program). Each program lasts four weeks. This year (fifteenth so far), our IDOP Winter Program has seventeen participants from seven countries: Sri Lanka, Nepal, China, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States and Thailand. These individuals came to IDOP with different goals in mind: some came to study Dhamma and practice Buddhism; some to fulfill spiritual aspirations; some to get away from a hectic lifestyle and to find a peace of mind; some to accumulate merit and build up good kamma; and some to pay a debt of gratitude to their parents by following a Buddhist tradition.
IDOP training programs are designed to help participants develop good habits that lead to a wholesome lifestyle and an ability to manage responsibility. Candidates are required to perform basic chores such as making beds, cleaning bathrooms, mopping floors, doing laundry, and keeping a clean and tidy environment. These chores are designed to help trainees develop the virtues of cleanliness, humility and teamwork. Trainees are taught proper etiquette in everything they do, including table manner, the right way of sitting, walking, talking, paying respect to monks, and how to live with each other in harmony.
FIRST STEP TO BECOMING A MONK – HAIR CLIPPING CEREMONY
One week before ordination, candidates undergo a hair-clipping ceremony attended by relatives and well-wishers. The hair-clipping Ceremony for the 2016 IDOP Winter Program took place on February 12, 2016. More than two hundred well-wishers came to the Ceremony. Everyone who attended the Ceremony took part in clipping the hair of the candidates and giving them blessings. Taking part in clipping the hair of an ordination candidate is considered highly meritorious, as one shares in the merit of a person who is about to enter a life of purity. This is a once-in-a-life-time event that brings so much happiness to everyone. Many candidates as well as members of their family cried with tears of joy.
ORDINATION
Ordination takes place in two steps: one as a novice monk (samanera) where Ten Precepts are observed and subsequently as a fully ordained monk where 227 Precepts are observed. Both ordination steps took place at the main chapel of Wat Phra Dhammakaya on February 19, 2016. Prior to ordination, candidates had to undergo arduous training and practice in preparation for the ordination exam. The Preceptor for the ordination ceremony was Phra Maha Bhodhivongsachan, Abbot of Wat Ratcha-O-Rasaram Ratchaworawiharn (Pali Scholar Level 9). Several senior monks and more than four hundred laypeople attended the ceremony. On this day, the IDOP participants entered the chapel as laypersons, but walked out of the chapel as fully ordained monks wearing saffron robes. Their lives have changed.
LIFE AS A MONK
IDOP is a unique program designed to give participants an opportunity to practice Buddhism at its core and to live the life of a monk in full. IDOP monks are taught how to chant in Pali, do alms rounds walking barefoot, perform pilgrimage walk (dhutanga) and practice meditation. Daily activities include getting up at 4 a.m., doing morning chanting and meditation at 5 a.m. and having breakfast at 7 a.m. Lunch begins at 11:00 a.m. and ends before noon. No meals are allowed after 12:00 noon. Daily chores and community services are performed in the morning and the afternoon. Evening chanting takes place at 6:30 p.m. followed by Dhamma lecture and meditation. There are several sessions of meditation and Dhamma lectures throughout the day, until 9:00 p.m., when participants retire for the day. Participants are encouraged to go to bed by 10:30 p.m.
UNFORGETABLE EXPERIENCE
During monkhood, the IDOP participants are given a full plate of activities. These include a long-distance dhutanga walk, camping in remote village temples, meditating in secluded mountain retreats, and doing predawn alms rounds in small villages in Northern Thailand. At Papae, Chiangmai, IDOP participants had the opportunity to see how villagers live and also to taste the alms food that they had prepared for offering. One morning, the school children of Pang Makluay Elementary School came to pay respect to the monks and “sing” a beautiful morning chanting. Their chanting was so beautiful that it brought tears to the eyes of some monks. On the last day of IDOP’s visit, villagers, all dressed in white, came to pay respect to the monks and did evening chanting together. They were intrigued and overjoyed to have met so many monks from other countries. This was the first time in the village history that the temple had so many monks present.
There was so much to do and so little time indeed. The experience gained from being an IDOP monk was truly profound and unforgettable. Several IDOP participants have asked permission to stay on for a few more months. One participant from Sri Lanka had indeed conveyed intention to become a monk for life!
FIELD TRIPS AND EXCURSIONS
February 21 Visited Wat Paknam, Bangkok, home base of the late Phra Mongkolthepmuni (Luangpu Wat Paknam), founder of the Dhammakaya Knowledge, to pay homage to Luangpu Wat Paknam.
Released fish at Wat Makaam, Bangkok, a practice of generosity by giving life to living beings in distress.
Feb. 22 On Macha Puja Day, IDOP participants, took part in their first bindapat (alms round) experience. Along with more than one thousand monks and novices, they received alms offerings from ten thousand laypeople that came to celebrate Macha Puja. Sitting atop the Great Dhammakaya Ceitiya (dome-shaped Buddhist monument), they witnessed the lighting of one million candles, celebrating this important Buddhist event. The sight was truly magnificent.
Feb. 23 Departed for Papae Meditation Retreat, a mountain retreat north of Chiangmai.
Feb. 23 – Mar. 3 Camped at Wat Pang Makluay, a thousand-year-old village temple located at Papae. Morning alms rounds at various villages in the area.
Feb. 29 – Mar. 1 Long-distance dhutanga walk. Camped at Wat Maenam Khae, a village temple, and Monliam National Park, Chiangmai.
March 4 Returned to Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Patumthani.
March 6 End of program. Disrobe ceremony began. Five decide to stay on as monks.
