A great deal of misinformation regarding the past and present functioning of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, needs to be addressed, in the interests of fairness and good judgement. Listed here are the facts which apply to two major issues.
Please refer to the FAQ section for more up to date information
Land Ownership
It has been alleged that the Abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Venerable Phrarajbhavanavisudh, took land from the temple and only returned it after being contested.
The fact is that the donors have verified their full intention to donate the land to Phrarajbhavanavisudh because of their faith in him, and the title deed clearly indicates that the donated land was intended for religious purposes. Donors of additional plots of land have also confirmed that their gifts are made specifically to Phrarajbhavanavisudh due to their faith and appreciation for his efforts in Buddhist dissemination.
The Department of Religious Affairs has argued that the land was really gifted to the temple, and not an individual, which was clearly not the intention of the donors. To resolve this matter, Phrarajbhavanavisudh donated the land to Wat Phra Dhammakaya in order to resolve this dispute and to demonstrate his highest respect for the Supreme Patriarch.
On 22nd March 1999, The Sangha Supreme Council announced that all charges against Phrarajbhavanavisudh (Luang Por Dhammajayo) were being dropped because complainants had withdrawn their cases.
Credit Union Case
Mr. Supachai Srisup-aksorn, former Chairman of Khlongchan Credit Union made monetary donations to Wat Phra Dhammakaya. Later, Khlongchan Credit Union filed a claim accusing Mr. Supachai of embezzling over Baht 10,000 million from the Credit Union.
The Fact is Wat Phra Dhammakaya has nothing to do with the Credit Union embezzlement case. The unsolicited donations from Mr. Supachai were used to construct buildings and facilities for the benefit of the general public. Followers of Wat Phra Dhammakaya have subsequently raised Baht 684,784,000, the full amount in dispute which has already been paid to the Credit Union, who have issued a letter of appreciation, and withdrawn all complaints against Wat Phra Dammakaya.
It should be noted that most charitable organizations rely on monetary donations from the public, and it is inappropriate to question the source of these donations. Although substantial, there are many donors who have donated greater sums to Wat Phra Dhammakaya.
The facts about Wat Phra Dhammakaya
Dhammakaya meditation was rediscovered by Phramongkolthepmuni, the Abbot of Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen in October, 1917. He devoted his life to the propagation of Buddhism and Dhammakaya meditation, which he believed was the path to inner peace.
His disciple, Master Nun Chand Khonnokyong continued his teachings, and in February, 1970 she established Wat Phra Dhammakaya together with Luang Por Dhammajayo and their disciples.
Over the past 46 years Wat Phra Dhammakaya has attracted millions of devotees in Thailand and around the globe. With 85 branches in 33 countries, the Dhammakaya Foundation brings the teachings of Buddhism and Dhammakaya meditation to a world which is increasingly in search of peace and harmony.
In Thailand, the Dhammakaya Foundation has contributed greatly to Buddhism and Thai society. The Dhammakaya temple organizes each year the mass ordination of 100,000 Monks from every village throughout Thailand. Each year the Foundation offers over 4 million scholarships to students of Pali, and hosts appreciation ceremonies for all monks achieving Pali Scholar Level 9.
Wat Phra Dhammakaya has grown from a modest temple in a garden to become a large complex of unique structures which house over 4,000 Monks and novices, and regularly serve the spiritual needs of over 1 million lay people. Throughout its existence, the temple has always carried out its projects working in close collaboration with the Sangha Chapters throughout Thailand.
