“I Promise to Remain Steadfast in the Effort to Revive Buddhism”
Most Venerable Luangpor,
I am Phra Intayanna, a 42-year old monk who has been ordained for 22 years. I have been the abbot of Yingnae Temple in Dawei, Myanmar for the past 12 years.
Phra Intanayanna, abbot of Yingnae Temple in Dawei, Myanmar
I enjoy the work of spreading Buddhism. In addition to organizing ordination programs for novice monks and establishing schools and numerous foundations, I also teach Dhamma every Sunday. I have had the chance to visit many temples in various countries to search for the ‘know-how’ in disseminating Buddhism. I have traveled to Laos, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia but have not come across a method that has appealed to me.
The people are encouraged to attend temples to offer charity, keep the Precepts and practice meditation
During a trip from Malaysia to Hat Yai, Thailand, a propitious circumstance occurred when I met this nice gentleman. I had asked him: “If I wanted to study Buddhism internationally, is there a country that’s exceptional for this?” He replied confidently, “There’s only the Dhammakaya Temple.” From that day on, the name ‘Dhammakaya Temple’ was on my mind all the time. When an opportunity to visit the Dhammakaya Temple in Bangkok arose, I asked a kind benefactor to obtain direction and a way to contact the Dhammakaya Temple. Once I arrived, I knew immediately that this was the model temple for the dissemination of Buddhism that I have been searching all along. This markedly re-invigorated my effort to help Buddhism. Since that day, I have regularly attended the ceremonies held at the Dhammakaya Temple.
Novice Monk Ordination Programs train male youth to be moral and wholesome.
One outstanding event that I have never missed and has impressed me each time is Earth Day Celebration. At the event, I was able to cast personal Dhammakaya Buddha images. What I have admired most about the Dhammakaya Temple is their organization and standard for cleanliness and orderliness, which I have implemented at my own temple. I also had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Dhammachai Pilgrimage to revitalize deserted temples in the northeastern part of Thailand and witness monks retracing the life of the Great Master Phramongkolthepmuni on a path paved completely with marigold flower. The experience further confirmed my impression that the Dhammakaya Temple’s approach was the way to keep Buddhism flourishing.
Training youths and adults to be good and virtuous people
Luangpor, I would like to seek permission to apply your ‘know how’ to a ceremony to be held at Dawei on November 6, 2014. During the event’s morning session, we plan to organize an alms offering ceremony with 3,000 monks and novices; in the afternoon, there will be a pilgrimage by 1,000 monks and novices through the heart of Dawei on a path paved with marigold flower. This pilgrimage will be more than 6 kilometers in length. I will ask Dawei residents to help grow the marigold flowers at every home. In the evening, we will hold a ceremony to light ground and sky lanterns as homage to the Lord Buddha.
I strongly believe that the success of this event will be the biggest and most important step towards reviving Buddhism in Myanmar. Although I have never organized an event of this size, I believe that it will be successful because I am completely committed. However, I would still like to seek your kind recommendation with the ‘know how’ in selecting a team, organizing the ceremony, and gaining sponsorship for this event. This will not be an event taking place only this year, but I intent to organize it annually until it becomes a tradition. Luangpor, you are truly my hero and a role model in reviving Buddhism of this era. I also would like to offer myself as one of your disciple monks.
Organizing alms offering as a way to preserve a superb Buddhist tradition in Myanmar
I would like to invite everyone around the world to come join us in this important and historic Buddhist ceremony to revive Buddhism in Myanmar on November 6, 2014. The people of Dawei would like to extend our warmest welcome to everyone. Lastly, I wish Luangpor great health and prosperity. May you continue to be my great supporter in the effort to spread Buddhism for a long time to come. And I, Phra Intayanna, respectfully vow to stand next to Luangpor in disseminating Buddhism to the world.
