Bangkok. January 2020.

Bangkok. January 2020.

 

 

Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen วัดปากน้ำภาษีเจริญ, is a royal temple. It is part of the Maha Nikaya fraternity and is the origin of the Dhammakaya Movement.

 

During the protests which led up to the 2014 coup d'état, Somdet Chuang (the head monk of Wat Pak Nam) made a public statement opposing the protests, asking protest/coup leaders Phra Suwit Dhiradhammo (known as Phra Phuttha Issara and a former infantryman) and politician Suthep Thaugsuban, to stop causing civil unrest

 

After the coup d'état, the junta set up a National Reform Council. As part of the council a panel was started to reform Thai religion. This panel was led by Paiboon Nititawan, a former senator who had played a role in the coup. Backed by the bureaucracy, the military and the Royal Palace, Paiboon sought to deal with any shortcomings in the leading Thai Sangha through legislative means. Paiboon was joined by coup leader Phra Suwit Dhiradhammo

 

On 5 January 2016, Somdet Chuang was nominated by the Supreme Sangha Council to take the post of Supreme Patriarch.

Phra Suwit objected to this nomination, and held a petition and succeeded to stop it. Phra Suwit led two hundred soldiers and civilians to pay a visit to Wat Paknam. Critics interpreted Phra Suwit's visit as aggressive, disrespectful, and inappropriate for a monk. Several Thai intellectuals and news analysts asserted that Paiboon and Phra Suwit were abusing the Vinaya (monastic discipline) for political ends.

 

In February 2016, Chao Khun Prasarn, vice-rector of the MCU, assistant abbot of Wat Mahadhatu, and proponent of Somdet Chuang's appointment, held a protest of over a thousand of Thai monks in the Phutthamonthon Park, as a response to the postponing of the appointment. He demanded that the Thai junta not interfere with the Sangha's affairs, in particular the appointment of the next Supreme Patriarch. The junta responded by sending soldiers to control the site. The junta saw the protests as another reason to stall the appointment.

 

It has been pointed out that if Somdet Chuang were to become Supreme Patriarch, it would mean a leader from the Maha Nikaya fraternity, rather than the Dhammayuttika fraternity, which historically has always been the preferred choice by the Thai government and monarchy.

 

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Dhammakaya Sect is Building Bangkok’s Next Top Buddha

By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer -

February 19, 2020

 

A gigantic Buddha statue under construction in western Bangkok is set to become the city’s tallest Buddha figure when it is completed later this year.

 

The 69 meter tall statue – approximately the neck-craning height of a 20-storey building – is being built by followers of the Dhammakaya sect at Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen. Sitting in meditation posture, the massive structure is made of gilded copper and cost about 100 million baht to build.

 

“The money came mostly from local donations,” Phra Kru Pisal Sangkaphinit, a temple spokesman, said in an interview.

During a recent visit, the statue’s upper body was nearly completed. Temple staff believes work will finish by July.

 

The statue is called Buddha Dhammakaya Dhepmongkol, or the Great Buddha in short. Once completed, it will rise over the current tallest Buddha figure in Bangkok, the 32-meter statue of Wat Indraviharn.

 

But the achievement will still stop short of rivalling the tallest Buddha statue in Thailand, which sits at 92 meters in Ang Thong province.

 

Wat Paknam is considered the birthplace of the Dhammakaya, a school of Buddhism popular among wealthy urbanites and politicians. The sect, which believes in purity of the body’s soul, has drawn controversies in recent years for its alleged emphasis on earthly riches.

 

Its former head abbot, 75-year-old Dhammajayo, is currently on the run from the authorities on charges related to money laundering.

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