The 500,000 Upasika Kaew Mass Ordination Program

Posted on by

Upasika Kaew: the half-million generation

In Budddhism, a lady who takes refuge in the triple gem and supports the Buddhist activities is called an Upasika. Since Lord Buddha’s time, Upasikas have played an important role in patronizing the temples and the monks and are considered a part of the four main groups of Buddhists: Bhikku, Bhikkuni, Upasok, Upasika. An example of an Upasika worth mentioning is Maha Rattana Upasika Visakha, who built Bubbharam, an important Buddhist temple.

Upasika Kaew is a morality training program for ladies to explore the eight precepts and follow the Middle Way, which is a path of enlightenment and purity. The ladies who take part in this program will learn about discipline and it is repetitive to keep their body and their mind pure and bright. This training program will improve the morality level in both Thailand and Buddhism as a whole.

Therefore, the Religion, Art and Culture Commissioners of the House of Representatives, Wat Phra Dhammakaya, the Dhammakaya Foundation, the Village Leader Association of Thailand and the International Buddhist Society as well as the other patrons are organizing this 500,000 mass Upasika Kaew training program from 16-29 April, 2553 B.E. at training temples every district across Thailand. The aim is not only to improve ethical conduct of Thai ladies and be good citizens of the society they belong, but also to help revive the morality of the world.

Objectives

  • To educate morality and ethics through Buddhist teaching and thus make Buddhist ladies understand how to become true Upasika,
  • To revive morality as well as Buddhist tradition to be as propereous as in the Lord Buddha’s time and
  • To develop sustainable peaceful community and country by simply improving their ethical conducts.

Training Period

Between 16-29 April 2553 B.E. (15 days) at the training center of every province in Thailand

Important Dates

16 April Application closing date

Arrival at the training center.
17-29 April Begin the training program which includes practicing the 8 precepts, daily meditation and Buddhist cultural training.
22 April Receive the Sabai Kaew robe and join the Upasika ordination ceremony at the Dhammakaya temple.
23 April Continue the training at the local training center.
29 April Closing

Qualifications

The participants

  1. Ladies between the age 15-65,
  2. Buddhist,
  3. In good physical health,
  4. Can keep 8 precepts throughout the program,
  5. Can live a simple lifestyle according to the program.

How to apply

You may

  1. Apply through the call center (+66-2-831-1234) or +087-707-7771 to 3,
  2. Apply online at www.dmycenter.com,
  3. Apply at the training center every district throughout Thailand,
  4. Apply through the program district coordinators nearby,

Advisory Committees

President Somdetphramaharatchamangkhlachan (Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen)

Committtees

Phravisudhadhibbadi Wat Suthat Thepwararam Rajavaramahavihara
Phraphomwethee Wat Traimitr Withayaram Varavihara
Phraphomvajirayana Wat Yan Nawa
Phraphommolee Wat Phichaiyatikaram Varavihara
Phraphomsudee Wat Srakesa Rajavaramahavihara
Phravisudhiwongsajarn Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen
Phraphomchariyajarn Wat Kapang Surin, Trang Province
Phradhamwarodom Wat Tinnakorn Nimitra
Phradhamkitiwongse Wat Ratcha Orasaram Rajavaravihara
Phradhamrajanuwatra Wat Phra Kaew (Chiang Rai Province)
Phradhamcetiya Wat Kalyanamitra Rajavaramahavihara
Phradhampanyaporn Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen
Phradhamkunapon Wat Samphraya varavihara
Phradhampariyativeti Wat Phra Pathom Chedi Rajavaramahavihara
Phradhampidok Wat Phrabuddhabat Rajavaramahavihara
Phradhamratanadilok Wat Suthat Thepwararam Rajavaramahavihara
Phradhamkosajarn Wat Prayurawongsawat Varavihara
Phradhamdirarajamuni Wat Rakhang Kositaram Rajavaramahavihara
Phratheppariyatisudhee Wat Bophitphimuk Varavihara
Phratheppariyatimedhi Wat Chonprathan Rangsarit
Phrathepveeraporn Wat Koksamanakun (Songkhla Province)
Phrathepsudhee Wat Trai Dhammaram (Surat Thani Province)
Phrarajapariyattayaporn Wat Khanket (the Lord Abbot of Pathum Thani Province)
And all the Lord Abbots of the Thailand Buddhist monastery

Wat (derived from the Sanskrit word Vattaka) represents a monastery temple in Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos.

Organizing Committees

Project Sponsor Phrarajabhavanavisudh (The Abbot of the Dhammakaya Temple)
Project Manager
  • Dhammakaya Temple & Dhammakaya Foundation
  • Thailand’s Sangkha
  • The Religion, Art and Culture Commissioners of the House of Representatives
  • International Buddhist Society of Thailand
Co-supporters
  • Buddhist Affairs Commissioner of the House of Representatives
  • Buddhist Affairs Commissioner of the Senate
  • Phathum Thani Province
  • The World Fellowship of Buddhists
  • The World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth
  • Directorate of Joint Civil Affairs of the Royal Thai Armed Forces HQ
  • Naval Civil Affairs Department
  • Air Force Civil Affairs Department
  • Thai Department of Local Administration
  • Community Development Department of MOI
  • Community Development Confederation of Thailand
  • Primary Health Care Division of MOPH
  • Provincial Administration Organization Council of Thailand
  • The National Municipal League of Thailand
  • Tambon Administrative Authority of Thailand
  • Village Leader Association of Thailand
  • Public Health Volunteer Club of Thailand
  • Culture Council Association of Thailand
  • Cultural Council of Bangkok
  • V-PEACE Volunteers for World Peace Alliance
  • Ruam Jai Thai Union and its network
  • Culture for Universal Virtue Association

Note: The year is displayed in the Buddhist Era. The equivalent Christian Era is 2010.

This post is also available in: Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Thai