Upasika Kaew: the new generation
In Budddhism, a lady who take 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 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 disciplines and learn 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 going to organize this 100,000 mass Upasika Kaew training program from 8-15 March, 2553 B.E. at training temples every province across Thailand. The aim is not only to improve ethical conduct of Thai ladies to 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 8-15 March 2553 B.E. (8 days) at the training temple of every province in Thailand
Important Dates
Application closing date: 8 March 2553 B.E.
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.
