Open Letter # 2

Wat Phra Dhammakaya denies all allegations and insists on its consistency of virtuousness for the past 50 years.

The media has been spreading the news that the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) has issued a summons for Phrathepyanmahamuni (Luang Por Dhammajayo) to receive the allegations that he is guilty for conspiracy in laundering money and receiving stolen property. Wat Phra Dhammakaya insists that Phrahepyanmahamuni (Luang Por Dhammajayo) is innocent and denies all of the said allegations.

The character of Phrahepyanmahamuni

Phrahepyanmahamuni (Luang Por Dhammajayo), the Abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, now 72 years of age, started his studies of Dhamma in the year 2506 B.E. (1963) during his enrolment at Suankularb Wittayalai School. He had learned practical meditation techniques with Khun Yay Acariya Upāsikā Chandra Khonnokyoong, the top student of Luang Por Sod of Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen.

After graduating from Suankularb, he continued his studies in the Faculty of Economics, Kasetsart University. He had a great love for meditation and practiced regularly with Khun Yay Acariya, not even skipping a day during final exams.

After graduating in 2512 B.E. (1969), he decided to ordain as a monk for life. Within the first year of his monkhood, Lady Prayad Pattayapongsavisuttatibodi donated 77 acres of land at Tambon Khlong Sam, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, out of good faith. Thus, Luang Por Dhammajayo leaded pioneer group in the building of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, starting from Magha Puja of the year 2513 B.E. (1970).

The temple has grown in time with tens of thousands of people coming in to meditate on special holidays. When there was not enough space to accommodate everyone, the temple fundraised for an expansion to nearly 1,000 acre presently.

Evidence of the innocence and pure heartedness of Phrahepyanmahamuni

People may say anything: good to bad, but “actions speak louder than words.” Especially actions that have been consistent over the past 50 years.

The one thing we can most obviously conclude is that Phrathepyanmahamuni had undoubtedly dedicated his whole life to Buddhism. We may agree or disagree with his method in spreading Buddhism to the world, and that is everyone’s personal right to freedom of preferences. However, we may NOT accuse him of deliberate bad faith because a person in bad faith—whom take actions in hopes for money and praise—would not do what he did, nor would they have the ability to do so. For instance;

-       Building a religious place to be able to accommodate 1 million Buddhists. It is a big job that requires life-long dedication. The cetiya, chapel, pavilions, and other structures with the combined worth of several billions have become the property of the nation and of Buddhism without a single baht of subsidy from the government.

-       Training over 4,000 monks, novices, and staffs who willingly dedicated their lives to Buddhism, and over a million followers who dedicated themselves to Buddhism.

   

   The Buddha once said “Sila (precepts or moral codes) may be discovered through living together” People who have spent decades together naturally know each other’s personalities. If the abbot was not good, he would not have been able to train monks, novices, and staffs who would dedicate their lives to Buddhism in this fashion. Everyone loves his own life. To dedicate it to anything, one must clearly see the value of what one is giving it to.

We should not accuse anyone who have acted in good faith their whole lives as pretending because once it has been their whole live, it is the true character.

He dedicated himself to social services.

            Phrathepyanmahamuni has donated tens of thousands of baht to several public charities, such as:

-          donating to monks in 323 temples in the 4 bordering cities in southern Thailand each month for 12 years.

-          establishing a teachers’ fund to support southern Thailand teachers each month, adding to over 30,000 funds.

-          supporting with monks’ necessities and meals for mass ordination program for 100,000 monks all over Thailand twice each year to alleviate the crisis of abandoned temples, and the mass ordination of 1,000,000 novices to revive the morality in the youth of Thailand.

-          lending a helping hand to people in Thailand and abroad in the midst of natural disasters, such as floods, storms, and Tsunami.

           

A plea for justice

            

       Phrathepyanmahamuni had proven himself through his actions of good faith for his whole life until his present age of 72 years. His health is not what is used to be, and he is approaching the tail end of his life. To make such allegations that he is guilty for conspiracy in laundering money and receiving stolen property is to act without proper evidence and is devoid from the truth. The Abbot has no reason to commit such crimes when his whole life had been dedicated to Buddhism and the society. He has clearly proof in religious buildings and people to show for his life’s work.

          

           Therefore, Wat Phra Dhammakaya would like to plea the government and the society to give him true justice.

Phra Sanitwong Wuttiwangso

Director Communication Department, Wat Phra Dhammakaya

1 April 2559 B.E.