Meditation Testimonials - The 7,000-Monk Ordination

The 10,000-Monk Ordination across 7,000 Sub-districts throughout Thailand

On Friday September 11th, 2009, a ceremony marking the closing of the epic and historical event was held at Dhammakaya Temple, Patum Thani Province.  The ceremony was presided by Somdej Phramaharajmangalajarn, member of the Sangha Supreme Council.  In His invaluable remarks, He expressed sincere appreciation and congratulated the success of this unprecedented program, which was originated by Dhammakaya Temple with the support of many organizations.  This event represented the coming together of the entire country, as all the provinces and villages were represented in the program.  All is to be congratulated for being a significant part of bringing peace throughout the land.  He also commented that compassion is the key to this process.  By first cultivating compassion within a person, and then spreading that to all those around them, genuine peace is possible.  Along with compassion, he said that everyone must also attain the wisdom and awareness to carry out the process, as compassion alone can lead to unexpected end results.  Together, compassion and wisdom, will be the guiding principles in everything that they do and every task that they may endeavor to bring peace to the land.

 

All the participants in the program expressed gratitude and joy for having been a part of the invaluable program and to have gone through the rigorous training regimen.  After the closing of the program, 743 of the monks have decided to remain as monks in order to further their training and propagate Buddhism, while the rest will disrobe and return to their routines, and all the while sharing their experiences with their friends and relatives in hope that more will come and be part of the floowing programs.  Their testimonials will set examples for and be the source of inspiration of tens of thousands to follow.

Testimonials from some of the Participants of the Program

Ven. Chinawat Luttapunyo (Lt. Chinawat Noiwan, USNR), a Thai American who lived in the USA since he was 12 years old.  He served in the US Navy as a Submarine Warfare Officer responsible for operating and maintaining weapon systems (torpedoes and missiles) on board a US Nuclear Submarine.

 

 

Ven. Chinawat Luttapunyo (Lt. Chinawat Noiwan, USNR)

“…In the past, I was of different Faith, and had invited many to go to church and come to accept the same Faith.  The pivoting point of my life came when I was invited by Rungphet Srivichailamphan to go to a meditation retreat.  She simply asked me if I wanted to ‘see’ my God.  Out of curiosity, I readily accepted the invitation to go to a two weeks Meditation Retreat in Phurua district, Loei Province, as she said that by improving my mediation skills I could improve my communication with God.  During that time I literally “saw a bright light within me” and met God that I was looking for, and had always seek, was Dhammakaya, and that He was within me all along.  Tears of joy poured out of me endlessly, as I felt that this was in deed the inner peace that I have always searched and longed for all my life.  Since then I have been devoting in the study of Dhammakaya Meditation…”

“When I received the news of the Mass Ordination Program, I immediately decided to sign up and join the program, even though I was just in the process of starting up a new business venture at the time.  During the training program, Luang Phaw was telling all the participants to work hard to ordain in two levels, externally and internally (and to see the Dhammakaya while being a monk).  All throughout the program, I was focused on the Crystal Sphere and the Crystal Buddha (Dhammakaya) with every breath that I took.  I had great deal of pain in my knee (from the operation on that knee that I had received after having been in a serious car accident, years earlier), as trainees had to constantly kneel during the training.  Yet I pressed on. Then, on the final night before becoming a monk, while on the way to evening chanting (prayer), that bright light appeared from the center of my body and the Dhammakaya was present with every blink of my eyes.  On the day of the ordination to become a monk, I was so over joyed that I had finally achieved the goal that Luang Phaw had set for us…”

Ven. Huimeng Punyataro, “… before becoming a monk, I was a chef working in many fine hotels abroad for 20 years.  In 1998, I retired from being a chef to return to live with my family.  Till today, I had very little understanding and knowledge of Buddhism.  All along, I never even considered ordaining to become a monk.  Then one day, after seeing the advertisement in a popular weekly magazine (Khoo Saang Khoo Som, the most widely published magazine in Thailand, and my wife’s favorite magazine), I was immediately interested.  I had kept my intentions to myself till August 16th, that’s when I told all my friends that I would join the program.  Even though many of my friends had objections to ordaining with Dhammakaya Temple, I kept my faith and signed up and joined the program…”

 

 

Ven. Huimeng Punyataro

“... I was hoping that I would learn something the program, so, I prayed to the Lord Buddha, the Dhamma, and all the sangha, along with Luang Pu (Phramongkolthepmuni).  Then, one day, during a ceremony, after meditating for a few minutes, I felt that there was a bright light (sun, about the size of a basketball) above my head.  Then my body seemed to have expanded like a balloon, and I saw my mother, who has passed away years earlier.  I zoomed in to her, and saw that she appeared to be filled with joy had happiness.  In my mediation, I asked how she was, but then she disappeared.  I opened my eyes and I almost cried, as I never sensed or felt my mother ever since she passed away.  From that experience from within, I was in a constant bliss and joy.  I was so happy that I had joined the program.  Ever since then, I’ve come to Dhammakaya Temple regularly.  I feel that Dhamma is real, and everyone feel it for themselves.  After disrobing after the program, I would still continue my mediation practice daily and tell all my friends and acquaintance to come to Dhammakaya Temple every Sunday.  And for sure, I will invite as many people as I can to come and join the following program.   I feel that this kind of program such as the Mass Ordination Program, will in instrumental in bringing more people to study and learn more about Buddhism, just as I had received from this program.  I will also become more involved and support all the programs in the future…..”

Translated by Lt. Chinawat Noiwan