Dhammakaya Master Day honours Luang Pu Wat Paknam, the Thai Buddhist teacher who spent a lifetime searching for a trace of the original Dhammakaya meditation system and eventually claimed to have rediscovered it. At Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani, the day is observed with a meditation retreat, an offering of cloth for the second stage of Kasina practice, and an evening lantern ceremony.
When is Dhammakaya Master Day?
The full moon of the 10th lunar month marks Dhammakaya Master Day, which falls around September on the Gregorian calendar. As with every Thai lunar observance, the exact date moves slightly each year, so the day is usually described as “around September” rather than by a fixed date.
The festival is also known as the Silakom Jammathao, or the “stone-capped festival”, because offerings traditionally included a cloth-wrapped stone placed on a pedestal as a symbol of long life and stability.
Luang Pu Wat Paknam and Vijja Dhammakaya
Luang Pu Wat Paknam Charanasuwaro (1880–1962) was born in Wat Paknam Bhasicharo in Bangkok. From childhood he showed unusual concentration, and as an adult he left the monkhood for a period, married, and then returned to ordain once more.
His long search was historical as well as spiritual. He investigated inscriptions, travel accounts, and regional meditation lineages in the hope of finding direct evidence of the original Dhammakaya system that once flourished in Sri Lanka and had since disappeared from Thailand.
He eventually came to believe that the method survived in a meditation centre called Mahasi Nikaya in Burma, returned to Thailand, and developed the practice he named Vijja Dhammakaya. The Master Day celebration exists to honour that body of work and the teacher who brought it back.
Key activities on the day
- Meditation retreat — guided sitting in the style associated with the Dhammakaya tradition.
- Offering of cloth for the second stage of Kasina — a traditional object used to support the practice.
- Lantern lighting — a procession and evening candlelight observance.
- Dhamma talks — reflections on the master’s life and teaching.
How to join — on site
Luang Pu Wat Paknam taught that the real purpose of meditation is to know one’s own mind, and the Master Day programme is structured around that teaching rather than around ritual alone. The retreat typically alternates between guided sitting and short Dhamma talks, so complete beginners can take part without any prior experience.
Wat Phra Dhammakaya is at Khlong Sam, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120. Visitors are welcome at all parts of the programme. Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, arrive early if you wish to join the morning meditation, and remove your shoes before entering the ordination hall and the Cetiya.
Those attending the retreat alone may find it helpful to book in advance, as places are limited by the size of the meditation hall.
How to join online
Live coverage is shared through the temple’s Line OA “@dhammakaya” account and the official Facebook page, and is also broadcast by the DMC channel. Online participants commonly follow the Dhamma talks and light a candle at home in honour of Luang Pu Wat Paknam.
Preparing for the day
- Book early if you plan to join the meditation retreat.
- Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered.
- Bring water and a small cloth, and be ready to remove your shoes.
- Allow time to settle in before the sitting begins, as the hall fills quickly.
Plan your merit-making all year
Master Day is one of many merit-making events at the temple. See the Dhammakaya Merit Calendar to plan your year of dana, sila, and bhavana. Thai readers can also read the Thai-language guide to Dhammakaya Master Day and Luang Pu Wat Paknam.
References
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