Luangphor Viriyang autographs a portrait of himself
on arrival at the Diana Garden Resort.
Warunya Thongrod
More than 200 people learned about the power of the mind as the Dhamma on
Time Group hosted a day-long merit-making ceremony and lecture on January 10, to
celebrate the 94th birthday of the His Holiness Phra Dhammamongkolyarn, Lord
Abbot of Thammamongkol Thummamongkhon Temple, Founder and Master Teacher of the
Meditation of Willpower Institute.
Pattaya Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay presided over the morning religious rituals
with the organisers Sopin Thappajug, MD of the Diana Group, Alvi Sinthuvanik,
owner of Alvi’s Home of Thai Culture and Languages and Pratheep Malhotra, MD of
the Pattaya Mail Media Group leading the merit making ceremonies.
Lanna dancers lead the Tung procession with Sopin
Thappajug at its head.
A colourful Lanna ‘Tung’ procession of traditional ceremonial flags followed by
a bevy of exquisite Lanna dancers led a large number of devotees into the
Thepjak Piman ballroom of the Diana Garden Resort. All were bearing symbolic
ornaments and ‘sangkhathan’ alms (basic necessities) for presentation to the
revered monk, who received them for distribution to those in need.
Sopin Thappajug also donated 940,000 baht to assist the Willpower institute to
continue its noble task of education for all people.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome pays respects to Phra
Dhammamongkolyarn on behalf of the citizens of Pattaya.
Later that afternoon, His Holiness Luangphor Viriyang inspected the expansion
work of the 57th Willpower Institute located at the Community Development Center
next to Banglamung Vocational College. Work is expected to be complete soon and
the institute will commence its first orientation course on February 16.
Sopin Thappajug bids farewell to her meditation
master at the end of a most educational evening.
That evening more than 200 people packed the same ballroom to listen to the
words of wisdom of His Holiness Luangphor Viriyang who spoke in English on Mind
Power.
In his introduction on meditation and mind power Luangphor Viriyang said, “I
have practiced meditation since I was 13 years old. It brought me contentment
and happiness. I felt that I should share this experience because everyone
around the world can get ‘extraordinary happiness’ from meditation.
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay performs a religious
ritual at the start of the ceremony.
“There are two kinds of meditation. One is natural meditation and the second is
manifest meditation. Sleep is natural meditation. Everyone can practice natural
meditation. Natural mediation only gives you ordinary happiness.
“One should develop natural meditation practice into manifest meditation which
can produce mind power.
“Mind Power is the power within the mind which can be manifested through
meditation.
Sopin Thappajug makes her offering to Luangphor
Viriyang.
“When ‘Mind Power’ reaches the proper level, it becomes very beneficial to
humanity because ‘Mind Power’ can control your mind, without which even the
smallest of disputes can turn into major conflicts, which can cause disunity in
our society.
“These conflicts can become a danger to our family, our society, our country and
our world.
Luangphor Viriyang gives his blessings to the
congregation.
“But if you have attained a certain level of ‘Mind Power’ and can control your
mind, even major conflicts can be reduced to a minimum. It will draw humanity to
become of one heart and one mind, bringing happiness to our family, our society,
our country and to our world.”
At the end of a most sombre and thought provoking evening, Sopin Thappajug said,
that this special evening, which included a sit down dinner, was her gift to the
people of Pattaya to welcome in the new year.
Pratheep Malhotra pays his respects to the revered
monk.
The evening was fully sponsored by Diana Group without deducting any costs.
Proceeds from the generous donations that evening amounted to more than 100,000
baht which was donated to the Willpower Institute Foundation for use in helping
further the education of underprivileged children.
Those interested in furthering their knowledge of meditation and Mind Power can
call the Will Power Institute for further information. Courses at the Willpower
Institute in Pattaya will run each weekend day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. over six
months. Enrolment is free for ages 18-60. For more information, call
087-414-2719 or 084-467-8249.
Devotees line up to make their offerings.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, Sopin Thappajug, Alvi
Sinthuvanik, Supa Kukarja and Pratheep Malhotra receive holy books on the
teachings of Lord Buddha from Phra Dhammamongkolyarn.
Pratheep Malhotra performs his duties as MC with
utmost humbleness and respect.
Mayor Itthiphol presents the donations from the
evening function to Phra Dhammamongkolyarn.
Pratheep Malhotra presents 200 DVDs of Phra
Dhammamongkolyarn’s biography which was translated and produced in the English
language by the Pattaya Mail Media Group.
Devotees and guests both Thai and foreign are
mesmerized by Phra Dhammamongkolyarn’s talk on Mind Power.
