Luang Por Dhammajayo (The Most Venerable Dhammajayo Bhikkhu) was born in Singburi Province, Central Thailand, on April 22, 1944. He has followed and been self-educated in Buddhism since his childhood. He received his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Kasetsart University, Bangkok in 1969. In the same year as his graduation, he was ordained at Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen temple with His Holiness Somdet Phra Maharatchamongkhalachan, the present abbot of Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen, as his preceptor. Upon his ordination into the Sangha order, he was given the name ‘Dhammajayo’ which means ‘Victory through Dhamma’. In 1970, he became the abbot of the new meditation centre which later developed to be the Dhammakaya Temple, Pathum Thani province, Thailand. Under his management the temple has served tens of thousands of people who join in the Buddhist ceremonies and meditation practices on a regular basis. He is also the founder and the president of the Dhammakaya Foundation (www.dhammakaya.net), an NGO member of the United Nations, which is very influential in both social and religious activities. Right now, the foundation has many branches in Thailand and in 60 countries all over the world.
In the pursuit of his perfection, Luang Por Dhammajayo has devoted himself over many decades to the practice of meditation, Dhamma study, and the promotion of world peace through inner peace. He focuses his teachings on the attainment of the Dhammakaya- the true nature of peace that everyone can attain within. To propagate Buddhism, he also hosts the Inner Dreams Kindergarten Program through the DMC channel which is broadcasted daily worldwide via satellite and the internet (www.dmc.tv/en). The program is rich in Buddhist philosophy and is aimed at providing knowledge and understanding of the truth of life.
The Venerable has received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Buddhist Studies from the Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, the most famous and largest Buddhist educational institution in Thailand. In recognition of his work, the Venerable received the World No Tobacco Day Award in 2004 from the World Health Organization for his successful smoke-free campaign among hundreds of Buddhist temples in Thailand. He was the first Thai Buddhist monk to receive the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award from the All Gandhian Worker Society, India, in 2005. He also received the Universal Peace Award from the World Buddhist Sangha Youth, Sri Lanka in 2006; Atish Dipankar Peace Gold Award from Bangladesh Buddha Kristi Prachar Sangha in 2007; and the Telly Awards for his creative Dhamma Media Channel in 2007.
