The World Dhammakaya Centre (WDC.) is a Buddhist parkland and sanctuary. It is located at Pathum Thani

Pathum Thani

Pathum Thani is a town in central Thailand, directly north of Bangkok. It is the capital of the Pathum Thani Province, Thailand as well as the Mueang Pathum Thani district. As of 2005, it has a population of 18,320, covering the complete subdistrict Bang Parok....

 Province, Thailand

Thailand

Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

. It is an extension of the temple called Wat Phra Dhammakaya

Wat Phra Dhammakaya

Wat Phra Dhammakaya is a Buddhist temple in Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani Province north of Bangkok, Thailand.- Origins :It was established on Magha Puja Day, 20 February 1970, on an eighty-acre plot of land donated by Lady Prayat Phaetayapongsa-visudhathibodi by a group led by the monk...

 and is arguably synonymous. This extension was started in 1985 by Phrarajbhavanavisudh

Phrarajbhavanavisudh

Phrarajabhavanavisudh is the abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Thailand and the president of the Dhammakaya Foundation.-Childhood:He was born Chaibul Sutthipol on the 22 April 1944 to Janyong Sutthipol and Juree Sutthipol At Suan Kularb School, Bangkok, Thailand, Chaibul during his adolescence,...

 and Khun Yay Mahā Ratana Upāsikā Chandra Khonnokyoong

Chandra Khonnokyoong

Chandra Khonnokyoong was a Thai Theravada Buddhist nun who founded the Wat Phra Dhammakaya organization. Her full title was Khun Yay Mahā Ratana Upāsikā Chandra Khonnokyoong...

. The centre covers 1000 acres (4 km²). In the area there are six main landmarks. http://www.dhammakaya.or.th/visitorzone/visitorzone_en.php

• The Memorial Hall of Phramonkolthepmuni: This circular domed building was built in 2002 in honour of the revered monk Phramongkolthepmuni, the founder of the Dhammakaya Movement
  Dhammakaya Movement
  -Origins:It was founded by the Thai meditation master Phramongkolthepmuni - a celebrated meditation master and the late abbot of Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen, Thonburi...
  
  . At present it houses an exhibition and a golden statue of that monk. The building is open to visitors and pilgrims. http://www.dhammakaya.or.th/visitorzone/detail_page_03_en.php

• The Great Sapha Dhammakaya Hall: This hangar-like construction built in 1997 is a multi-functional two-storey building is used for meditation, Buddhist lectures and ceremonies, youth training courses and monastic conferences. The upper level has been designed to accommodate 150,000 people and the lower level is used primarily for parking but can be used as seating capacity for an additional 150,000 people if necessary. http://www.dhammakaya.or.th/visitorzone/detail_page_04_en.php

• The Dhammakaya Cetiya: The Dhammakaya Cetiya is a symbol of world peace through inner peace. Built entirely on international public contributions, it is also the embodiment of unity and love for mankind. The dome-shaped Chaitya (stupa) is the hallmark of what has become the largest venue for mass meditation and prayers for Buddhists and peace-loving people of the world.http://www.dhammakaya.or.th/visitorzone/detail_page_01_en.php

• The Grand Meditation Amphitheatre: The Grand Meditation Amphitheatre is the name of a two-storey cloister built to accommodate monks, novices and peace-loving people from around the world to meditate and pray for the happiness of fellow human beings regardless of race, nationality, faith and religion.http://www.dhammakaya.or.th/visitorzone/detail_page_02_en.php

• The Dining Hall of Khun yay Archaraya Chandra Khonnokyoong: Named after the founder of the Dhammakaya Temple, the Dining Hall of Khun Yay can seat up to 6,000 monks. Everyday, lay people come to enjoy offering food and refreshments to more than 1,200 monks and novices who reside at this temple. http://www.dhammakaya.or.th/visitorzone/detail_page_06_en.php

• The Memorial Hall of Khun Yay Archaraya Chandra Khonnokyoong: This hexagonal pyramid-shaped chapel was built in 2002. It is made of gold-tinted plate glass. It is a two-storey structure. The lower floor is a museum with an exhibition telling the biography of Khun Yay Maha Ratana Upasika Chandra Khonnokyoong
  Chandra Khonnokyoong
  Chandra Khonnokyoong was a Thai Theravada Buddhist nun who founded the Wat Phra Dhammakaya organization. Her full title was Khun Yay Mahā Ratana Upāsikā Chandra Khonnokyoong...
  
  , the nun who founded Wat Phra Dhammakaya
  Wat Phra Dhammakaya
  Wat Phra Dhammakaya is a Buddhist temple in Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani Province north of Bangkok, Thailand.- Origins :It was established on Magha Puja Day, 20 February 1970, on an eighty-acre plot of land donated by Lady Prayat Phaetayapongsa-visudhathibodi by a group led by the monk...
  
  . The upper floor houses a golden image of the nun. http://www.dhammakaya.or.th/visitorzone/detail_page_05_en.php

External links

• World Dhammakaya Centre

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