3rd Bodhigaya Dhammayatra
Ganga-Mekong Holy Buddha Relics
This is the greatest project, a pilgrimage connecting the lands of the Lord Buddha, from the Great Dharma River of India to the land of Buddhism in the Mekong River Basin of Thailand, led by the relics of the Lord Buddha from the National Museum of India, followed by the relics of the left and right chief disciples, Sariputta and Maha Moggallana, from the Great Stupa of Sanchi, India, from February 22 to March 19, 2024. This project was initiated by the collaboration between the Bodhgaya Institute 980, the Government of India, and the Government of Thailand to connect and spread the power of faith of the people in Buddhism in both regions to be strong and everlasting, to create the benefits of the principles of Dharma to create the power of unity and goodness of all mankind, to live together peacefully based on the philosophy of the Dharma teachings of the Lord Buddha, and to be an opportunity for the people to pay homage, as well as being an important historical symbol of the journey of the Lord Buddha to bestow blessings on Buddhists. After a gap of almost a century, the arrival of the relics this time is like the arrival of the Buddha himself. The welcoming ceremony therefore opens an opportunity for Buddhists to carry out religious activities together in various aspects, such as religious ceremonies and religious dharma, to create a network of dharma connections to continue love, unity, and create peace through dharma in Asia, the birthplace of Buddhism, which has been firmly established for more than 2,600 years.
DhammaVijaya to Dhamma Century
จุดเทียนธรรม อุบลราชธานี เมืองกัมมัฏฐานโลก
The Bodhigaya Institute considered and saw fit to use this auspicious occasion of the visit of the relics of the Lord Buddha and the chief disciples to organize a project to expand and develop the benefits of the faith of all Buddhists in Buddhism, to develop the practice of Dhamma until gaining wisdom to solve the problems of humanity. It was considered that Ubon Ratchathani Province is suitable to be the first province to organize this project, which is consistent with the province's reputation as a land of scholars, people who aspire to Dhamma, and a city of light of Dhamma, and especially as the birthplace of noble monks such as Luang Pu Sao Kantasilo, Luang Pu Man Phurithatto, and Luang Pu Cha Suphatto.
From this idea, Bodhgaya Institute has initiated the Dharma discussion project on the topic of “Dhammavijaya to the Century of Dharma”, lighting candles of Dharma, Ubon Ratchathani, the world meditation city, to promote the use of Buddhist principles to expand and develop the core of Dharma for all humanity on Friday, June 20, 2024 at the 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary Chalermprakiat Building, Ubon Ratchathani University. The target group of approximately 3,500 participants includes the Sangha, heads of government agencies, academics, businessmen, the public, and the media.
2nd BodhigayāNāgādhipati Award
The BodhigayaVijjalaya 980 Institute has scheduled an official ceremony to present the 2nd BodhigayāNāgādhipati Award to the honorable recipients at the statue of Phraya Phuchong Nagathibodi, Krabi Provincial Administrative Organization, Krabi Province
DhammaVijaya to Dhamma Century
Krabi, the sacred gate of civilization, Phaya Phuchong Naga, honoring the great king of Dharma, is an expansion and development project.
From the number of Buddhists who came to pay homage to the relics of the Lord Buddha, the relics of the Arahants Sariputta and Maha Moggallana, it created a record of the most important gathering of Buddhists in history in Krabi Province, which is the place where the relics of the Lord Buddha, the relics of the Arahants Sariputta and Maha Moggallana were temporarily enshrined at Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkol. It was found that there were Buddhists from Krabi Province and neighboring provinces, including neighboring countries, who attended the 4-day event, totaling 720,667 people, which is a number that shows the overwhelming power of the people’s faith in Buddhism.
From this concept, Bodh Gaya Institute has initiated the Dharma seminar project on the topic of “Dhammavijaya to the Century of Dharma” Krabi, the sacred gate of civilization, Phaya Phuchong Naga, honoring the great king of Dharma, to promote the use of Buddhist principles to expand and develop the core of Dharma for all mankind on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort. The target audience includes the Sangha, heads of government agencies, academics, businessmen, the public, and the media.
International Dharma Dhamma Conference 2024
Dr. Supachai Verapuchong, Secretary-General of BodhigayaVijjalaya 980 Institute, together with Ms. Pattarat Hongthong, Ambassador of Thailand to New Delhi, India, attended the 8th International Academic Conference at the International Dharma Dhamma Conference 2024, which was held at the Conference Center, Gujarat University, India, from 23-25 August 2024. The conference was opened by Honorable Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President of India, and Honorable Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Gujarat, and Honorable Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, along with clerical leaders such as SWAMI SHRI GOVINDA DEV GIRI JI MAHARAJ Treasurer, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, India. SWAMI BRAHMAVIHARIDAS, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, India and Most Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayake Thero , President, Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka attended the inaugural ceremony.
The institute signed an MOU with IBC.
On 25 August 2024, at the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi, India, Dr. Supachai Verapuchong, Secretary-General of BodhigayaVijjalaya 980 Institute, signed an agreement on “Academic Cooperation, Research, Conferences and Activities for Propagation of Buddhism” with Shri Abhijit Halder, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), witnessed by Ven. Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden, Secretary-General of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), Ms. Pattarat Hongthong, Thai Ambassador to New Delhi, along with Most Venerable Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thero, President of the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, and Her Excellency Kshenuka Senewiratne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India.
The institute signed an MOU with ICCS.
On 25 August 2024, at the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi, India, Dr. Supachai Verapuchong, Secretary-General of BodhigayaVijjalaya 980 Institute, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on “Cooperation in Culture and Religion” with Dr. Aashish Bhave, Director of the International Centre for Cultural Studies, India, witnessed by Mr. Suresh Soni, Patron of the International Centre for Cultural Studies (ICCS), Ms. Pattarat Hongthong, Thai Ambassador to New Delhi, and Most Venerable Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thero, President of the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, and Mr. Kshenuka Senewiratne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India.
4th Bodhigaya Dhammayatra
Dhammayatra to Buddhabhoomi : Mekong- Ganga Declaration on Dhamma Century, Republic of India
The 4th Dhammayatra to Buddhabhoomi : Mekong- Ganga Declaration on Dhamma Century, Republic of India (Sanchi - Pattana - Nalanda - Bodh Gaya - New Delhi - Gujarat), held from 29 November - 10 December 2024, with the important points in the event being the proclamation of the Century of Dharma Declaration and the presentation of Time Capsules on 5 December 2024.
The 4th Dhammayatra has achieved significant "tangible essence" in the field of religion through the Declaration on Dhamma Century." Here, "Dhamma" is not confined to Buddhism alone but extends to the concept of "Dhamma" embraced by all religions worldwide. This initiative has further been expanded by the preparation to enshrine a "Time Capsule" at three key locations — in the land of the Buddhist realm and the land of Suvarnabhumi — to be unveiled 234 years into the future. In the area of international relations, a significant achievement was the opportunity to meet with two key ministers of the Indian central government: the Minister of Culture and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs. Additionally, the delegation met with the top leaders of Indian states, including the Governor of Bihar and the Chief Minister of Gujarat. These meetings served to strengthen Thailand-India relations and to foster a closer connection between South Asia and Southeast Asia, using religion as a leading dimension of diplomacy. Furthermore, the Dhammayatra facilitated connections with prominent Indian think tanks and knowledge institutions such as IBC, ICCS, IGNCA, VIF, and ITCC. These organizations play a key role in India's international relations strategies, providing an alternative approach to diplomatic engagement. The tangible outcomes of the 4th Dhammayatra can be seen in three key areas of connectivity:
