Experience the serenity of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, an iconic Buddhist temple located in Khlong Sam, Thailand, known for its unique architecture, peaceful surroundings, and dedication to meditation practices.
Wat Phra Dhammakaya, situated at 23/2 Moo 7 Khlong Sam, 12120, Thailand, stands as a prominent symbol of Buddhist faith and practice, attracting visitors from around the world. This vibrant temple is renowned for its distinctive design featuring a massive gold dome surrounded by serene gardens and reflective pools, inviting meditation and mindfulness. The temple hosts various meditation retreats and programs focused on inner peace, making it a sanctuary for both practitioners and tourists alike. With its beautiful sculptures, serene atmosphere, and teachings that emphasize the importance of mental clarity, Wat Phra Dhammakaya serves as a beacon of hope and tranquility. Visitors can engage in meditation sessions, explore the extensive grounds, and immerse themselves in the peaceful ambiance, fostering a deep connection with Thai culture and spirituality. The temple grounds also feature stunning architectural elements that showcase traditional Thai design, captivating the eyes and hearts of all who visit. Through its commitment to fostering spiritual growth and providing a serene space, Wat Phra Dhammakaya continues to inspire and uplift those who seek knowledge and inner peace in their journey of life.
วัดพระธรรมกาย (คลองหลวง, ไทย) - รีวิว - ThailandAgoda.com
Attractions
6 miles
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1.41 miles
1.76 miles
2.15 miles
2.40 miles
2.76 miles
2.81 miles
3.26 miles
3.46 miles
4.86 miles
Wat Phra Dhammakaya is perched on a picturesque hilltop overlooking 23/2 Moo 7 Khlong Sam, 12120 , Thailand
I came here to attend Earth Day celebration all the way from Bangkok. I planned to spend all day here after seeing activities to do like alms giving ceremony, mass meditation, lunch offering, curtain drawing for the world’s first Tripitaka chapel and candle ceremony at evening. However, when I arrived I just had a brief and rushed tour. I wished to attend meditation and see the buildings from inside but instead we just looked at them from afar. There was very little people. I expected it to be packed like in the photos. After the quick tour they already had taxi waiting for me. I wish I could have explored the temple area and joined the activities. Unfortunately I got an impression that I wasn’t very welcome since I couldn’t stay there to attend the ceremonies.
Four of us went on 12May in the afternoon,checked in at the foreign visitors centre,changed into their white uniform and went on a tour in their truck with English speaking Pia explaining in details about the temple complex and its history.It dispel all the negatives we heard in the press and comes out appreciating what a wonderful job they have done for the temple .Even my friends are keen to donate to put a Buddha statue on the gigantic certiya, something I did decade ago on advice of my Thai friend.Will come back again and attend one of their many meditation classes.
Went to Wat Phra Dhammakaya having a good google idea of what it was about.Both my wife and myself were totally astounded ar the size and dedication of the temple.This has all the reminders of a future Ankorwat.We went to the visitors section and were given a tour by a young lady called “Pat” who explained the aims and plans of the organisation without trying to indoctrate or gain donations.set up to perfect meditation it has appartments blocks for monks,other blocks for volunteers plus a Buddhist University with a study program including The Pali Language.The main temple area has been built not only to last 1000years but also to cater for one million devotees.WOW is an understatement.You will need to take a taxi to get there,we dressed in all white but if needed thet will supply white clothes for the tour.We were offered a basic meditation session with a teaching monk which was very heart warming and beneficial.Allow at least 2 hours ideally 3 hours,ed were there 4 hours and as you can read thougerly enjoyed it.
Visit this temple during my last trip to Thailand. I really like their meditation center. Well organized place. Please make sure to fully dressed in white color…..Thanks,Priyanath Lokubaranige.
The free guided tour. The impressive buildings. The friendliness of all. Take skytrain or Metro to Victory monument. North of the circle take the bus 29 north till Bangkok University, where it’s a 10 minute taxi ride to the entrance of the temple. Not much travel guides mention this place.
At the outset, it must be noted that Wat Phra Dhammakaya Temple “is not a tourist attraction,” as we were reminded on our visit. That said, the place is astonishing in many aspects and visitors interested in learning more about the temple and Dhammakaya meditation are warmly welcomed. We tried to call in advance for information, but no one answered the phone, despite repeated calls… strange.At the left as one enters the main compound, there is an information station that will register visitors and arrange for tours (which reportedly can also be booked in advance online). A transport will then be arranged to take visitors to a welcome center, where an introduction to the temple is provided. Visitors on tours are required to be dressed entirely in white, and if necessary are provided white pull-over pants and shirt at no charge. Free tours of differing lengths can be provided, with English tours of 90, 120 or 180 minutes available. The day we went, we were the only ones on the tour at the time we were there.A golf-cart type vehicle took us around the massive compound (more than 300 hectares, with some 150 buildings) to see many of the structures and we were given some of the history of the Dhammakaya story. The temple is reputed to be the largest in the world. The main feature of the compound is the Maha Dhammakaya Cetiya — the huge UFO-like dome-shaped stupa, adorned with 300,000 small, gold-colored Buddha statues placed on the outside of the structure and another 700,000 inside (we were not taken inside the stupa). Surrounding the cetiya is the “Meditation Square” — an open paved plaza that can reportedly accommodate 400,000 people. Further surrounding the square is the Grand Meditation Stadium,” which is a massive austere two-level structure a kilometer on each side, that can seat 600,000 people. At 5:30 p.m. each evening, there is a “lighting ceremony” after which the main cetiya is brilliantly lighted, giving it a glowing golden appearance. Well worth seeing.The Dhammakaya movement is shrouded in controversy, which is beyond the scope of this review. Suffice it to say, the controversies result in some evident underlying tensions that exist in the form of tight security in some areas of the compound and subtle defensiveness of staff when discussing some topics. The penchant of the movement for strict discipline has led some to make comparisons to Nazism, a point that is brought further to focus when people are bizarrely informed that the main cetiya and other structures in the compound have been “built to last at least 1,000 years” (echoes of claims of the durability of the Third Reich?). We were not unduly pressured to give donations although donation boxes were conspicuous in many places throughout the compound and we were informed that merit is constantly running out (akin to water flowing out from a leaky pail) and needs to be constantly replenished (presumably, most readily through generous donations). Quite dubiously, we were given a plain envelope at the end of our tour and urged to put a donation in the envelope that would then reportedly be given to the temple “in the name of the international centre staff”. Seemed particularly odd. Throughout our tour, our photos were taken at several locations (we were given the opportunity to deny their use in the temple’s social media at the start of the tour) and the tour guides repeatedly said that copies of the photos would be emailed to us. Unfortunately, more than two weeks after our visit, and after several reminders, we still have not received the photos.If you don’t want to join one of the tours, it’s also possible to enter the compound with your own car or taxi and proceed to the Maha Dhammakaya Cetiya and the Meditation Square. Many visitors, in fact, go there everyday in the evening and walk around the cetiya (one round takes about 15 minutes). Visitors on their own are encouraged to wear white, but are not required to do so and many do not.Overall, this is a very interesting place, steeped in mystery and intrigue, as well as highly impressive from architectural, religious, and meditative perspectives. Obviously, anyone interested in learning more about the Dhammakaya method of meditation will find it particularly relevant to visit.
Such a beautiful and serene atmosphere of this huge temple and meditation center.We were warmly welcomed by the staff of the international reception center and very courteous to show us the full premises . The open air meditation grounds are huge and so beautiful & peaceful . We were very blessed to visit this place .
We got introduced to the culture of Thailand and the history of the temple during our tour. I was amazed by everything there. We got to learn about the culture and try their food. Very pleasant experience.
Save your time. The golden stupa looks nothing like the pictures and doesn’t have one single Buddha. We understand they only put them out during special events. You’ll be disappointed if you go any regular day.
The tour with a free guide. The marvelous architecture of the buildings. The warmth and friendliness of everyone. Get off at the Victory monument on the skytrain or the Metro. To reach the entrance to the temple from the area north of the circle, take bus 29 north until it reaches Bangkok University. From there, it is a ten-minute taxi trip.