Monks being ordinated Wat Phra Dhammakaya
candle lighting 27 JANUARY 2013 - Pathumthani province, Thailand – 1,128 Thai and foreign monks from the Dhammakaya Temple lit candles in homage of the Lord Buddha, following an evening chanting and meditation. “Dhutanga” or pilgrimage is a monks’ way to take to another level their practice of self-discipline, resilience and endurance which are all important qualities for developing one’s character to become a true monk from inside out. During this period, monks will undertake the Dhutanga discipline that includes, among others, sleeping outdoors under an umbrella-like “klod” and taking one meal a day. As the monks walk, they typically meditate and spread inner peace and silently send good wishes to all. The 1,128 monks come from different parts of Thailand. Although speaking different dialects and languages, they are united and have lived together in peace and harmony in accordance with the Buddha’s Teachings. During the 26-day journey, they will make several stops, including at Wat Botbon where the late Meditation Master Phra Mongkolthepmuni rediscovered the Buddha’s Dhammakaya Meditation Tradition that was lost to the world 500 years after the passing of the Buddha, and at Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen where the Most Venerable served as the abbot until 1959 (2502 ).
Size: 7188px × 4797px
Location: Pathum Thani, Thailand
Photo credit: © Keith Poynton / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: buddha, buddhism, buddhist, candle, candles, ceremony, controversial, devout, dhammakaya, followers, gold, golden, lighting, lined, lines, monk, monks, orange, ordinated, ordination, pathumthani, phra, pilgrimage, province, robes, rows, saffron, saucer, scandal, shape, shaped, supporters, temple, thai, thailand, wat, watt, “dhutanga”
