The largest Buddhist meditation center

13-05-2015

(Worldkings) - The meditation center of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Cetiya, with the capacity of 1.5 million people, is the largest Buddhist meditation center in the world.


Wat Phra Dhammakya, built in 1977, is a Buddhist temple complex in Thailand. Its name, Dhammakya, means "the world of inner peace" in Thai language. Located in an area of 320,000 m2, this temple complex is the centre of the Dhammakaya Movement, a Buddhist sect of Thailand founded in the 1970s.
The dome of Cetiya meditation center (Source: dhammakaya.net)
The whole temple complex was designed with simplicity and elegance. Some reviews descripted the temple looks like a stadium or a UFO, rather than a traditional wat (a Thai word that means temple). It was also designed as the embodiment of unity and love for mankind. In Thailand, the architecture of Wat Phra Dhammakya has won "The Architecture of The Year Award" in 1998 and "The Best Meditation Center Award" in 2013.
The most special building of the temple complex is its dome-shaped meditation center named Cetiya, which has a capacity of 1.5 million people. Inside Cetiya is 6 halls, each can accommodate up to 250,000 people. The dome of Cetiya was roofed with 1 million tiles made from bronze. On each tile there is alto-relievo of Buddha meditating with a closed eyes and a peaceful face.
Cetiya meditation center is the place where high-ranked monks give lecture about Buddhism and meditation. Not only Thai people but also foreigners, including Asian people and Westerners, go to Cetiya everyday to meditate and listen to Buddhist lecturer. It also attracts a great number of visitors every year.
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