The National Coordination Center of Provincial Meditation Institutes at Wat Luang Phor Sodh Dhammakayaram

The National Coordination Center of Provincial Meditation Institutes is an organization established on 24 April 2008 to serve the Sangha Body, with the following objectives:

1. To support the Sangha Body’s Provincial Meditation Centers to administer Buddhist Education effectively,
2. To cooperate with Provincial Meditation Centers to teach meditation to the same high standard for all people at all levels, especially for the youth, for the benefit, peace and stability of the Thai Society, Nation, Buddhism and Monarchy.  
3. To cooperate with the Chiefs of the Sangha Regions and Directors of the Provincial Meditation Centers to raise academic training techniques to the same high national standard.
4. To assist Provincial Meditation Centers with academic scholarship,
5. To support the Sangha in stabilizing, protecting and developing Buddhism under the rules of the Discipline, the Law and the Sangha Rules.

The National Coordination Center of Provincial Meditation Institutes was founded on 24 April 2008 at a conference and practicum organized by the National Office of Buddhism, held at Wat Yanawa, Bangkok, and led by Phra Brahmavajirayan. At this meeting, 338 Directors of Meditation Centers out of 400 across the country voted for the establishment of the National Coordination Center of Provincial Meditation Institutes and they chose Phra Thepyanmongkol as the President. They also chose Phra Brahmavajirayan, Phra Bhramamolee and Phra Dhammapariyatveti as Advisory Directors. On 12 May 2008, the National Coordination Center of Provincial Meditation Institutes was recognized by the Sangha Body. Again, on April 2011, Phra Thepyanmongkol was elected to serve his second term as president. 

On 31 October 2008, Somdej Phra Maha Ratchamangkalajahn led the fourth conference held at Wat Luang Phor Sodh Dhammakayaram and the Committee Members agreed to invite Somdej Phra Maha Ratchamangkalajahn as President of the Board and each Sangha Region Chief as the President of the Provincial Meditation Centers located on their regions.  All members also agreed that the National Coordination Center of Provincial Meditation Institutes extends to both Mahanikaya and Dhammayut sects.

In the same year, the committee members agreed to publish the Study Guide for Right Practice of the Three Trainings (Trisikkha), based on Lord Buddha’s Four Foundations of Mindfulness and the Commentaries from the Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga), plus the Three Aspects of Nirvana, which is an Appendix. This proposal was presented to the conference, led by Somdej Phra Maha Ratchamangkalajahn, and it was agreed to publish this book and distribute it to all Meditation Centers. The book has been translated and edited in English by Phra Khru Baitika Dr. Barton Yanathiro, Phra Natpakanan Gunanggalo, and Phra William Akapunyo of the Wat Luang Phor Sodh Buddhist Meditation Institute and Mr. Potprecha Cholvijarn. Now, the book is downloadable in eBooks’ section.