Live from the Temple – Second Tripitaka Recitation Ceremony with Somdej Thongchai as Buddhist Clergy Director
The Supreme Patriarch appointed Somdej Thongchai as director of Buddhist clergy for the second Tripitaka Recitation Ceremony held Tuesday at Bangkok's Marble Tripitaka Hall, attended by over 500 monks and royal scholarship recipients under
On Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 5:45 PM, the Supreme Patriarch appointed Somdej Phra Maha Ratchmongkhon Muni (Thongchai Thammadhcho), a member of the Maha Thera Association, senior monastic administrator, and deputy abbot of Wat Trimitwit Witthayaram, as director of the Buddhist clergy for the second Tripitaka Recitation Ceremony of 2569 BE.
Amphorn Kittamphon, a royal advisor, served as director of the lay delegation, joined by Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilpraband and Wannee Nonthasiri, inspector general of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), representing the ministry at the ceremony.
The Bangkok sangha (monastic community), the Nakhon Pathom provincial sangha, and over 500 royal scholarship recipients and novices participating in the government's scholarship program for Thai monks attended the recitation at the Marble Tripitaka Hall in Buddhmonthon under royal patronage. The atmosphere was peaceful and filled with reverence, reflecting the profound commitment to preserving Buddhism and safeguarding the Tripitaka, a crucial intellectual heritage of the nation.
Phra Maha Pairot Yanakusalo, deputy abbot of Wat Mahathat Yuvaraj Rangsrit and director of the Abhidhamma Chotika College at Maha Chulalongkorn Buddhist University (MCU), delivered discourse on the Tripitaka's significance. He explained that the Tripitaka is the primary Buddhist scripture compiled since the First Buddhist Council by accomplished elders, making it invaluable for transmitting the Buddha's teachings.
The Tripitaka recitation ceremony aims to instill Buddhist principles into the hearts of the faithful, ensuring the dharma remains integral to Buddhist life across all ages and communities. The event supports the preservation and study of the Tripitaka, strengthens wisdom among participants, and fosters cooperation between the sangha and government and private sectors, while advancing royal and ecclesiastical policies to establish Buddhmonthon as Thailand's premier Buddhist learning and activity center.
Udompon Ekiam, director of the National Buddhism Office, received participants and gave a report alongside her team, officials, and staff who coordinated the ceremony efficiently. Government officials, representatives from both public and private organizations, and numerous devoted citizens participated in the recitation.
