Religion Department Blends Dharma with Technology in New Learning Initiative
Thailand's Department of Religious Affairs launched an initiative blending Buddhist dharma with AI technology at Bangkok's Buddhist Sunday Learning Centers, aiming to develop youth with both knowledge and moral values.
On September 16, 2025, at Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimonmangkhlaram in Bangkok, the Department of Religious Affairs under the Ministry of Culture held its annual Open House for Buddhist Sunday Learning Centers. The event was presided over by Phra Thep Wattchranusit, ecclesiastical chair, and Chaiyapol Sukiam, director-general of the Department of Religious Affairs, alongside government officials, partner networks, educators, and participants from Bangkok's Buddhist Sunday Learning Centers.
Chaiyapol Sukiam stated that the event aimed to create a forum for exchanging learning and ideas on promoting moral and ethical conduct, while reviewing progress of Bangkok's Buddhist Sunday Learning Centers and applying lessons to enhance operational efficiency. The initiative seeks to strengthen cooperation through a "positive power" framework linking homes, temples, schools, and government agencies to ensure all sectors participate in developing youth with both knowledge and virtue, enabling them to become good citizens.
The program featured diverse activities including a panel discussion on "Mechanisms for Driving Buddhist Sunday Learning Centers to Success" with representatives from leading Buddhist universities and the Bangkok Education Office, plus a workshop on "Using AI for Youth in the 21st Century" to help young people understand and apply technology responsibly. Additional events included creative dharma talks, exhibitions of learning outcomes and community products from the centers, and cultural performances showcasing the centers' role in Buddhist education, ethics, arts, and youth development.
Chaiyapol Sukiam emphasized that the Department of Religious Affairs views Buddhist Sunday Learning Centers as vital learning hubs and creative spaces for children and youth, with the Open House serving as an opportunity to link networks and share knowledge and best practices. The department aims for these centers to transcend basic Buddhist instruction and become centers for life skills development and moral cultivation, supported by collaborative efforts from families, temples, schools, government, and partner organizations, ultimately producing "good, capable, and virtuous" youth who contribute to sustainable societal and national development.
The Open House event was held September 16-17, 2025, at Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimonmangkhlaram.
