Speech at Inauguration Ceremonies

 

Luang Por Dhammajayo once said the a group of monastics in Thailand: “Living abroad, you have one main responsibility, that is to spread Vijjā Dhammakāya. Wishing that everyone that we meet knows that they have a Buddha within themselves and are able to attain it. That this is our true refuge. (…) Now, I emphasize local people, the people who are the main inhabitants of each country you go to. You may start [with a Buddhist temple] in an easy way, by teaching Thai people, Laotians, Southeast Asians and other people who are Buddhist. They can be supporters, helping you to study, to train yourself, and share knowledge. Though that may be the beginning, it is not the end: the end we have in mind is the local inhabitants who have different customs and beliefs.”

On a similar note, in 2012, when we had the ceremony for the consecration of the Ubosot at Dhammakaya Belgium, Luang Por Dattajīvo said to the monks at the temple that the local inhabitants had built this temple, and as we now had become the new owner in charge of it, we should have the local people participate in its activities from now on.

At that time, many great supporters from the Netherlands regularly came to the temple in Belgium, as they had helped to develop it. When the Sangha saw the faith and solidarity of the supporters, they decided to set up the temple in the Netherlands. We have had the great fortune and good karma of finding this former church. And it is a great fortune for the local inhabitants here as well, that this former church that has been a center of solidarity and cooperation for a long time, has now been revived as a meditation centre. Dutch people can find joy in this, since now they can continuously learn to meditate and study Buddhism here.

In a survey cited by the well-known Dutch news paper NRC, 5 to 10 percent of Dutch people have meditated in their lives. People are becoming more and more interested. This holds for many countries in Europe. Therefore, there is no better moment to introduce Vijjā Dhammakāya to the European continent.

Now today, all honoured guests and supporters have come together in this historical event of great merit, to do the bidding that our Honourable Teachers have asked us to do, to let people know “they have a Buddha within themselves and are able to attain it”. And that’s why we have come together here.