Background and Vision

It all began with a desire to design a Buddhist curriculum for Westerners—specifically Hungarians. A fellow monk from the Maha Nikaya order had invited me to join a mission to propagate mindfulness and meditation practices in Hungary. However, when I tested the completed curriculum on Koh Lanta, Krabi—evaluating its suitability for the Western mindset—I discovered something unexpected. Not only did it attract interest from Europeans, who make up the majority of tourists there, but many also expressed a keen desire to join the training if it were to be held anywhere in Thailand.

I also encountered Westerners aged 15 to 60 who, beyond merely visiting Thailand for tourism, harbored a genuine desire for spiritual learning—even if they had only one or two days to spare.

This led me to reconsider my approach. Instead of the arduous task of traveling abroad to propagate the Dhamma, I realized that Thailand itself offers an environment uniquely conducive to spiritual practice—a place where foreigners can truly understand and connect with the path. With its people, locations, food, and climate, Thailand stands as one of the world's most favorable places for Dhamma practice (aligning with the Buddhist principle of the "Four Sappayas") —and perhaps the best in the last century. Consequently, I began looking for a suitable location within the country.

Among the places I visited during my twelve years of pilgrimage across Thailand, one site stood out for its profound tranquility and a palpable sense of sanctity—something difficult to explain through scientific principles alone: the top of mountain area surrounding Wat Phra Phutthabat Si Roi, in Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province.

Around April 2026, a decision was made to visit the area to scout for a location in the hills. Permission was granted to pilot the program for the first time at the Paramatthadhamma Center at Wat Doi Phu Op. In addition to the support provided by the abbot overseeing the retreat site, local laypeople in Chiang Mai helped distribute brochures and publicize the event at major temples—such as Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Phra Singh—as well as at guesthouses and hotels within the city's moat area. Ultimately, the first official training session was successfully held in May 2026.