Phra Ajahn Chayasaro (or Phra Brahmapacharayanamuni) Receives 2024 Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award

Paitoon Songkaeo

On December 6, 2024, H.E. Dr. Chirayu Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, Chairman of the Thailand  Foundation, presented the 2024 Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award to Phra Ajahn Chayasaro (Brahmapacharayanamuni), a British-born Thai monk, at the 2024 Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok. The award recognizes his significant role in sustaining and propagating Thai Theravada Buddhism extensively for over 40 years, which has attracted foreigners to study Buddhist teachings in Thailand. His mission has also helped promote Thailand’s identity, culture, and spiritual essence through Buddhism, which serves as an important spiritual anchor for Thai people.

In his acceptance speech, Phra Ajahn Chayasaro highlighted his unique perspective on Thai culture, particularly noting Thailand’s natural acceptance of diversity, which he believes is often overlooked. He emphasized that Buddhist values that have flourished in Thailand are its most valuable resource for the 21st century, describing Buddhism not as a dogmatic religion but as an educational tool for navigating life’s complexities. He urged people to approach Buddhism with fresh eyes, free from Western or other religious frameworks, and to use Buddhist teachings for self-understanding and education. He stressed the importance of maintaining cultural vitality through wisdom and understanding, warning that without these, even beautiful cultural forms can become empty shells. He expressed his belief that Buddhist teachings are uniquely suited to invigorate traditions from within, enabling Thailand to offer more to the world. Despite receiving the award, he humbly referenced his teacher Ajahn Chah’s teaching about being like an earthworm and the Thai idiom “pit tong lang pra” (ปิดทองหลังพระ meaning doing good deeds without seeking recognition). He concluded by acknowledging that his achievements were only possible through the kindness and generosity of his parents, teachers, and Thai society as a whole.

Phra Ajahn Chayasaro delivering his acceptance speech

Phra Ajahn Chayasaro became interested in Buddhism at a young age and began practicing with Phra Brahmawachirayarn (Robert Sumedho) in 1978. He traveled to Thailand and became a disciple of Phra Bodhiyanathera (Luang Por Chah Subhaddo), the abbot of Wat Nong Pah Pong in Ubon Ratchathani province, and was ordained as a monk at age 22. During his more than forty years in the monkhood, he has worked to spread Buddhism to both Thai and foreign audiences, both in Thailand and abroad, through dhamma discussions and meditation practice at a one-monk monastery (สำนักสงฆ์บ้านไร่ทอสี) in Nakhon Ratchasima province. He has also traveled to more than 18 countries, including China, United States, England, Italy, Qatar, Malaysia, India, and Bhutan.

Beyond his religious travels, Phra Ajahn Chayasaro has authored over 100 books about Thai Theravada Buddhism, focusing on conveying dhamma principles and providing guidance for daily life, written in both Thai and English. Many of them have been translated into other languages such as Chinese, French, Spanish, and Italian. Some of his books are well-known among foreigners interested in Buddhism and meditation practice, such as “Stillness Flowing” and “Without and Within,” which have been distributed in many leading hotels in Thailand.

Phra Ajahn Chayasaro also spreads Thai Theravada Buddhism through various digital channels, such as the website ‘Dhamma by Ajahn Chayasaro’ created under the Panya Prateep Foundation, as well as other digital platforms including YouTube, Facebook, podcast, and Instagram under the same name, which have over 300,000 followers combined. On YouTube alone, his dharma talks have been viewed more than 14 million times, totaling over 3.8 million hours of viewing time.

In 2020, Phra Ajahn Chayasaro was granted Thai citizenship as a special case, with the reason stated in the Royal Gazette being his “important role in spreading dharma in Thailand and internationally… considered as someone who has made special contributions to Thailand and Buddhism.”

The three awardees – Phra Ajahn Chayasaro, Mrs. Bilaibhan Sampatisiri (right, President of the Siam Society Under Royal Patronage), and Mr. Somtow Sucharitkul (left) – photographed together with the Chairman of the Thailand Foundation, and H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

At the same award ceremony, H.E. Dr. Chirayu also presented the 2024 Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Awards to the Siam Society Under Royal Patronage and Mr. Somtow Sucharitkul. The Siam Society was recognized for its important and long-standing role of over 120 years in preserving and promoting Thai cultural heritage and history internationally, promoting research to create new academic knowledge continuously, and serving as a bridge connecting people-to-people and institutional relationships through being an academic exchange space between Thai and foreign scholars, making Thai culture and history widely known.

Mr. Somtow Sucharitkul received the award for being a conductor, composer, and writer who has continuously created works for international art circles for over 50 years through musical compositions, operas, screenplays, over 100 English novels, and leading the youth ensemble Siam Sinfonietta to perform abroad multiple times. His work has helped promote Thai identity and made other countries aware of Thai artists’ capabilities, while also inspiring the next generation of Thai artists to create works for the international stage.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Thailand Foundation jointly established the Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award (TPDA) for the first time in 2022, with the following objectives: (1) to honor individuals, groups, or organizations, whether Thai or foreign nationals, who have significantly enhanced Thailand’s reputation, dignity, and positive image among foreigners through their work in humanitarian causes, arts and culture, sports, academics, innovation, Buddhism, and other fields; (2) to inspire award recipients to continue their purposeful activities; and (3) to communicate to the public that ordinary citizens can also participate in advancing Thailand’s public diplomacy. One to three awards will be given annually. Recipients of the Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award will receive a cash prize of 300,000 baht, have their names engraved on the “Goodwill” trophy, and be featured on the Wall of Fame, which will be permanently displayed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A Certificate of Honor presented to the Venerable Phra Phrompacharayanmuni (Ajahn Jayasaro)

A Certificate of Honor presented to the three awardees.

Author: Paitoon Songkaeo, Ph.D.

Transitioning from a Buddhist monk to a diplomat, Paitoon Songkaeo is the Administrative Director of the Thailand Foundation. With a background of 16 years as a Buddhist monk, he later joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and retired as the Consul-General of Kota Baru in Malaysia in 2017. Additionally, he is a regular contributor to the Spiritual Values & Meditation section.

Uploaded on December 23, 2024