BANGKOK, October 24, 2013 His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, has been contributing to the propagation of Buddhism in Thailand and abroad all through his long life in the saffron robe. In 1966, he inaugurated the Buddha Pradipa temple in London, the United Kingdom and observed Buddhism activity in the UK as well as Italy.
Two years later, he traveled to observe Buddhism activity and education in Indonesia, Australia and the Philippines. He has cooperated with Buddhists in Indonesia in order to revive Buddhism in the country by sending Buddhist envoys to Indonesia in 1969, sending monks from Wat Bavoranives to conduct religious duties in Australia in 1973, and establishing a temple there in 1975.
In 1971, he traveled to observe Buddhist activity and education in Nepal, India and Bangladesh (then Eastern Pakistan). He had revitalized Buddhism in Nepal by providing scholarships to Nepali monks to study Buddhism at Wat Bavoranives in Thailand.
In 1977, he traveled to ordain 43 Indonesian Buddhists in Semarang, Indonesia, following an invitation by Indonesia’s Theravada Buddhism Group.
In 1985, he led Thai monks to conduct monastic boundary marking ceremony at Jakarta Dhammachakarajaya temple, Jakarta, Indonesia, the first of its kind to be performed in Indonesia. In the same year, he presided over the ordination of Kulabutara Sakaya of Nepal for 73 monks in Kathmandu, Nepal.
In 1993, His Holiness went to the People’s Republic of China to strengthen religious relations between Thailand and People’s Republic of China for the first time, following an invitation by the Chinese government.
Two years later, he presided over the cornerstone laying ceremony at Wat Thai at Lumbini, Nepal, constructed by the Thai government to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the reign of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
In Thailand, he led the construction and renovation of temples in all parts of the country, including the Mondapa at the Shrine of the Lord Buddha’s footprint, the pagoda at Wat Bavoranives , the Lord Buddha’s relics at Sri Nakharin Maha Santikhiri Pagoda, Doi Mae Salong, Chiang Rai province. Santikhiri temple, Doi Mae Salong, Chiang Rai Province, Ratchadaphisek temple, Bo Phloi District, Kanchanaburi Province; Lanna Samvararam, Chom Thong Distict, Chiang Mai province; Phu Mud, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, Nyanasamvararam Temple, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri Province.
He had patronized numerous temples overseas, including Buddha Rangsi temple, Sydney, Australia; Jakarta Dhammachakarajaya temple, Jakarta, Indonesia; Nakhon Mondapa Sri Kirti Vihara temple, Kirtipur, Nepal. He created educational institutions, especially the Buddhist schools such as Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara School, Yasothon Province; Somdet Phra Piya Maharaja Rommaneeyakhet School, Kanchanaburi province.
He has written various books, including Syntax part 1-2 for Pali language learner as well as producing the Pali-Thai-English-Sanskrit dictionary, Dharma book such as 5 Chapter Panjaguna, 10 Chapters Tossapol Nyana, Auspicious Preaching, 3 Chapters Ovadapatimok and 9 Chapters Sangkhaguna, etc.
He has initiated dharma book translation from Thai to English in order to be used as Buddhist study, such as the Biography of the Lord Buddha, Bhikkhupatimok, Methods of Buddhist Ordination, Prayers, etc., general books such as Buddhist Worshipping, Buddhist Principles, the Lord Buddha’s Virtues, the Lord Buddha’s 45 – Year of Buddhist Teachings, What Does the Lord Buddha Teach? (Thai-English), in response to the wish of Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother, Dharma Principles, Buddhism and the Thai Society, Karma – Precept (Thai-English), Spiritual Exercise for Adult, Legend of Bavoranives Vihara Temple, etc.
Recognized around the world as a foremost Buddhist scholar, His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch, has been a major spiritual force in Thailand and all over the world throughout his long life in the saffron robe.
