90 ปี 40 ปี Wat Thai Washington, D.C.

The 72 th Birthday Anniversary
Celebrations of Luang Por Chiwananda
To celebrate the 72 th Birthday Anniversary
of Phra Maha Surasak Chivanandho on June
9, 1997, the monks, the temple committee and
laypeople organized many events during June
6-8, 1997. Educational seminars and meditation
workshops were held. The National Council on
Social Welfare of Thailand organized “Thailand:
Present and Future” seminar, while Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalai
University organized
“Thai Missionary Monks: The Age of Givers and
Leaders” seminar led by Phra Dhammakosajarn
(Panya Nandha) and Phra Rajaworamunee
(Prayoon Dhammajitto). His Excellency Nitya
Pibulsonggram, the Thai ambassador to the
U.S., gave a speech on “The Next Decade of Thai
Missionary Monks in the U.S.”
After the celebrations, the missionary monks
and the laypeople started to promote Buddhism
through internet technology. The IIRT Corp
with the collaboration of the Council of the Thai
Bhikkhus in U.S.A. and Wat Thai Washington,
D.C. organized a course for missionary monks
and the general public called “Buddhism Promotion
through IT Project” in December 1998. The monks
learned how to create homepages to promote
Buddhism in the modern world.
Phra Maha Surasak (pen-name Luangta
Chi) was promoted to the Venerable
Phra Vidhetdhammarangsi
On the 60 th Anniversary Celebrations of
His Majesty the King’s Accession to the Throne
on December 5, 1999, Phra Maha Surasak
Chivanandho (Dhammarat) was promoted to a new
title the Venerable “Phra Vidhetdhammarangsi”.
The Monks and laypeople of Wat Thai
Washington, D.C. celebrated this occasion
and his birthday during June 7-11, 2000 by
organizing meditation courses and others
activities. The Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalai
University and the Council have also organized
seminars for worldwide missionary monks.
Phra Vidhetdhammarangsi
(Luangta Chi)’s 80 th Birthday
Anniversary Celebrations
On June 9, 2005, Phra Vidhetdhammarangsi
turned 80 years old. Monks, laypeople of Wat Thai
Washington, D.C. and his students hosted the
birthday celebrations for him during June 3-12,
2005. The activity includes meditation workshops,
the 29 th seminar of the worldwide missionary
monks, and the 2005 General Annual Meeting of
the Council of the Thai Bhikkhus in the U.S.A.
48 • ๙๐ ปี พระราชมงคลรังษี (หลวงตาชี)