Bangkok Bank and Wat Phra Rama 9 Karnchanapisek host Summer Novice Ordination Program in tribute to Their Majesties the King and Queen on two auspicious occasions

Monday 28 March 2016 13:55
Bangkok Bank is helping arrange the ordination of 90 novice monks to mark two auspicious occasions in 2016: the 70th Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne on June 9 and the 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen on August 12. The Bank is joining with Wat Phra Rama 9 Karnchanapisek to host 'The Summer Novice Ordination Program', which will last 20 days from March 28 to April 16 at Wat Phra Rama 9 Karnchanapisek in Bangkok and at Wat Makut Kiriwan in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Bangkok Bank Chairman Chatri Sophonpanich, Executive Chairman Kosit Panpiemras and President Chartsiri Sophonpanich, together with the Board of Directors, management and staff, wish to express their gratitude for the unmatched kindness of Their Majesties the King and Queen, said Bangkok Bank Corporate Secretary and EVP Apichart Ramyarupa. To pay tribute to the King and Queen on the auspicious 70th Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne on June 9 and Her Majesty the Queen's 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary on August 12, the Bank is collaborating with Wat Phra Rama 9 Karnchanapisek to host 'The Summer Novice Ordination Program'. The program will be joined by 90 novice monks who will undergo a period of 20 days' ordination from March 28 to April 16. The Lord Abbot of Wat Phra Rama 9 Karnchanapisek, Phra Dhamma Bundid, who is also a board member of the Sangha Supreme Council, will be the head preceptor at the ordination ceremony.

For Buddhists, ordination is a way to maintain the continuity of the religion and those who are ordained as monks or novices gain the highest merit, which is why the Bank supports the initiative. After ordination, the novices will stay at Wat Phra Rama 9 Karnchanapisek and go to Wat Makut Kiriwan in Nakhon Ratchasima province for dharma practice. They will receive dharma teachings from highly-ranked monks, teachers and skilled lecturers during their 20 days' ordination. The teachings will include Buddhism history, rules of training, Buddhist practices for laypersons, dharma, meditation, quotations from the Buddha, Buddhist chanting and pilgrimage.

Mr. Apichart added that in May 2011 the Bank had supported 84 of its staff in their ordination as Buddhist monks in tribute to His Majesty the King on the occasion of the 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary. The Bank also received gracious royal permission to give alms to these 84 monks on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen during her visit to Wat Phra Rama 9 Karnchanapisek on May 17, 2011 which brought joy to the monks, the Bank's Board of Directors, management and related parties. All alms given to the monks by Her Majesty the Queen were donated to Wat Phra Rama 9 Karnchanapisek as a tribute for the auspicious occasion. In April 2012, the Bank also hosted an ordination ceremony for 80 novice monks who were children of Bangkok Bank employees to celebrate the 80th Birthday Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen at Wat Phra Rama 9 Karnchanapisek under the same Summer Novice Ordination Program, with a total of 92 novice monks joining the program.

Bangkok Bank has a long tradition of organizing activities to honor and support the monarchy and Buddhism, with various activities held annually, including a congratulatory luncheon for monks and novices who pass the ninth grade in Buddhist theology and the payment of homage to senior monks who are members of the Sangha Supreme Council and monks who have been promoted to higher Sangha ranks at the beginning of Buddhist Lent. The Bank also presents the Royal Kathin to temples under royal patronage nationwide and temples in neighbouring countries, together with donations of necessities to monks. Bangkok Bank's continued efforts in supporting Buddhism earned it a gold class award from the House of Parliament for upholding Buddhism. The award has brought joy and pride to all at Bangkok Bank.