Daily Activities at the Dhammakaya Cetiya
Ways to Make Merit at the Cetiya
Circumambulation & Offering Lotus Flowers
Containing over 300,000 Buddha statues on the outside and another 700,000 internally alongside ancient Dhamma manuscripts and other Buddhist artifacts, the Dhammakaya cetiya is an incredibly sacred monument that provides a powerful place to pay respect to the Triple Gem and make merit. One of the ways to both pay respects and allow the sacred energy of the cetiya to soothe the mind is to circumambulate and make offerings of lotus flowers at the front.
Upon arriving you can visit the lotus distribution area, select your favorite flower, remove any of the older or blemished petals, and then make your way to circumambulate or simply make resolutions and offer your flowers in the gold colored receptacles towards the edge of the covered area towards the cetiya.
Especially as the sun sets and the temperature cools, you will see many people arriving daily to mindfully walk around the cetiya with lotus flowers in hand while the calming vibrations of the chanting of the first teaching of the Buddha invite you to release any heaviness and root your mind in the healing presence of the Triple Gem. After finishing the circumambulation, you’re encouraged to make any resolutions or prayers in front of the monument (since we believe that when you are in a sacred place and the mind is still, it has a deeper connection with merit, and resolutions made at that time are more powerful) and then you can offer your flowers.
Chanting the Dhammacakapavatanna Sutta
Another very meritorious and spiritually enriching activity to take part in at the cetiya is chanting the first sutta (teaching) of the Buddha given after his enlightenment, the Dhammacakapavatanna Sutta or Dhammacak for short. There is a designated area where the chant can be clearly heard alongside a digital display of the global tally of how many times this chant has been recited worldwide and a seated area in front of a beautiful Buddha statue. This chant is inherently powerful due to its meaning, vibrationally calming due to its intonation, and, as a result, can be a great way to further release any daily stresses and bask in the energy of the Triple Gem. Even if you are not proficient in the chanting, merely meditating in this area while it plays can be very beneficial. If you would like to learn more about this chant, download a script, an app to help you practice, and more please visit this page.