life. ... The right thing to do [now] is to accept the decision made [by the Supreme Patriarch]". Luang Por Thongdi also clarified that he was not opposed to reform and more independence from the government, but the Sangha should still have an important role in moral education, which he felt was overlooked in the reforms. Wat Luang Phor Sodh Dhammakayaram In 1982, Wat Paknam-ordained Luang Por Sermchai Jayamangalo and Phra Khru Bart Yanathiro established the Buddhabhavana Vijja Dhammakaya Institute, distancing itself from Wat Phra Dhammakaya. In 1991, the institute was changed into a temple. It is located in Ratchaburi Province, west of Bangkok, and was led by Luang Por Sermchai until 2018. He was formerly a lay meditation teacher at Wat Paknam, and a researcher and employee of the US embassy. Many of the temple's activities are done in cooperation with Wat Saket. Luang Por Sermchai taught regularly to government departments, companies, and other temples. In 2004, Luang Por Sermchai made headlines when he criticized the government's policy on legalizing gambling during a preaching on a radio program. After some members of the government responded with displeasure, a screening process for preaching on the radio was established. Luang Por Sermchai defended the radio broadcast, stating that his criticism referred to society in general, not just the government. In 2006, there were seventy monks and thirty-three novices at the temple. Phra Khru Bart was a western monk who organized exchange student programs and gave meditation instruction and retreats in English language. English instruction is still available, though Phra Khru Bart has since died. In Thai language, the temple offers retreats, monastic ordination programs, and study retreats for families. The temple also runs its own school with Pali and Dhamma studies. Apart from an ubosot hall (central hall for ordinations), the temple also has a memorial hall in honor of Luang Pu Sodh. In 2006, the temple started building a stupa (mound-like shaped monument). The stupa will be four storeys high and will measure 108 meters in length, width and depth. It will contain meditation rooms, Buddha images, and relics. the monument was still under construction. Luang Por Sermchai had been taught about Dhammakaya meditation by Phra Veera Gaṇuttamo, teacher at Wat Paknam. On 7 October 2018, Luang Por Sermchai died, aged 90 years. Notes References Sources Further reading Primary Dhammakaya Foundation (1998) The Life & Times of Luang Phaw Wat