Bangkok Bank helps preserve Buddhism by organizing a ceremony for the 51st year to celebrate graduates of the 9th Grade Buddhist Theology exam for 2024 by giving offerings to 76 monks and novices who passed the examination
June 11, 2024
Celebrating graduates of the 9th Grade Buddhist Theology exam for the 51st year – Bangkok Bank, led by Vice Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors Mr. Singh Tangtatswas, as the secular president; Directors Dr. Amorn Chandarasomboon, Mr. Chokechai Niljianskul, Mr. Siri Jirapongphan, Mr. Bundhit Eua-arporn, Mr. Predee Daochai; Executive Director Mr. Charamporn Jotikasthira; Executive Vice President Mr. Pipat Assamongkol, together with executives and staff, organized a ceremony to celebrate the graduates of the 9th Grade Buddhist Theology exam. This is the 51st year the Bank has given offerings to monks and novices who passed their examination at the 9th grade, the highest grade in the curriculum of the Pali Department of Dharma. Phra Phrom Moli (Dhammaratano), Councilor of the Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand, Maekong Bali Sanam Luang, Abbot of Wat Paknam, as the president of the clergy, gave fans, bags, three garments (robe, sarong, extra robe) and blessings to 76 monks and novices who passed the examination. The event was held at the auditorium on the 30th floor of Bangkok Bank Head office, Silom Road.
In the ceremony to celebrate graduates of the 9th Grade Buddhist Theology exam for 2024, there were 76 graduates comprising 62 monks and 14 novices. Among them was 17-year-old Novice Panuwat Kongthungmon from, Wat Molilokayaram, who is the youngest novice in history to pass the 9th Grade Buddhist Theology exam. Novices under 20 years old who passed the examination will be ordained as monks under royal patronage at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. His Majesty the King will be the host of the royal merit making ordination and will give them eight necessities (robes, hot water bottles, spittoons, monk's alms-bowl, sandals and a walking stick) according to the ancient royal tradition.
Novice Panuwat Kongthungmon said that he became a novice at the age of 7. Since the age of 10 he has been interested in studying the Pali section of the Pariyattidhamma, at Wat Molilokayaram, and he continued to take Pali sentence exams until he recently passed the 9th Grade Buddhist Theology exam which required a lot of diligence and effort. He took great pride in passing the exam. He recognized that it is important for monks to study the Pali language as it is the foundation of the teachings in the Tripitaka. When you truly know the meaning, you will be able to put it into practice and use it to teach correctly and appropriately according to the principles of the Buddha's teachings.
Bangkok Bank is the first and only company in the private sector that has held a ceremony to celebrate the graduates of the 9th Grade Buddhist Theology exam every year since 1974, making this the 51st year. There has been a total of 1,935 monks and novices, comprising 1,616 monks and 319 novices, who have joined the ceremony. This event, in addition to congratulating the monks and novices who passed the exam, also shows the Bank's intention to foster and encourage Buddhism going forward.
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