Pathum Thani — Former abbot Phra Dhammajayo of Wat Phra Dhammakaya was absent from the Earth Day event, which included a ceremony offering Sangha Dana to over 40,000 temples nationwide, following the Department of Special Investigation's order to end legal proceedings due to the case's statute of limitations.
On 22 April 2026, reporters reported that at the Maharatanviharnkot, located within Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Khlong Song Subdistrict, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani Province, a ceremony was held in the morning to offer Sangha Dana to over 80,000 monks. In the evening, there was a meditation and Sangha Dana offering ceremony involving more than 40,000 temples across Thailand on Earth Day. Over 100,000 people and devotees from all over the country joined in meditation, merit-making, and offered Sangha Dana to the monastic community from 323 temples in four southern border provinces, marking the 22nd year and 184th occurrence of the event.
Meanwhile, Somdet Phra Phutthachan, a member of the Supreme Sangha Council and Supreme Patriarch of the Eastern Region, abbot of Wat Traimit Witthayaram Worawihan, and Somdet Phra Maharatchamongkhon Muni, also a Supreme Sangha Council member and Supreme Patriarch of the Central Region and assistant abbot of Wat Traimit Witthayaram Worawihan, traveled to preside over the Sangha Dana ceremony on Earth Day. They were welcomed by Luang Por Thattashivo along with Phra Kru Palat Rattanaveerawat (Rangsrid Itthijintako), advisor to the Pathum Thani Provincial Sangha and abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya.
Phra Kru Samuh Sanitwong Wutthiwanso, assistant abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, said, “Earth Day was established by American Senator Gaylord Nelson to encourage Americans to protect the planet. Within Buddhism, the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth (WFBY) resolved to designate 22 April each year as 'Dharma Earth Protection Day' with the slogan ‘Clean The World, Clean The Mind,’ because the most valuable resource and environment is the human mind, which should be kept pure and protected.”
For this reason, Wat Phra Dhammakaya organizes 'Dharma Earth Protection Day' to unite Buddhists worldwide in practicing the teachings of the Buddha: abstaining from wrongdoing, doing good, and purifying the mind through the three meritorious acts of giving, morality, and meditation. This purifies body, speech, and mind, fosters kindness, avoids harming others, and helps the world attain true peace and happiness.”
Reporters also noted that during the ceremonies offering Sangha Dana to more than 80,000 monks and the meditation and Sangha Dana offering involving over 40,000 temples nationwide on Earth Day, former abbot Phra Dhammajayo, also known as former Phra Thepyanan Mahanuni (Chaiyaboon Suthiphon), co-founder of the Dhammakaya Foundation, did not attend the event. This follows the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) ordering the termination of his criminal case due to the statute of limitations of 10 years.