“Somdet Chin and the Privy Councillor” inaugurated the seminar on Buddhist propagation titled “Continuing, Preserving, and Building Upon Buddhist Propagation under the Royal Patronage.” The event focused on Buddhist propagation under royal patronage.
On Thursday, 17 Sep 2026 09:00 GMT+7, at the Phutthamonthon Auditorium under Royal Patronage, Salaya Subdistrict, Phutthamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom Province, Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatanana, the Supreme Patriarch, graciously appointed Somdet Phra Maha Wirawong, member of the Sangha Council and Secretary to the Supreme Patriarch, to act on his behalf as the monk chairman. General Chalermchai Sitthisart, Privy Councillor, served as the lay chairman of the seminar on Buddhist propagation titled “Continuing, Preserving, and Building Upon Buddhist Propagation under the Royal Patronage” for fiscal year 2026. Attendees included Phra Phrombandit, Chairman of the National Buddhist Propagation Committee, members of the National and Provincial Buddhist Propagation Committees from all 77 provinces, propagation personnel, and representatives from both government and private sector partners, totaling approximately 800 monks and laypersons.
Somdet Phra Maha Wirawong opened the seminar by highlighting three essential principles of Buddhist propagation: to accurately and completely preserve the Dhamma and Vinaya, to maintain the public's faith through exemplary conduct, and to creatively advance propagation methods using technology ethically to reach all age groups.
Meanwhile, General Chalermchai Sitthisart, Privy Councillor, delivered a special lecture titled “Continuing, Preserving, and Building Upon Buddhist Propagation under the Royal Patronage.” The event also coincided with the significant occasion in 2027 CE: the auspicious era “One Century of the Dharma King—Continuing the Father's Work and Building on Virtue Along the Eternal Footsteps,” marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great. This reflected reverence for his royal virtues and great benevolence as a monarch devoted to the welfare of the Thai people and humanity at large.
In the afternoon session, senior monks and distinguished speakers engaged in a panel discussion on the same theme, providing diverse perspectives from both the secular and monastic sides, beneficial for the ongoing development of Buddhist propagation work.
The seminar aimed to promote and develop Buddhist propagation personnel with up-to-date skills and knowledge to effectively implement propagation work in accordance with the 2021 Sangha Act on Buddhist Propagation. It sought to ensure personnel understood and aligned with the Sangha's propagation policies, while also providing opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaborative planning to achieve concrete results consistent with the master plan for Buddhist propagation from 2023 to 2037.
This seminar was conducted under the concept “Continuing, Preserving, and Building Upon Buddhist Propagation under the Royal Patronage,” chaired by Somdet Phra Maha Wirawong as the monastic chairman.
General Chalermchai Sitthisart, Privy Councillor, served as the lay chairman, jointly officiating the opening ceremony. This reflected the cooperation between the state and the Sangha to continue, preserve, and advance Buddhist activities in Thailand.