Thailand's MCU Confers Honorary Dhammaduta Award on Grand Master Hsin Tao at LJM's 2026 Annual Water-Land-Air Dharma Assembly
At the break of day on July 26, 2026, the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society (LJM) solemnly conducted the Enchantment for its Inner Shrine on site for its 33rd annual Air-Water-Land Dharma Assembly. This signature LJM Dharma event welcomed an esteemed delegation led by The Most Venerable guest from Thailand to grace the auspicious occasion.
As Vice Chancellor of the reputable Buddhist educational establishment MCU (Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University), Phra Sitthivajrabundit led the visiting group to confer a distinguished recognition—the Honorary Dhammaduta Award—on LJM Founding Abbot Grand Master Hsin Tao for his outstanding long-term accomplishments in promoting Buddhism both at home and abroad.
As time-honored rituals and rites were solemnly observed, the award not only honored the ceremony but also marked a new milestone for exchange between the Mahayana and Theravada traditions of Buddhism.
One of Thailand's Highest Institutes Confers Award Symbolizing the Sustained Lineage Shared Between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism
During the inauguration ceremony of the Inner Shrine, bells and drums resounded amidst a rain of fluttering flower petals as Grand Master Hsin Tao and the MCU Vice Chancellor slowly ascended the altar under the ceremonial canopy.
The Vice Chancellor presented the Honorary Dhammaduta Award trophy on behalf of MCU, and Grand Master Hsin Tao reciprocated by presenting LJM’s cherished sacred treasure—the Statue of Compassionate Pilu Guanyin. The exchange symbolizes the enduring Dharma friendship between the Mahayana and Theravada Buddhist traditions.
The Honorary Dhammaduta Award is a prestigious international distinction bestowed by MCU. Derived from Pali, Dhammaduta translates to "Dharma Envoy." The award is granted to individuals with a long-term commitment to Buddhist education, international exchange, sangha cultivation, promotion of Buddhist culture, and community welfare, making it a highly revered honor in the global Buddhist community.
Dispatching a special delegation overseas to present this award underscores Grand Master Hsin Tao’s remarkable achievements in propagating the Buddhadharma worldwide, while writing a new chapter in the exchange between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism.
Grand Master Hsin Tao stated that this honor is not only a recognition of him personally, but also a responsibility to propagate the Dharma and benefit all sentient beings. He expressed his gratitude to the Vice Chancellor of MCU and his delegation for traveling across the sea to present the award, while paying tribute to the visionary commitment of MCU's founder, King Chulalongkorn, to promoting Buddhist education.
Founded in 1887, MCU is one of Thailand's two national Buddhist universities and stands among the world's most prominent Theravada Buddhist institutions of higher learning, long dedicated to monastic education, Buddhist studies, and international exchange. Moving forward, both parties will continue to deepen their collaboration, joining hands to advance Buddhist education and global exchange under the shared vision of "Love and Peace" and "Spirituality is Ecology."
Global Unity, Diverse in Culture: 11 International Teams Gather at the Inner Shrine
Prior to the solemn Enchantment Ritual of the Inner Shrine, the "Global Unity, Sincere Offering" ceremony unfolded in all its splendor. Eleven international offering teams, comprising 194 Dharma supporters and devotees from home and abroad, arrived dressed in traditional attire from their respective regions. Carrying offerings rich in local cultural heritage—such as coffee, jasmine rice, dried fruits, relic stupas, and banknotes fashioned into floral bouquets—they walked in sequence down the central red carpet of the Inner Shrine. There, amidst solemn chanting, they made heartfelt offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, uniting their diverse cultures and shared faith with a single heart of offering.
This year's offering teams included: Ling Jiou Mountain Dharmapala Federation, the Global Peace Meditation Promotion Association, the Ling Jiou Youth Group, as well as teams from New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru), Indonesia, and a first-time participant: the LJM International Meditation Center in Myanmar.
The true essence of an offering lies not in its material quantity, but in the sincerity of devotion. When diverse cultures gather at the Inner Shrine with a single shared vow, they vividly embody the core spirit of the Water-Land-Air Dharma Assembly—universal giving and equal benefit for all sentient beings
The Enchantment Consecrates the Inner Shrine: Beings of the Four Noble and Six Ordinary Realms Share in Supreme Dharma Benefits
The Inner Shrine serves as the heart of the entire Water-Land-Air Dharma Assembly, and the Enchantment is the pivotal rite for establishing this sacred, purified space. By constructing a pure shrine through authentic liturgy, all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and sentient beings across the six realms are solemnly invited to assemble, officially commencing the grand feast of universal giving where beings of both the four noble realms and the six ordinary realms share in supreme Dharma benefits. More importantly, it reminds practitioners to "demarcate the boundaries of the mind"—to collect one's body and mind, return to intrinsic purity, and benefit all sentient beings with compassion.
Grand Master Hsin Tao expounded, "The Enchantment must begin within the heart." Only by releasing greed, anger, and ignorance and returning to one's pure original mind can compassion and wisdom flow naturally. He encouraged everyone to dedicate the merits of the assembly to the entire Dharma realm, praying for the cessation of conflicts, the mitigation of disasters, and world peace. He further urged attendees to continue practicing "Spirituality is Ecology," safeguarding the Earth with a heart that respects life and embraces all creation, thereby extending compassion from the Inner Shrine to every corner of the world.
From MCU’s overseas presentation of the honorary award to the global offerings and the Enchantment of the Inner Shrine, the 2026 Ling Jiou Mountain Water-Land-Air Dharma Assembly not only carries forward a millennium-old tradition, but also demonstrates the transformative power of Buddhism to transcend regions, cultures, and lineages. Devotees from around the world gathered at the Inner Shrine with a single shared vow, pooling their virtuous intentions through joint practice and shared prayers—making the Water-Land-Air Dharma Assembly a vital global platform for praying for world peace and promoting international Buddhist unity.
As Vice Chancellor of the reputable Buddhist educational establishment MCU (Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University), Phra Sitthivajrabundit led the visiting group to confer a distinguished recognition—the Honorary Dhammaduta Award—on LJM Founding Abbot Grand Master Hsin Tao for his outstanding long-term accomplishments in promoting Buddhism both at home and abroad.
As time-honored rituals and rites were solemnly observed, the award not only honored the ceremony but also marked a new milestone for exchange between the Mahayana and Theravada traditions of Buddhism.
One of Thailand's Highest Institutes Confers Award Symbolizing the Sustained Lineage Shared Between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism
During the inauguration ceremony of the Inner Shrine, bells and drums resounded amidst a rain of fluttering flower petals as Grand Master Hsin Tao and the MCU Vice Chancellor slowly ascended the altar under the ceremonial canopy.
The Vice Chancellor presented the Honorary Dhammaduta Award trophy on behalf of MCU, and Grand Master Hsin Tao reciprocated by presenting LJM’s cherished sacred treasure—the Statue of Compassionate Pilu Guanyin. The exchange symbolizes the enduring Dharma friendship between the Mahayana and Theravada Buddhist traditions.
The Honorary Dhammaduta Award is a prestigious international distinction bestowed by MCU. Derived from Pali, Dhammaduta translates to "Dharma Envoy." The award is granted to individuals with a long-term commitment to Buddhist education, international exchange, sangha cultivation, promotion of Buddhist culture, and community welfare, making it a highly revered honor in the global Buddhist community.
Dispatching a special delegation overseas to present this award underscores Grand Master Hsin Tao’s remarkable achievements in propagating the Buddhadharma worldwide, while writing a new chapter in the exchange between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism.
Grand Master Hsin Tao stated that this honor is not only a recognition of him personally, but also a responsibility to propagate the Dharma and benefit all sentient beings. He expressed his gratitude to the Vice Chancellor of MCU and his delegation for traveling across the sea to present the award, while paying tribute to the visionary commitment of MCU's founder, King Chulalongkorn, to promoting Buddhist education.
Founded in 1887, MCU is one of Thailand's two national Buddhist universities and stands among the world's most prominent Theravada Buddhist institutions of higher learning, long dedicated to monastic education, Buddhist studies, and international exchange. Moving forward, both parties will continue to deepen their collaboration, joining hands to advance Buddhist education and global exchange under the shared vision of "Love and Peace" and "Spirituality is Ecology."
Global Unity, Diverse in Culture: 11 International Teams Gather at the Inner Shrine
Prior to the solemn Enchantment Ritual of the Inner Shrine, the "Global Unity, Sincere Offering" ceremony unfolded in all its splendor. Eleven international offering teams, comprising 194 Dharma supporters and devotees from home and abroad, arrived dressed in traditional attire from their respective regions. Carrying offerings rich in local cultural heritage—such as coffee, jasmine rice, dried fruits, relic stupas, and banknotes fashioned into floral bouquets—they walked in sequence down the central red carpet of the Inner Shrine. There, amidst solemn chanting, they made heartfelt offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, uniting their diverse cultures and shared faith with a single heart of offering.
This year's offering teams included: Ling Jiou Mountain Dharmapala Federation, the Global Peace Meditation Promotion Association, the Ling Jiou Youth Group, as well as teams from New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru), Indonesia, and a first-time participant: the LJM International Meditation Center in Myanmar.
The true essence of an offering lies not in its material quantity, but in the sincerity of devotion. When diverse cultures gather at the Inner Shrine with a single shared vow, they vividly embody the core spirit of the Water-Land-Air Dharma Assembly—universal giving and equal benefit for all sentient beings
The Enchantment Consecrates the Inner Shrine: Beings of the Four Noble and Six Ordinary Realms Share in Supreme Dharma Benefits
The Inner Shrine serves as the heart of the entire Water-Land-Air Dharma Assembly, and the Enchantment is the pivotal rite for establishing this sacred, purified space. By constructing a pure shrine through authentic liturgy, all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and sentient beings across the six realms are solemnly invited to assemble, officially commencing the grand feast of universal giving where beings of both the four noble realms and the six ordinary realms share in supreme Dharma benefits. More importantly, it reminds practitioners to "demarcate the boundaries of the mind"—to collect one's body and mind, return to intrinsic purity, and benefit all sentient beings with compassion.
Grand Master Hsin Tao expounded, "The Enchantment must begin within the heart." Only by releasing greed, anger, and ignorance and returning to one's pure original mind can compassion and wisdom flow naturally. He encouraged everyone to dedicate the merits of the assembly to the entire Dharma realm, praying for the cessation of conflicts, the mitigation of disasters, and world peace. He further urged attendees to continue practicing "Spirituality is Ecology," safeguarding the Earth with a heart that respects life and embraces all creation, thereby extending compassion from the Inner Shrine to every corner of the world.
From MCU’s overseas presentation of the honorary award to the global offerings and the Enchantment of the Inner Shrine, the 2026 Ling Jiou Mountain Water-Land-Air Dharma Assembly not only carries forward a millennium-old tradition, but also demonstrates the transformative power of Buddhism to transcend regions, cultures, and lineages. Devotees from around the world gathered at the Inner Shrine with a single shared vow, pooling their virtuous intentions through joint practice and shared prayers—making the Water-Land-Air Dharma Assembly a vital global platform for praying for world peace and promoting international Buddhist unity.