With a note of approval, French President Emmanuel Macron has vocally extended his support towards the inception of Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram, more affectionately known amongst the locals as Wat Pho Paris, right at the heart of the French capital.
This historic statement was publicized during a cordial reception held at the prestigious Elysee Palace. The guest of honor was none other than Somdet Phra Maha Theerajarn, the dignified abbot of the legendary Wat Pho in Thailand. Known for his spiritual wisdom and teachings, the revered abbot is currently spreading his influence in France for the grand opening of the Parisian temple.
Within a time frame of 45 riveting minutes, Somdet Phra Maha Theerajarn led an engaging meeting with President Macron. The presence of Phra Sri Wichira Thamwithet, the esteemed Sangha chairman of Wat Pho Paris, and Boonyarit Vichienpuntu, the dutiful acting ambassador of the Royal Thai Embassy in Paris, added immense value to the conversation. The key points of interest revolved around the exponential growth of Buddhism in Thailand and the exploration of strategies for leveraging Buddhist teachings with the noble objective of global peace.
President Macron was seen radiating a sense of deep appreciation for the abbot’s tireless efforts and conveyed his eagerness to witness the French interpretation of Wat Pho come alive. Having been privileged to visit the Thai Wat Pho himself during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok the previous year, reported by the Bangkok Post, Macron was keen to share his experiences.
Located in the picturesque Rue de Rimoron, 91650 Breux-Jouy, the French Wat Phra Chetuphon is slated to become a symbol of Buddhism in France while simultaneously commemorating 333 years of the cordial relationship shared between Thailand and France. The Parisian temple is not just an architectural marvel, but a Dhamma teaching centre with a mission to advocate peace. A fascinating launch ceremony for Wat Pho Paris is scheduled for the next day, with Somdet Phra Maha Theerajarn gracing the occasion as the presiding chairman.
In the shadows of such historic occasions, controversies also tend to arise. A French citizen recently voiced his outrage on social media, accusing three Thai individuals of orchestrating a massive real estate fraud that has led hundreds of innocent people into investing in a property venture in Phuket. The sting operation has reportedly caused monetary damage to the tune of over 100 million baht.
In a solemn piece of news from another province, a 34-year-old craftsman, who was engaged in the construction of an ancient water temple, unfortunately met his tragic demise by drowning in the temple’s pond. The incident occurred in Nakhon Phanom’s Renunakorn district, where the artisan had been tirelessly working on an ambitious temple project that is situated in the middle of a water body.
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