View source for Dhammayuttika Nikaya

{{Short description|Theravāda Buddhist monastic order}}
{{Infobox organization
|image        = File:Old dhammayut seal.jpg
|size         = 200px
|abbreviation = Dhammayut
|formation    = 1833
|headquarters = [[Wat Bowonniwet Vihara]],<br />[[Phra Nakhon District]], [[Bangkok]], Thailand
|type         = Buddhist monastic order
|founder      = Vajirañāṇo Bhikkhu (later [[Mongkut|King Mongkut]])
|leader_title = Superior general
|leader_name  = [[Ariyavongsagatanana (Amborn Ambaro)|Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatanana IX]] (Incumbent since 2017)
|key_people   = 
}}
[[File:Mongkut in the Sangha.jpeg|thumb|200px|Vajirañāṇo Bhikkhu, later King [[Mongkut]] of the [[Rattanakosin Kingdom]], founder of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya]]
{{Theravada Buddhism|Orders}}
'''Dhammayuttika Nikāya''' ([[Pali language|Pali]]; {{langx|th|ธรรมยุติกนิกาย}}; {{RTGS|''Thammayuttika Nikai''}}; {{langx|km|ធម្មយុត្តិកនិកាយ}}, {{transliteration|km|Thommoyutteka Nikay}}), or '''Dhammayut Order'''<ref>[https://www.dhammayut.net/ The Dhammayut Order in the United States of America]</ref> ({{langx|th|คณะธรรมยุต}}), is an [[Buddhist monasticism|order]] of [[Theravada]] Buddhist ''[[bhikkhu]]s'' (monks) in [[Buddhism in Thailand|Thailand]], [[Buddhism in Cambodia|Cambodia]], and [[Buddhism in Myanmar|Burma]], with significant branches in the [[Western world]]. Its name is derived from Pali ''[[dharma|dhamma]]'' ("teachings of the Buddha") + ''yutti'' (in accordance with) + ''ka'' (group).

The order began in Thailand as a reform movement led by a prince who would later become [[Mongkut|King Mongkut of Siam]], before also spreading to Cambodia and Burma. Initially, King Mongkut was frustrated because he could not find monks who understood the original teachings of the Buddha and truly adhered to the [[Vinaya|rules of the monks]]. This happened because of the [[syncretism]] of Buddhism with [[Tai folk religion|Thai folk religion]]. Consequently, King Mongkut emphasised the use of the [[Pali Canon]] as the primary authority for monastic practices, and sought to eliminate all of the syncretic elements. The movement became formally recognised as its own monastic order by the Thai government in 1902, with any Thai Theravada ''bhikkhus'' not within the order being referred to as part of the [[Maha Nikaya]].

The Dhammayuttika Nikaya plays a significant political role in Thailand. The order has historically been favored by the Thai government and monarchy, with the order holding the majority of all royal monastic titles in Thailand and most of the [[Supreme Patriarch of Thailand|Supreme Patriarchs]] (the head of the Thai monastic community) since its founding having come from the Dhammayuttika Nikaya, despite the order making up less than ten percent of all ''bhikkhus'' in Thailand.

== History ==
Dhammayuttika Nikaya (Thai: ''Thammayut'') began in 1833 as a reform movement led by [[Mongkut]] (later King Rama IV), son of King [[Rama II of Siam]]. It remained a reform movement until passage of the Sangha Act of 1902, which formally recognised it as the lesser of Thailand's two Theravada denominations, the other being [[Maha Nikaya]].<ref>[http://www.dhammathai.org/e/thailand/contemperary.php Buddhism in Contemporary Thailand] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401214429/http://www.dhammathai.org/e/thailand/contemperary.php |date=2015-04-01 }}, Prof. Phra Thepsophon, Rector of Mahachulalongkorn Buddhist University. Speech at the International Conference on Buddhasasana in Theravada Buddhist countries: Issue and The Way Forward in Colombo, Sri Lanka, January 15, 2003, Buddhism in Thailand, Dhammathai – Buddhist Information Network</ref>

Prince Mongkut was a ''[[bhikkhu]]'' ([[religious name]]: Vajirañāṇo) for 27 years (1824–1851) before becoming King of Thailand (1851–1868). The then 20 year-old prince entered monastic life in 1824. Over the course of his early meditation training, Mongkut was frustrated that his teachers could not relate the meditation techniques they were teaching to the original teachings of the Buddha. Also, he described what he saw as serious discrepancies between the [[vinaya]] (monastic rules) and the actual practices of Thai ''bhikkhus''. Mongkut, concerned that the ordination lines in Thailand were broken by a lack of adherence to this monastic code, sought out a different lineage of ''bhikkhus'' with practice that is more in line with the ''vinaya''.

There are several rules in the Theravada monastic code by which a ''bhikkhu'' is "defeated" – he is no longer a ''bhikkhu'' even if he continues to wear robes and is treated as one. Every ordination ceremony in Theravada Buddhism is performed by ten ''bhikkhus'' to guard against the possibility of the ordination being rendered invalid by having a "defeated ''bhikkhu''<nowiki>"</nowiki> as preceptor. Despite this, Mongkut was concerned that the area's lineages of regional traditions were broken. He made every effort to commission a phalanx of ''bhikkhus'' in Thailand with the highest probability of an unbroken lineage traceable back to the Buddha.{{sfn|Buswell|Lopez|2013|p=696}}

Mongkut eventually found a lineage among the [[Mon people]] in Thailand who had a stronger practice. He reordained in this group and began a reform movement that would become the Thammayut order. In founding the Thammayut order, Mongkut made an effort to remove all non-Buddhist, [[Tai folk religion|folk religious]], and superstitious elements which over the years had become part of Thai Buddhism. He emphasised the use of the [[Pali Canon]] as the primary authority as the basis for monastic practices. Additionally, Thammayut ''bhikkhus'' are expected to eat only one meal a day (not two) and the meal was to be gathered during a traditional alms round.<ref>[http://www.dhammathai.org/e/thailand/ratanakosin.php Ratanakosin Period] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521235806/http://www.dhammathai.org/e/thailand/ratanakosin.php |date=2015-05-21 }}, Buddhism in Thailand, Dhammathai – Buddhist Information Network</ref>

[[File:Kromma Phraya Vajirayanavarorosa.jpg|thumb|left|[[Vajirananavarorasa|Vajirañāṇavarorasa]]]]

In 1836, Mongkut became the first abbot of the new [[Wat Bowonniwet Vihara]], and it would become the administrative center of the Thammayut order to the present day.{{sfn|Buswell|Lopez|2013|p=696}}

Soon after, Mongkut had other ''bhikkhus'' who were close to him reordain in this lineage of Mon ''bhikkhus''. Among these were Mongkut's son [[Vajirananavarorasa|Vajirañāṇavarorasa]] and Somdet Phra Wannarat "Thap", a grade nine Pali scholar.{{sfn|Taylor|1993|p=42}}

According to anthropologist Jim Taylor, Vajirañāṇavarorasa's autobiography tells how "Thap had differences with the somewhat more "worldly" ''bhikkhus'' at Wat Bowornniwet, which led to dissension and the movement's eventual division into four primary competing factions (monastic lines or "stems")." In the mid-19th century these branches became so estranged that each one developed its own style of chanting, interpretation, and translation of Pali texts, and differed on issues related to the monastic code.{{sfn|Taylor|1993|p=45}}

It was not until Vajirañāṇavarorasa took control of a new phase of Sangha reforms in 1892 that the administrative Thammayut hierarchy would begin to form a cohesive vision. Officially Pusso Saa was the [[Sangharaja]]; however, he was only a figurehead.{{sfn|Taylor|1993|p=70}}{{sfn|Taylor|1993|p=45}} Thanissaro, a [[Thai Forest Tradition|Thai-ordained forest ''bhikkhu'']], notes though that in the early-20th century, Ajahn Mun's [[kammaṭṭhāna]] lineage formed a distinct camp within the Thammayut order which was at odds with Vajirañāṇavarorasa's reforms.<ref name="nobleones">{{cite web|author=Thanissaro Bhikkhu|author-link=Thanissaro Bhikkhu|title=The Traditions of the Noble Ones: An Essay on the Thai Forest Tradition and its Relationship with the Dhammayut Hierarchy|url=http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Writings/CrossIndexed/Uncollected/MiscEssays/The%20Traditions%20of%20the%20Noble%20Ones.pdf|publisher=Dhammatalks.org|access-date=2015-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806214534/http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Writings/CrossIndexed/Uncollected/MiscEssays/The%20Traditions%20of%20the%20Noble%20Ones.pdf|archive-date=2015-08-06|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Political role in Thailand ==
While the Dhammayuttika Nikaya originally started as a Buddhist [[Buddhism in Thailand|reform movement in Thailand]], later leading to the development of the [[Thai Forest Tradition|Thai forest tradition]], the order has played a significant political role in Thailand as well.

Since its origins, the Dhammayuttika Nikaya has historically been the preferred choice of the Thai government and the monarchy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=McCargo|first=Duncan|date=2012-12-01|title=The Changing Politics of Thailand's Buddhist Order|journal=Critical Asian Studies| volume=44|issue=4|pages=627–642|doi=10.1080/14672715.2012.738544|s2cid=143745165|issn=1467-2715}}</ref><ref name="Economist 160402">{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21695901-squabble-clergy-widens-thailands-dangerous-divides-men-alms?fsrc=scn%2Fle%2Fte%2Fpe%2Fed%2Fmenatalms|title=Men-at-alms|date=2 April 2016|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|access-date=20 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820111307/http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21695901-squabble-clergy-widens-thailands-dangerous-divides-men-alms?fsrc=scn%2Fle%2Fte%2Fpe%2Fed%2Fmenatalms|archive-date=2016-08-20|url-status=live}}</ref> Having been started by a Thai prince, the order has always had close ties to the monarchy and has historically played a key role in ensuring public support for the palace. Journalist Paul Handley writes that:<blockquote>Although the doctrinal differences between the schools had become less significant, putting Thammayut{{sic}} on top ensured that the sangha remained closely allied with the palace.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nDspKDZkgcQC|title=The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej|last=Handley|first=Paul M.|author-link=Paul M. Handley|date=2006|publisher=[[Yale University Press]]|isbn=978-0-300-13059-1|pages=152–154|access-date=2021-06-16|archive-date=2022-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506232256/https://books.google.com/books?id=nDspKDZkgcQC|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote> This favoritism by Thai elites for the Dhammayuttika order is most apparent in the proportion of monastic titles given to senior ''bhikkhus''. While taking up only about six percent of the ''bhikkhus'' in Thailand, over half of Thailand's monastic titles and privileges have gone to Dhammayuttika ''bhikkhus'',<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/the-politics-of-thailand-s-buddhist-supreme-patriarch-7598378|title=The politics of Thailand's Buddhist Supreme Patriarch|work=[[Channel News Asia]]|access-date=2017-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907122424/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/the-politics-of-thailand-s-buddhist-supreme-patriarch-7598378|archive-date=2017-09-07|url-status=live}}</ref> and nine of the past thirteen [[Supreme Patriarch of Thailand|Supreme Patriarchs of Thailand]] have belonged to the Dhammayuttika order.

The preference by the Thai government and palace for Dhammayuttika has even led to the persecution of some high ranking [[Maha Nikaya]] ''bhikkhus'' who were seen as a threat to the Dhammayuttika hierarchy or the Thai government. The most famous case was the case of [[Phra Phimontham]], a high ranking Maha Nikaya ''bhikkhu'' known for his pro-democracy views and opposition to Dhammayuttika elitism, who was likely to become the next Supreme Patriarch of Thailand at the time.<ref name=":0" /> In 1962, Phra Phimontham was imprisoned and defrocked by Thailand's then [[Military dictatorship|military junta]] and widely defamed in the [[Media of Thailand|Thai media]] over several criminal charges. The scandal allowed the military junta to pass a Sangha reform act that further centralised the Thai Sangha's administration under Dhammayuttika control. Following a change in government, the various criminal charges against Phra Phimontham were later determined to have been false all along. In reality, the military junta persecuted Phra Phimontham for his political views and disseminated the false charges in the media in order to arrest him and limit his influence, and to consolidate its power over the Sangha.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

More recently, news analysts have described the actions of the [[National Council for Peace and Order|2014 military junta]] against [[Wat Phra Dhammakaya]] and [[Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen|Wat Paknam Bhasichareon]] as also being about the politics of these two Nikayas.<ref name="Economist 16040223">{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21695901-squabble-clergy-widens-thailands-dangerous-divides-men-alms?fsrc=scn%2Fle%2Fte%2Fpe%2Fed%2Fmenatalms|title=Men-at-alms|date=2 April 2016|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|access-date=20 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820111307/http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21695901-squabble-clergy-widens-thailands-dangerous-divides-men-alms?fsrc=scn%2Fle%2Fte%2Fpe%2Fed%2Fmenatalms|archive-date=20 August 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> From 2013-2017 the ''bhikkhu'' who was next in line for Supreme Patriarch was the Maha Nikaya ''bhikkhu'' [[Somdet Chuang Varapuñño]] of Wat Paknam Bhasicheroen.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-thailand-monks-idUKKCN0XJ0CJ|title=Devotees at Thai temple give alms to tens of thousands of Buddhist monks|last1=Tanakasempipat|first1=Patpicha|date=22 April 2016|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=20 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114044346/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-thailand-monks-idUKKCN0XJ0CJ|archive-date=14 November 2016|url-status=dead|last2=Kittisilpa|first2=Juarawee|editor-last=Lefevre|editor-first=Amy Sawitta|last3=Thepgumpanat|first3=Panarat|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Lok 20172">{{cite news|url=http://www.lokwannee.com/web2013/?p=259415|last=Yimprasert|first=Sutchachai|date=27 February 2017|work=Lok Wan Nee|access-date=13 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314152220/http://www.lokwannee.com/web2013/?p=259415|archive-date=14 March 2017|url-status=live|language=th|script-title=th:ธรรมกายในประวัติศาสตร์|trans-title=The history of Dhammakaya|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{refn|Prior to the change in the law in December 2016, the supreme patriarch was chosen from whoever was the most senior member of the [[Sangha Supreme Council]], who, at the time, was Somdet Chuang.<ref name="nationmultimedia">{{Cite news|title=Sangha Act set to pass|url=https://www.nationthailand.com/news/national/30303058|date=29 December 2016|newspaper=[[The Nation]]|access-date=31 December 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230213211/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30303058|archive-date=30 December 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>|group=note}} However, lawsuits involving Somdet Chuang and the affiliated Wat Phra Dhammakaya caused his appointment to be postponed and eventually withdrawn, with another candidate from the Dhammayuttika fraternity appointed instead. The lawsuits against Wat Phra Dhammakaya and Somdet Chuang were, in fact, eventually used as reasons by the junta to withdraw his nomination.<ref name="Nation 20172">{{cite news|url=https://www.nationthailand.com/news/breakingnews/30305856|title=Somdet Phra Maha Muneewong appointed new supreme patriarch|date=7 February 2017|work=The Nation|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208033235/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/breakingnews/30305856|archive-date=8 February 2017|url-status=live|url-access=limited|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nationthailand.com/news/national/30303058|title=Sangha Act set to pass|work=The Nation|access-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905053331/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30303058|archive-date=5 September 2017|url-status=live|language=en|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Wat Paknam was later cleared of all charges two days after Somdet Chuang's nomination was officially withdrawn.<ref>{{cite news|date=14 June 2017|title='สมเด็จช่วง-หลวงพี่แป๊ะ' พร้อมให้อภัย หลังอัยการไม่ฟ้อง คดี 'รถโบราณ'|trans-title=Somdet Chuang and Luang Phi Pae are willing to forgive, after prosecutor issued non-prosecution order in lawsuit vintage car|work=[[Prachatai]]|url=https://prachatai.com/journal/2017/06/71928|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224124001/https://prachatai.com/journal/2017/06/71928|archive-date=24 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=9 June 2017|title='ดีเอสไอ'แจ้ง'เจ้าคุณแป๊ะ'ไม่ฟ้องเด็ดขาดคดีเบนซ์|language=th|trans-title=DSI states that they will definitely not charge Chao Khun Pae {{bracket|anymore}} in the Mercedes lawsuit|work=[[Daily News (Thailand)|Daily News]]|url=https://www.dailynews.co.th/education/578798|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307025934/https://www.dailynews.co.th/education/578798|archive-date=7 March 2020}} [https://archive.st/archive/2020/1/www.dailynews.co.th/ezk5/www.dailynews.co.th/education/578798.html Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210020622/https://archive.st/archive/2020/1/www.dailynews.co.th/ezk5/www.dailynews.co.th/education/578798.html |date=2020-02-10 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=12 January 2017|script-title=th:สั่งไม่ฟ้องหลวงพี่แป๊ะคดีรถโบราณหรูสมเด็จช่วง ชี้ไม่มีหลักฐานรู้เห็นเอกชนเสียภาษีไม่ถูกต้อง|language=th|trans-title=Issuing non-prosecution order for Luang Phi Pae in lawsuit vintage car Somdet Chuang, no evidence of awareness of private company paying taxes incorrectly|work=[[Thai PBS]]|url=https://news.thaipbs.or.th/content/259470|access-date=21 January 2021|archive-date=11 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911115631/https://news.thaipbs.or.th/content/259470|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 7 February 2017, Prime Minister [[Prayut Chan-o-cha]] confirmed the appointment of [[Ariyavongsagatanana (Amborn Ambaro)|Somdet Phra Maha Muniwong]] as the 20th Supreme Patriarch of Thailand in a televised address. He was the abbott of [[Wat Ratchabophit]] and a leading member of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya order.<ref name="Nattaya">{{cite news |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/advanced/1198412/90-year-old-new-supreme-patriarch-is-much-loved-figure |title=90-year-old new Supreme Patriarch is much-loved figure |last=Chetchotiros |first=Nattaya |date=14 Feb 2017 |newspaper=Bangkok Post |access-date=2 Oct 2018 |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506232304/https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/advanced/1198412/90-year-old-new-supreme-patriarch-is-much-loved-figure |url-status=live }}</ref> The prime minister stated: "I submitted the names of five qualified monks for His Majesty to consider. On Monday night, I was informed His Majesty chose Somdet Phra Maha Muniwong."<ref name="Fernquest">{{cite news |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/advanced/1194432/somdet-phra-maha-muniwong-new-supreme-patriarch |title=Somdet Phra Maha Muniwong new Supreme Patriarch |last=Fernquest |first=Jon |date=7 Feb 2017 |newspaper=Bangkok Post |access-date=2 Oct 2018 |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506232301/https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/advanced/1194432/somdet-phra-maha-muniwong-new-supreme-patriarch |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the [[2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations|2017–18 Thai temple fraud investigations]], Anthropologist Jim Taylor described the arrests made during the investigations as the [[Network monarchy|"ruling palace regime"]] trying to consolidate traditional, central royalist power by eliminating several high-ranking Maha Nikaya ''bhikkhus'' and members of the [[Sangha Supreme Council]]. Taylor argues that this was done in order to ensure that the next Supreme Patriarch is also from the Dhammayuttika Nikaya, pointing to the junta's [[Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen#Appointment withdrawn (2015–17)|previous interference with the position]] in 2017 and that the suspects were all high-ranking non-royalist ''bhikkhus''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newmandala.org/whats-behind-purging-thai-sangha/|title=What's behind the 'purging' of the Thai sangha?|last1=Taylor|first1=Jim|date=8 June 2018|work=New Mandala|access-date=10 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141827/http://www.newmandala.org/whats-behind-purging-thai-sangha/|archive-date=2018-06-12|url-status=live}}</ref> In fact, in July 2018, the junta passed a law giving the Thai King the ability to select members of the [[Sangha Supreme Council]] instead of the monks. The alleged corruption within the Sangha from these investigations were cited as the reason for the change.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nationthailand.com/detail/national/30349413|title=King to appoint, oversee new Sangha council|work=The Nation|access-date=2018-07-25|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725063351/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30349413|archive-date=2018-07-25|url-status=live}}</ref>

== In Cambodia ==
[[File:Bour kry.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Samdech Preah Sanghareach Bour Kry, the current Supreme Patriarch of the Dhammayuttika Order of Cambodia]]

In 1855, King [[Norodom of Cambodia]] invited Preah Saukonn Pan, also referred to as Maha Pan, a [[Khmer people|Khmer]] bhikkhu educated in the Dhammayuttika Nikaya, to establish a branch of the Dhammayuttika order in Cambodia.{{sfn|Harris|2001|p=83}}{{sfn|Keyes|1994}} Maha Pan became the first [[Sangharaja]] of the Dhammayuttika lineage, residing at [[Wat Botum]], a new temple erected by the king specifically for Dhammayuttika ''bhikkhus''.{{sfn|Harris|2001|p=83}} The Cambodian order benefited from royal patronage but was also sometimes regarded with suspicion due to its ties to the Thai monarchy.{{sfn|Harris|2001|p=83}}

The Dhammayuttika order in Cambodia suffered greatly under the [[Khmer Rouge]], being particularly targeted because of its perceived ties to monarchy and a foreign nation, in addition to the Khmer Rouge's general repression of the Buddhist hierarchy in Cambodia.{{sfn|Harris|2001|p=84}} Between 1981 and 1991, the Dhammayuttika Nikaya was combined with the Cambodian Mohanikay in a unified Sangha system established under [[Vietnam]]ese domination.{{sfn|Harris|2001|p=75}} In 1991, King [[Norodom Sihanouk]] returned from exile and appointed the first new Dhammayuttika Sangharaja in ten years, effectively ending the policy of official unification.{{sfn|Harris|2001|p=75}} The Dhammayuttika continues to exist in Cambodia, though its ''bhikkhus'' constitute a very small minority. On issues such as the role of bhikkhu in [[HIV/AIDS]] treatment and education, the current Sangharaja, [[Bour Kry]] has adopted a more liberal position than the Mohanikay head [[Tep Vong]], but is less radical than that of certain [[Engaged Buddhism|Engaged Buddhist]] elements of the Mohanikay order.{{sfn|Harris|2001|p=87}}

== In Laos ==
{{Main|Buddhism in Laos#Rightist Attempt to Co-Opt the Sangha}}

== In Myanmar ==

The '''"Dhammayutti Nikāya Mahāyin Gaing"''' ({{langx|my|ဓမ္မယုတ္တိနိကာယမဟာရင်ဂိုဏ်း}}) or simply the "Mahayin Gaing" ({{langx|my|မဟာရင်ဂိုဏ်း}}), in Myanmar has its origins as "a late nineteenth-century Mon reform tradition [that] traces its lineage to the Thai Thammayut{{sic}} order."{{sfn|Buswell|Lopez|2013|p=309}} It is one of the [[Buddhist sects in Myanmar#the nine sects of Sangha|nine legally sanctioned monastic orders]] in Myanmar, under the 1990 Law Concerning Sangha Organizations.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Gutter |first1=Peter |year=2001 |title=Law and Religion in Burma |journal=Legal Issues on Burma Journal |publisher=Burma Legal Council |page=10 |issue=8 |url=http://www.blc-burma.org/pdf/liob/liob8.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314215506/http://www.blc-burma.org/pdf/liob/liob8.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-14 }}</ref>

{{Pie chart|[
  {"value": 633, "label": "[[Mon State|Mon]] $v"},
  {"value": 112, "label": "[[Kayin State|Kayin]] $v"},
  {"value": 75, "label": "[[Yangon Region|Yangon]] $v"},
  {"value": 3, "label": "[[Bago Region|Bago]] $v"}
]
| caption= Mahayin monks by origin, 2016
| thumb = right
| legend = true
| autoscale = true
}}

According to 2016 statistics published by the [[State Samgha Maha Nayaka Committee]], 823 monks belonged to this monastic order, representing 0.15% of all monks in the country, making it the second smallest legally-sanctioned monastic order.<ref name="mahana">{{Cite web|title=The Account of Wazo Samgha of All Sect, M.E 1377 (2016)|url=http://www.mahana.org.mm/en/religious-affairs/the-account-of-wazo-samgha-of-all-sect-m-e-1377-2016/|website=The State Samgha Maha Nayaka Committee|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref> With respect to geographic representation, the majority of Mahayin monks are based in [[Mon State]] (76.91%), followed by neighboring [[Kayin State]] (13.61%).<ref name="mahana"/> In 2016, the order had 79 [[Kyaung|monasteries]], mostly in Mon and Kayin States, representing 0.1% of the country's monasteries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=The Account Monasteries of All-Sect in 1377 (2016) |url=http://www.mahana.org.mm/en/religious-affairs/the-account-monasteries-of-all-sect-in-1377-2016/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=The State Samgha Maha Nayaka Committee |language=en-US}}</ref>

== In Indonesia ==
On October 23, 1976, [[Saṅgha Theravāda Indonesia]] (''Indonesian Theravāda Saṅgha'') was formed at the Mahā Dhammaloka Vihāra (now Tanah Putih Vihāra), [[Semarang]], Central Java. The Indonesian Theravāda Saṅgha was formed by monks who were not members of the Sangha that already existed in Indonesia at that time. The sangha organisation was founded by five Indonesian monks who came from the ordination line of the Thai [[Dhammayuttika Nikāya]], Bhikkhu Aggabalo, Bhikkhu Khemasarano, Bhikkhu Sudhammo, Bhikkhu Khemiyo, and Bhikkhu Ñaṇavutto.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wowor|first=Cornelis|title=Awal Sangha Theravada Indonesia|url=https://samaggi-phala.or.id/sangha-theravada-indonesia/sekilas-sti/awal-sangha-theravada-indonesia-2/|website=Samaggi Phala|access-date=2024-02-18}}</ref> The historic event was also witnessed by two Thai Dhammadutas, namely Bhante Suvirayan (now Phra Dhamchetiyachan) and Bhante Sombat Pavitto (now Phra Vidhurdhammabhorn) who were ordained at [[Wat Bowonniwet]], that is the center of the Dhammayuttika order.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sangha Theravada Indonesia|title=Sejarah STI|url=https://sanghatheravadaindonesia.or.id/sejarah-sti/|website=Sangha Theravada Indonesia|access-date=2024-02-18}}</ref>

In addition, there is also the [[Sangha Theravāda Dhammayut Indonesia|Saṅgha Theravāda Dhammayut Indonesia]] that is headed directly by the Thai superiors of the Dhammayuttika ordination line.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ana |first=Surahman |date=2023-07-08 |title=Sangha Theravada Dhammayut Indonesia Bahas Perkembangan Agama Buddha Indonesia |url=https://buddhazine.com/sangha-theravada-dhammayut-indonesia-bahas-perkembangan-agama-buddha-indonesia/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=Buddhazine |language=id}}</ref>

== Notes ==
<references group="note" />

== See also ==
*[[Nikāya]]
*[[Maha Nikaya]]
*[[Sangharaja]]
*[[Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia]]
*[[Supreme Patriarch of Thailand]]
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Citation|last1=Buswell|first1=Robert|author-link1=Robert Buswell Jr.|last2=Lopez|first2=Donald S.|author-link2=Donald S. Lopez, Jr.|title=The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-fWKngEACAAJ|year=2013|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-0-691-15786-3|access-date=2016-09-27|archive-date=2016-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227171339/https://books.google.com/books?id=-fWKngEACAAJ|url-status=live}}
*{{Citation  | last = Harris  | first = Ian  | title = Sangha Groupings in Cambodia  | journal = Buddhist Studies Review  | volume = 18  | issue = I  | pages = 65–72  | date = August 2001 | doi = 10.1558/bsrv.v18i1.14469 | s2cid = 247890925 | doi-access = free  }}
*{{Citation  | last = Keyes  | first = Charles F.  | chapter = Communist Revolution and the Buddhist Past in Cambodia  | title = Asian Visions of Authority: Religion and the Modern States of East and Southeast Asia  | pages = 43–73  | publisher = University of Hawaii Press  | place = Honolulu, HI  | year = 1994 }}
* {{Citation|last=Taylor|first=J. L.|title=Forest Monks and the Nation-state: An Anthropological and Historical Study in Northeastern Thailand|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ReIvQpaqwPUC|year=1993|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies|isbn=978-981-3016-49-1|access-date=2016-09-27|archive-date=2021-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225113825/https://books.google.com/books?id=ReIvQpaqwPUC|url-status=live}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* [https://dhammayut.org/ Dhammayut.org]
* [https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/index.html Thai Forest Tradition]
* [https://www.hermitary.com/articles/thudong.html Thudong Tradition]
* [https://www.forestsangha.org/ Forest Sangha]
* [http://www.kammatthana.com/ Kammatthana]
* [http://www.luangpumun.org/relic/relic.html Ajaan Mun Relics]

{{Theravada Buddhist orders}}
{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Religion in Thailand}}
{{Religion in Myanmar}}
{{Buddhism in Cambodia|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Theravada Buddhist orders]]
[[Category:Schools of Buddhism founded in Thailand]]
[[Category:Buddhism in Cambodia]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1833]]
[[Category:1833 establishments in Siam]]
[[Category:Religious organisations based in Cambodia]]