Mahapanya Vidayalai is a recently established institute, under the auspices of the Theravada Sangha and the Mahayana Annam Elders of Thailand. Mahapanya Vidayalai offers a bachelor's degree program in Buddhist Studies, using English as a medium of instruction. The college is affiliated with Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. All successful graduates will be awarded a B.A. degree. Mahapanya Vidayalai was launched emphasizing her objective to cultivate mankind's wisdom with the aid of Buddha Dhamma and to lead them into the realm of peace and bliss. MPV has started with the Faculty of Buddhist Study, accommodating overseas and local students. Upon launching, MPV has clearly stated within her plan to provide teachings on Buddha Dhamma and emphasize the teaching both theoretically and practically. MPV has organized meditation courses for students which enable students to practice Buddha Dhamma through the actual practice. With long and ceaseless promotion on these courses coupled with their academic curriculum, students would then be able to master the right skill and knowledge to propagate Buddha Dhamma through both theoretical and practical ways and hence, promote the efficiency in educating the commonality.
Objective
In favor of attaining international standards and accomplishing the objective and missions, MPV formulated her first five-year development plan. This plan is drafted with the assistance of nearly 200 monks and laymen professors from all fields. Their suggestions were bound, analyzed and made compilation into a major objective and seven missions. The objective of MPV is applying the doctrine of Buddha as the basis, adopting Asia as the center of development, embracing the peace and harmony of human society as her development of Buddhist undertakings uninterruptedly.
History
MPV was founded by the chief patriarch of Anamikaya, in collaborated with the Mahayana and Theravada schools of Buddhism, with the support of Somdet Phrabuddhacarya. During the Ratanakosin Dynasty, Anamikaya Sangha started traveling from Vietnam to Thailand and propagated Buddhism here. King Rama the fifth bestowed Anamikaya the legality and the title of nobility, under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Patriarch in Thailand. However, there are only Thai and Chinese ordained as Anamikaya Sangha at present. The chief patriarch of Anamikaya places very high importance in education and has sacrificed his entire life in educational works. In the year B.E. 2532, he founded Kusonsamakorn Vidayalai School and soon constructed a seven-storeyed teaching block at a cost of more than 30 million baht. Next, he raised 15 million baht for the use of education funding. He once said: "In my lifetime, I must be able to see the establishment of the Buddhist University which is within my forty years of planning." Later, his proposal to set up a Buddhist university at Anamikayaram Temple, Bangkok was affirmed during the Anamikayaram Temple meeting. This is an ideal venue for establishing a university because Anamikayaram Temple is next to the Chaophaya River. However, the abbot of this temple refused to co-operate. Since then, this plan was forced to a halt; the chief patriarch searched for a new location unceasingly. In launching MPV, chief patriarch of Anamikaya is keeping with absolute faith. After discussing with Somdet Phrabuddhacarya about instituting MPV, a conference was convened by MCU and the representatives of Anamikaya on 5 March 2002 at Wat Sraket, Bangkok. This conference was presided cover by Somdet Phrabuddhacarya and was concluded that the university to be launched at the affiliated land of Wat Thawornwararam, Hat Yai, Songkhla, which has been bestowed the name of Mahapanya Vidayalai by Somdet Phrabuddhacarya. Since then, chief patriarch of Anamikaya has assigned his secretary Venerable Ongpotjanagongsol the chief Administrator to supervise all issues with regards to the developing of MPV. Venerable Ongpotjanagongosol started associating with members of Sangha overseas like Singapore, China, Taiwan, and Vietnam to foster the establishment of MPV and to act and abide by the procedures of MCU's constitution. The prior objective of MPV is to furnish higher education for both local and foreign Sangha. The university started the first academic term on 10 June 2002 with students from China, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan and the local, using English as the teaching media for all subjects. Since 2002, MPV has been welcoming monks both domestic and international; so far 16 of them have graduated.
Current Status
MPV has evolved over the years both in infrastructure and in academic affairs; as of 2018-2019, 70 students have graduated. As 2019-2020 semester opens in March, MPV is looking forward to accommodating the entire students in its newly built multipurpose building which is fully furnished with the state-of-the-art facilities and amenities. Under its umbrella MPV also runs a high school for the novices and a center for carrying out dharma activities such as week-long meditation courses and conducting of major Thai and Buddhist ceremonies and events.
