User:Truworthy/sandbox/Acharavadee Wongsakon

Master [Acharavadee Wongsakon] Tan Ajan is a Thai Buddhist Vipassana Meditation Master who teaches an advanced form of Vipassana Mediation called Techo Vipassana Meditation. Tan Ajan Acharavadee, teaches this method to laypersons and ordained buddhist monks at various Techo Vipassana centers throughout Thailand. Master Acharavadee is a deeply devote Buddhist, who has become a matriarchal voice of morality in the Kingdom of Thailand and Internationallyly, with her Knowing Buddha Organization and campaigns raising global awareness, about the misuse of Buddha’s image and the decline of morality in society. Master Acharavadee’s through the KBO foundation is also raising awareness about Climate change, resulting from the rapid expansion of cloud storage of data, used to store the ever growing amounts of data created by a surge of smart phone selfies and other data worldwide. Storing this mountain of data represents and ever increasing percentage of total world electricity consumption.

Biography
(Master) Acharavadee Wongsakon (Tan Ajan) ( A cha ra va dee Wong sa Kon), was born in Bangkok Thailand September 28, 1965, she is a Thai Buddhist Vipassana Meditation Master best known for her efforts in protecting Buddhism and raising awareness about the declining morality in Thailand and globally. Master Acharavdee believes that raising global morality, can lead to the cessation of many of the world’s most difficult problems. Acharavadee is an award winning business woman and Thai socialite. Acharavadee Wongsakon, established herself and company as a premier player in the Asian diamond jewelry design business, developing and basing her brand Saint Tropez Diamond out of Bangkok Thailand. Ms. Acharavadee took up mediation practice to help cope with the stresses of business life and celebrity. Vipassana Mediation practice lead Acharavadee to withdraw herself from the social stage and business world.

Acharavadee sold her company, using the money to open the School of Life, a school for children, where she became a Dhamma teaching children for free. Master Acharavadee established the Knowing Buddha Organization, a non-profit organization. Tan Ajan Acharavadee Wongsakon, through the Knowing Buddha Organization, works on protecting the use of Buddha’s image worldwide. “Respect is Common Sense” is the slogan of the organization, which views Buddha as the father of the Buddhist religion. Acharavadee, during 2006 visit to Buddha bar in Paris, witnessed the disrespect of the Image of Buddha in a popular night club,  which prompted her to establish The Knowing Buddha Organization (KBO) to  raise global awareness that Buddha is the father of the Buddhist religion and Buddha’s image should not be treated as decoration or used to promote the sale of alcohol. Some of the companies Knowing Buddha has cooperated with to stop the misuse of Buddha images as decoration are; Louis Vuitton and Disney Pictures. < Other campaigns promoted by Acharavadee and the Knowing Buddha Organization is to bring awareness to the problem of accelerated climate change, resulting from the overuse of cloud storage globally, fueled by selfie photos and exponential increase in cloud data storage on platforms such a Instagram and Facebook. Estimates are that by 2025 to use 1/5th world electrical consumption from cloud storage will reach 20% of total consumption. Acharavadee is known in the Kingdom of Thailand as voice on morality in society. Tan Ajan and represents a matriarchal voice for Morality in Thai society and encourages people to pay their fair share of taxes to give back to the country that supports peoples’ lives and maintain a high moral code of conduct. Master Acharavadee is a bestselling author in Thailand and publishing both in Thai and English language books on Buddhism and Morality. Most notable works, “Awaken from the Madness” and “Top Ideas in Buddhism”. Tan Ajan has become a controversial figure in Thailand, having publicly criticized some Buddhist Thai clergy for not adhering to the strict Buddhist practices and conduct. This lead to Master Acharavadee being disparaged in the media by some of the male dominated Buddhist establishment.

As a woman and a layperson in Thai culture and Buddhism, Acharavadee espouses that people can reach liberation through Mind purification mindfulness, a direct challenge to the interests of long established thai temples and faith their monopoly.

Reports in the media alleged Master Acharvadee was acting superior to Buddhist monk. As females in Thai culture are considered to be below Monks. False allegations that Master Acharavadees student monks had bowed to respect her caused a Media uproar. The act of a monk bowing to any female is considered taboo in Buddhist and Thai culture.

Master Acharavadee has also been criticized for her method of Techo Vipassana Meditation technique. Acharavadee’s detractors argue that where S.N. Goenka Vipassana mediation, is based on a method passed down through generations, Acharvadee’s Techo Vipassana meditation is new or at best a rediscovered technique,  with no clear written reference in history. Acharavadee detractors argue that this lack of historical mention in Buddhist writings of the Techo Vipassana technique should disqualify and discredit Tan Ajan Acharavadee teaching methods. Some have gone so far as to labeled Acharvadee's Techo Vipassana mediation centers as a cult. These allegations were stopped, when National Office of Buddhism investigated and later endorsed Tan Ajan Acharvadee Wongsakon and her foundation, Knowing Buddha Organization. An top official of Mahamakut Buddhist University subsequently practiced Techo Vipassana Mediation under Tan Ajan, confirming this method as a correct path to Enlightenment. Acharavadee’s Climate Control campaign is aimed at reducing the global storage of unnecessary photos and computer data which threatens Climate Change generated daily by  the billions of Instagram and Facebook users.

Early Life
Acharavadee Wongsakon was born to Mr. Chaiyong and Mrs. Somjit Wongsakon, on September 28, 1965 in Bangkok Noi District, Bangkok. Acharavadee enjoyed a simple upbringing Thai Family style in the Kingdom of Thailand near the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. Educated in public schools She attended Suwannaramwittayakom School and Sripatum University.

Career
Acharavadee Wongsakon In 2005, became an award winning jewelry designer and business personality, establishing the Saint Tropez Diamond Company in Bangkok, and selling collection of high fashion jewelry inspired by the luxury and unique style of  Saint Tropez France. Wongskon’s collections caused a sensation in Asia, catapulting her and her company to overnight success and thrust her into the social limelight.[ref] Acharavadee was Listed by Thailand Thatler Magazine for 5 years consecutively as one of 500 leading business persons of the year from 2003 -2007.

Due to the demands and stresses of her business and new found celebrity, Acharavadee practiced Vipassana meditation under the principle of Master S.N.Goenka for 6 years.

Meditations / Buddhism
Master Acharavadee credits Vipassana mediation with awakening her from the madness and realize there was more to life than of her business and social status.

In 2008 Acharavadee decided to sell her business and quietly withdraw from social life to devote her life to teaching morality and practicing meditation.

Acharavadee renounced her social status by selling her designer clothing and jewelry, vowing to live a simple layperson life without the trappings addiction to wealth or status. Tan Ajan continued her rigorous meditation practice and dedicated herself to promoting Buddhism and contributing to society.

With proceeds from the sale of her business, Acharavadee purchased land in central Bangkok and established the School of Life Foundation,  teaching Dhamma  to children and teenagers without any charge. She taught children the importance of morality and to always rely their own experiences in life, instead of memorizing from words in textbooks.

Acharavadee guided her students with the correct way of living and with right view towards the world. Acharavadee’s teachings at School of Life captured the interest of many in Thai society, eventually leading Tan Ajan to open Mediation centers throughout Thailand aimed at teaching adult students these same values.

In 2011 Master Acharavadee Wongsakon began to the Techo Vipassana technique to students. After nine years rigorous Vipassana meditation practice, Acharavadee established Techo Vipassana Dhamma Path. Acharavadee sold the rest of her worldly possessions and purchased land at the foothills of Phra Phutthabat Noi in Kaeng Koi District, Saraburi Province, Thailand where she established her first Techo Vipassana retreat. Techo Vipassana is meditation practice that follows the Four Foundations of Mindfulness practice, using the technique of igniting the fire element i n the body to burn down Kilesa ( mental impurities).

Master Acharavadee credits the late Somdej Phra Puttajarn Toh Phrommarangsi (SomdejToh) for teaching her this technique during one of her mediations. Phra Somdej Toh [link wiki] is a highly revered Thai monk, known among Thais for his kindness, wisdom and supernatural powers.

This technique uses focused meditation using mindfulness and the body’s fire element burn away mental impurities (Kilesa) Master Acharavadee teaches this method as a direct shortcut that leads to the end of cycle of rebirth Nirvana [2]

Master Acharavadee dedicated the Techo Vipassana retreat to Triple Gem of Buddhism. Tan Ajan teaches Techo Vipassana Meditation and Dhamma to domestic and foreign students for free providing them food and accommodation also free of charge. The first Techo Vipassana course was held on January 25, 2011 and continues to held regularly.

By 2018 Master Acharavadee had taught over 134 courses over 7 years to over 7,000 mediation practitioners. Both Thais and foreigners, ascetics, laypersons, have attended and completed Master Acharavadee’s courses.

In 2014 Master Acharavadee established the 5000s Magazine, with the idea that there should be a magazine for modern Buddhists demonstration that Dhammaa and a modern lifestyle can be complimentary to each other. The magazine presents images examples and teachings for modern Buddhism in today’s society. The magazine is meant to inspire readers to live their lives appropriately and with morality in order maximize the quality of their lives at every level.

2018 Acharavadee established another meditation center “Sang dhamma Bodhi Jhana” in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. Dr. Prai Pattano, after one of her students donated the land with a large wooden building to be used as a meditation retreat. Anapanasati and Techo Vipassana meditation courses are provided for people in the southern part of Thailand, as a means to spread Dhamma southern part of Thailand known for its religious conflict. The first meditation course held in October 2018.

Published Books
Master Acharavadee Wongsakon is best selling  Thai and International author. Her books include Thai and English titles publishing since 2005

Thai Language Titiles

•  Tired Out But Not Fall down, Date: 5/2005, 224 Pages, Thai, ISBN 974-93056-8-X | •	The last Dhamma Boat, Date: 5/2005, 144 Pages, Thai, ISBN 974-93531-7-X (paperback)| •	Observing moral precepts before it is too late, Date: 3/2008, 185 Pages, Thai, ISBN 9789749898864 (paper back)| •	Techo Vipassana Meditation, a gate opening to Nirvana, 2010, 228 Pages, Thai, ISBN 9786169110187 (paperback) •	Vipassana Meditation to kill impurities. Date: 3/2011, 104 Pages, Thai, ISBN 9789744968760 (paperback) •	Know It And Fight Date: 5/2012, 216 Pages, Thai, ISBN 9786169110101 (paperback) •	Enlightened Layperson (Breaking The Code), 3/2016, 340 pages, Thai, ISBN 9786169110170 (paperback) •	Enlightened Layperson II Date: 7/2017, 426 pages, Thai, ISBN 9786168125007 (paperback)

English Language Titiles

•	1.	Top Ideas in Buddhism and Famous Stories in Buddha's Time, Date: 09/2018, 208 Pages, English, ISBN	9786168125069 •	2.	Awaken from the Madness Date: 12/2018, 360 Pages, English, ISBN 974-93531-7-X (paperback)

Other Works
5000s Magazine is a Bilingual (Thai / English) High quality Magazine, developed for Thai and English speaking Buddhists and others to show Buddhist a representations of a modern Lifestyle which combines morality and Dhamma. The magazine through photos, interviews and stories gives readers an illustration for living their life with morality and Buddhist faith, in a fast paced modern thai society.

Organizations
School of Life Foundation - Founded by Master Acharavadee in 2006

Knowing Buddha Organization (KBO) - Founded by Master Acharavadee in 2010

Techo Vipassana Retreats Founded by Master Acharavadee in 2011