Master Acharavadee Wongsakon, a meditation Master from Thailand, left a business and high-society life to dedicate herself to the teaching of meditation, aiming to Awaken global morality and consciousness.
Esteemed not only for her spiritual guidance but also as a best-selling author, Master Acharavadee has written several books in English. Awaken From Madness)
The Master teaches an advanced meditation technique called Techo-vipassana, or “Fire Meditation”. Alongside this, participants receive teachings Dhamma during her courses.
For those in Thailand unable to attend her courses but keen to meet the Master, they’re welcome to pay their respects on the last Saturday following each course at 2 pm. Prior confirmation and further details can be obtained from the office. Please ensure you’re dressed modestly when visiting. (see course calendar)
Master Acharavadee Wongsakon is the founder and president of the School of Life Foundation and Knowing Buddha Organization for Protecting Buddhism (KBO). She started Dhamma teaching in the School of Life which was very successful and recognized as one among five top Dhamma teaching schools at that time.
After rigorous Vipassana practice for more than 30,000 hours, Master Acharavadee Wongsakon started Vipassana Meditation teaching at Bodhidhammayan Meditation Retreat in Kaeng Khoi District, Saraburi. Apart from Dhamma teaching work, she has been dedicating to work for the revival of Buddhism by awakening the public conscience in their duty and responsibility to protect the Buddha and Buddhism from disrespectful acts by those who do not understand.
At present, she teaches Vipassana Meditation at Bodhidhammayan Meditation Retreat regularly and at other Dhamma Centers from time to time. She determines to dedicate her life to protect Buddhism as well as teaching Dhamma to people for them to understand the true meaning of Dhamma.
Master Acharavadee Wongsakon is now 59 years old. She was born on September 28,1965 in Bangkok Noi District, Bangkok, as the second child of Mr. Chaiyong and Mrs. Somjit Wongsakon, with one brother – Mr. Worawit Wongsakon.
After her secondary and high school at Suwannaram Wittayakom School, she continued her study in Business Administration and graduated with a Bachelor Degree from Sripatum University, Bangkok.
Master Acharavadee Wongsakon had worked with several mass communication companies such as CBS Record Co., Ltd. She also worked as a music critic and a columnist, introducing new international artists for the music book named IS Song Hits. She later joined the advertising department of Investor Magazine and then owned an advertisement and print materials production company and also a company named Andaman Film.
In 2000, she established St.Tropez Diamond Co., Ltd., with a jewelry boutique. The company was renowned for the extraordinary jewelry design and fashion show events for the launch of each collection. She became successful and famous businesswoman, highly recognized in the society and received several awards such as Excellent Businesswoman Award, Award in Honor for Morality, Award for Positive Thinking Woman. In 2005, she received the Boss of the Year award in the category of jewelry and accessories business. With her outstanding success, she was listed among 500 top leading persons of the year in Thailand Tatler Magazine for five years consecutively.
In 2006, she founded the School of Life Foundation with tens of million baht out of her own pocket, with an aim to strengthen morality among children and young adults through Dhamma principles laid out by the Buddha. It was highly successful with very good response from society.
Later, in 2011, she established Bodhidhammayan Meditation group. After her extensive Vipassana meditation practice according to Master S.N. Goenka, one day she learned from a highly revered Buddhist monk, Somdej Phra Puttajarn (Toh Prommarangsri) through a mind-to-mind communication, the practicing technique to use fire element to burn impurities (kilesa) in the mind. Based on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness (mindfulness of the body, feelings, mind and Dhamma), she followed this technique and attained Dhamma insight at the Ultimate Truth level. She therefore wished to teach this technique to those who are interested to practice Vipassana Meditation.
In 2014, she started the 5000s Magazine with the purpose to show that Dhamma world and material world are not separate issues. The more we have Dhamma in our mind, the clearer our lifestyle is. The magazine provides Dhamma knowledge along with proper living so readers can understand the meaning of balance, then will be inspired to live their lives in harmony.
In 2017, another Dhamma retreat was established – Saeng Dhamma Bodhiyan Meditation Retreat in Hat Yai, Songkhla. The land together with the building was given by Mr. Prai Pattano, the former mayor of Hat Yai who is a dedicated Techo Vipassana meditator. It was meant to be the Dhamma center for the Southern part of Thailand, to teach meditation practice at all levels. The first course commenced in October 2018.
Master Acharavadee Wongsakon had written several bestselling books, starting from 2005.
Exhausted…But Never Fall : May 2005, 224 pages, Thai
The Last Dhamma Boat : May 2005, 114 pages, Thai, ISBN 974-93531-7-X (paperback)
Hold the Precepts…Before It’s Too Late : March 2008, 185 pages, Thai, ISBN: 9789749898864 (paperback)
Techo Vipassana, a Gate Opening to Nirvana : 2010, 228 pages, Thai, ISBN: 9786169110187 (paperback)
Vipassana Meditation…Killing Impurities : March 2011, 104 pages, Thai, ISBN: 9789744968760 (paperback)
Know It…Then Go for It : May 2012, 216 pages, Thai, ISBN: 9786169110101 (paperback)
Know It…Then Go for It II : January 2012, 263 pages, Thai, ISBN: 9786169110125 (paperback)
Awaken from Madness I : March 2016, 340 pages, Thai, ISBN: 9786169110170 (paperback)
Awaken from Madness II : July 2017, 426 pages, Thai, ISBN: 9786168125007 (paperback)
The Unspoken Truth of Climate Crisis : March 2019, 296 pages, Thai, ISBN 9786168125076 (paperback)
Top Ideas in Buddhism and Famous Stories in Buddha’s Time : September 2018, 208 pages, English, ISBN 9786168125069
Awaken from Madness : November 22, 2023 English, ISBN 974-93531-7-X (paperback)
In addition to Dhamma teaching and writing, Master Acharavadee Wongsakon had established Knowing Buddha Organization for Protecting Buddhism (KBO) in 2012. The objective of the organization is to stop disrespecting acts toward the Buddha images and symbols.
KBO had a written agreement with the National Office of Buddhism, Thailand for cooperation in the campaigns to provide knowledge to prevent and stop disrespectful acts toward the Buddha images and symbols in Thailand and international level. This is because the Buddha images and symbols which should be highly revered with gratitude and respect have been used and devalued as commercial objects in the form of “Buddhist Arts” for decorative items or furniture.
Not only we protect Buddhism, But we awaken the morality of mankind.
Master Acharavadee Wongsakon
