While many are searching for peace outside, we believe that world peace MUST begin from each and everyone of us. That is why we promote the use of meditation in order to help individuals cultivate peace from within.
Open to men of all ethnicities and backgrounds, the European Ordination Program provides the opportunity to learn about Buddhism and a monk's way of life. Taking part in the experience will aid in the cultivation of one's inner peace.
The Dhammakaya Foundation is a non-profit organisation, based on personal development, aiming to promote activities for the restoration of morality in individuals, families, societies, and the world.
The ordination program for 2026 will be held in in Wat Phra Dhammakaya Belgium, between 8th-28th June 2026.
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8-13 June | Registration and first week of training |
| 14 June | Ordination day |
| 15-21 June | Training in the monk's life |
| 22-28 June | Retreat in Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany (optional) |
| 29 June onwards | Local temple stay or in Belgium dependent on assessment (optional) |
The European Ordination Program (EOP) has been established by the vision of Luang Por Dhammajayo, the Abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, to introduce Buddhism to the people in Europe, and others around the world. The program was organized for the first time in 2013 at Wat Phra Dhammakaya Belgium. Many participants in Europe from different countries such as England, Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Italy, Malta, Austria, and Switzerland joined the program. When it concluded, all were very satisfied with the program, and many had the intention to join the same program again the following year.
The European committee, consisting of 29 branches of Wat Phra Dhammakaya decided to organise the program every year. Subsequently, more and more participants in Europe have joined and participated in the EOP.
The EOP provides the opportunity for all qualified persons in Europe who have interest in studying the Dhamma of the Buddha, to use the knowledge they learn and practice from the program to benefit their lives with more happiness and prosperity.
In the program, all participants have the opportunity to learn about the Theravada Buddhist monk's life, to train themselves with the Buddhist disciplines and Buddhist cultures, to practice meditation, to study a variety of Buddhist Dhamma topics, and to understand more about the Theravada Buddhist monk's life. The course of study in the program has been continuously well-developed from the beginning up until the present, by becoming more efficient in training those who are not raised as Buddhists, enabling them to learn and apply the teachings in this short period of time after the program is concluded.
We therefore would like to invite all qualified persons for The Theravada-Monk Ordination to join the EOP again this year.
Qualifications for those who would like to join the program are:
Thank you for your interest in The EOP and we look forward to your participation.
The ordination program for 2026 will be held in in Wat Phra Dhammakaya Belgium, between 8th-28th June 2026.
You will need to memorise some text for the ordination ceremony:
Click on the button below and fill out the form to apply for the ordination program.
Apply