Dr. Pawithai Vajiravijjo (LPMP)

Picture Story

Founder's background — Dr. Pawithai Vajiravijjo (LPMP).

Dual identity: medical doctor and meditation teacher.

Key turning points.

At eighteen, in his first year of medical school, he encountered Buddhism. "If my father had not made me become a doctor, I would have wanted to be an engineer. I did seventeen years of volunteer work helping the monks. I like to create, I like to develop, I like to help others."

At forty, he ordained. "I do not want to be a special person. I want to live simply. Every day, I can sleep peacefully. This is my life — having helped many people. I enjoy doing things, not showing off how important I am."

Core philosophy.

"We live in a world where too many people are selfish. People only think about me, me, me — what about others? No, no, I don't care. First know myself."

"Rather than trying to put others down to lift yourself up, see that every belief, every stage of life, should have its bright side."

"In today's world of war, the problem is that we have fallen into the swamp of zero-sum thinking. One side wins, the other side loses. But the Buddha tells us — no, that is not how it is. Everyone is a winner."

Architecture as labyrinth — a philosophy learned from nature.

Dr. LPMP's design inspiration came from a reverse reading of the wildlife safari park: "Animals locked in cages die of sorrow. So humans came up with another idea — lock the humans in cages, and let the animals roam free. Later they discovered that every animal will try to find its own corner, but will leave one main space for shared purpose."

The spatial logic of the Pa Pae centre follows the same pattern: "People often get lost in the centre of town. That is why we arrange orientation tours. Once you come here, once you settle in, it is like a labyrinth — you will stay here forever."