Buddhist monks at the Dhammakaya Meditation Center plan to improve their efforts to spread inner peace throughout the world with an upcoming expansion of their headquarters in southwest Morgan Hill.

City officials have approved a 2,900 square foot, two-story building to be constructed on the same propertylocated at the corner of Llagas Road and Hale Avenuethat already includes a 9,000 square foot center. The new portion will house the five monks who practice and teach at the center.

The monks hope to to donate existing playground equipment on the 1.62-acre site, formerly owned by Shadow Mountain Baptist Church, to a school or daycare facility in Morgan Hill that is in need of such equipment, according to Phra (Monk) Piya Piyawajako.

Originally from Thailand, the monks at the Morgan Hill center moved to the local facility about 18 months ago, Piyawajako said. Before that they practiced and taught at a small home in Saratoga, but had to expand due to the growth of their congregation. Members and regular attendees of the Dhammakaya center come from throughout the Bay Area.

The monks plan to begin construction on their new residence by this summer. They will continue to invite anyone interested in meditation to the center during construction and after the expansion is complete.

The Morgan Hill center is one of about 20 Dhammakaya Meditation Centers in the U.S. devoted to teaching the Middle Way meditation first practiced by the Buddha in ancient times and rediscovered by The Great Master Phramongkolthepmuni more than 100 years ago, Piyawajako explained.

We are spreading the knowledge of meditation to many continents, Piyawajako said. Chanting and meditation make the mind peaceful, cleanse depression and eliminate feelings of negativity of the mind. If you have a good mind, your body will be healthy too.

The five Buddhist monks operating the center believe that global peace can be achieved only when individuals are at peace with themselves, and meditation helps reach that individual goal.

Daily chanting and silent meditation sessions at the center, located at 280 Llagas Road, are open to anyone, Piyawajako added. A weekly meditation class on Saturdays takes place from 3 to 4:30 p.m., and practitioners of other forms of meditation are welcome to attend to learn the Middle Way method.

Up to 40 people attend the daily sessions and Saturday classes, Piyawajako said.

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Spreading peace through meditation