A religious center, Chulalongkorn University Dharma Center, was founded over thirty years ago by Professor Emeritus Dr. Rawee Pawilai, National Artist in Literature (2006).  He was an expert in astronomy, philosophy, and religions, and the first director of the Dharma Center. 

Chulalongkorn University Dharma Center was dedicated as a non-religion-specific venue for religious ceremonies, education, and activities as part of the university’s mission to build a both educated and moral community.  As Buddhism is practiced by 95% of the Thai population, the extensive academic activities initiated and carried out by Dharma Center gravitate toward the religion with the purpose to broaden and deepen understanding of the body of knowledge on Buddhism as a service to the community, and a mean to preserve the heritage, strengthen the identity, while creating an understanding of the diversity of faiths in the society.  

The records of these activities conducted by Dr. Pawilai, faculty members, and numerous revered monks are stored in forms of cassette and VHS tapes, which are severely dated and rapidly decaying.  As the records are of significance to the history of the university and the community, it is important for the university to convert the records and store them in digital formats in order to serve as religious and cultural resources of the university and the nation. 

In addition to digitization of the analog media, Chula Dharma Center also built a database of information and a comprehensive and efficient online query system for scholars in the field of religion and culture and the general public.  Upon the completion of the first phase on August 26, 2020, Dharma Center has digitized and entered onto the database 10,408 minutes of records from cassette and VHS tapes.  The second phase is currently underway and has digitized approximately 5,000 minutes at the time of the preparation of this document (August 2021).

The following is some examples of the lectures on analog audio-visual media by Professor Emeritus Dr. Rawee Pawilai that have been digitized:

  • Basics of Great Dhamma (Abhidhamma Pitaka): Bodhipakkhiyādhammā, Satipatthana, Seven Factors of Awakening, Nirvana, Noble Eightfold Path, Pratītyasamutpāda, Five Hindrances
  • Buddhism and Science
  • Sciences and Black Magic
  • Buddhism and Astrology
  • Survival of the Nation in Views of Dhamma Practitioners
  • Analyzing the World and Life: Soul and Emotions

Professor Emeritus Dr. Rawee Pawilai,
National Artist in Literature (2006) and
Science (Astronomy)
Fellow of The Royal Society of Thailand. 

He had acclaimed research in astronomy, authored and translated over twenty titles of books on astronomy, philosophy, and religions.