VEDTÆGTER For menigheden:
THE NATURAL FOREST MONASTERY in RANDERS
§ 1. Name and location
The Natural Forest Monastery in Randers
Randersvej 79
8940 Randers SV, Denmark
Cvr: 40089233
The location is in the Favrskov Municipality.
§ 2. Purpose PCS.
The Congregation/Association is a not-for-profit organisation. Any income derived from running the Congregation/Association will be used to maintain the Association and its assets and to help charitable
projects in the community.
The purpose of the congregation/Association is: To establish an independent Faith Society / congregation,
for the spread of Theravada Buddhism in Denmark and run a vegetarian Buddhist temple for this purpose.
To teach and carry out the teachings of Buddhism and to learn, to live according to the teachings and
wisdom of the Buddha and the 4 noble truths as well as the 8 fold noble path, to become a better and
more tolerant human being and thereby achieve better karma in the afterlife.
To hold daily prayer meetings/services, where as part of the service, monks are offered food no later
than 11a.m. As well as prayer meetings in the evening, perhaps followed by meditation.
To hold and keep ”Buddha days”, to feed the monk and receive blessings as well as forgiveness from
the deceased.
To facilitate the Thai integration into Danish society and the preservation of Thai cultural values, and to
promote insight into Thai culture among other Danes and other nationalities, into meditation and the
lifestyle and philosophy of Buddhism.
To teach the children with a Thai parent, as well as his spouse, the teachings and wisdom of the Buddha,
as well as how to live by the rules laid out by the Buddha, how to honor the Buddha and the monk,
as well as other people, by living by these rules. The purpose of the congregation is to ensure a
gathering place for Buddhists and interested guests, as well as to run a temple for Theravada
Buddhists in Denmark.
To facilitate the Thais' integration into Danish society and the preservation of Thai cultural values.
PCS. 1a. Buddhism goes beyond religion, is also a philosophy of a way of life, as "loving wisdom", the
Buddhist thought is:
PCS. 1 b. To live a moral life.
PCS. 1c. To be mindful and aware of thoughts and action.
PCS. 1 d. To develop wisdom and understanding. Buddhists should not worship idols nor to pray
for services, but to show respect for the Buddha and his “image”.
A statue of Buddha with his hands gently in his lap, and a compassionate smile, reminds us
to strive to develop ourselves with peace and love for ourselves.
To bow to the Buddha statue or monk is an expression of gratitude for the teachings of the Buddha.
Buddha teaches us many things, but the basic concepts of Buddhism can be summed up by the four
noble truths and the noble eightfold path.
The First Truth
The first truth is, the sufferings of life, viz. life includes pain getting old, illness and eventually death.
We also endure psychological suffering, such as loneliness frustration, fear, embarrassment,
disappointment, and anger. This is an indisputable fact that cannot be denied. It is realistic rather
than pessimistic because pessimism is to expect things to go bad. Instead, Buddhism explains how
suffering can be avoided and how we can be / become truly happy.
The Second Truth
The second truth is that suffering is caused by urge and reluctance. We will suffer if we expect other
people to hurt us, or if we want others to like us, if we do not get something we want, and so on.
In other words, getting what we want does not guarantee happiness. Rather than constantly
struggling to get what we want, try to change our desires. Wishes deprive us of satisfaction and
happiness. A lifetime of desire and especially the desire to continue to exist creates a powerful
energy that causes the individual to be born. So urge leads to physical suffering because it causes
us to be reborn.
The Third Truth
The third truth is that suffering can be overcome and happiness can be achieved; the true happiness
and contentment are possible. If we give up the unyielding urge and learn to live every day, one day
at a time (not dwelling on the past or an imagined future) then we can be happy and free. We then
have more time and energy to help others. This is Nirvana.
The fourth noble truth!
The fourth truth is that the noble eightfold path is the path that leads to the end of suffering.
The noble 8-fold path!
In summary, the noble eightfold path is moral (through what we say, what we do and our livelihood)
and focuses the mind on being fully aware of our thoughts and actions and developing wisdom
by understanding the four noble truths and by developing compassion for others.
PCS. 2. To operate and have a temple available for Theravada monks who come to Denmark, to follow
the rituals and actions of Buddhism, and teach us to live by the rules and ethics of the Buddha.
PCS. 3. To hold Buddhist feasts and Buddha days.
PCS. 4. To establish an independent religious community / congregation, for the spread of
Theravada Buddhism in Denmark
PCS. 5. To function as a center for teaching as well as meditation on Theravada Buddhism for all interested.
PCS.6. To spread and expand the understanding of Theravada Buddhism nationally and Internationally.
PCS. 7. To ensure a meeting point for Buddhists and interested guests, and to facilitate the Thais' integration
into Danish society and the preservation of Thai cultural values and not least the basic ethical rules of
Buddhism.
PCS. 8. To be able to give blessing to bridal couples in the temple, before or after a wedding.
Tradition that the monk makes "holy water", which the guests then pour over the bride and groom's
hands and wish them a happy and rich marriage. One thing that many Thais demand, but which can not
be practiced in e.g. the church or the town hall. (due to time)
PCS. 9. To bless the homes of the members.
PCS. 10. To bless a person's family.
PCS. 11. To give thanks for sacrificial offerings.
PCS. 12. Praying prayers, many different prayers adapted to different situations and holidays.
PCS. 13. To pray from our local prayer book, with Thai text, and English text, but also with audio
language on the Thai text, so that everyone can participate in the prayers, even if they do not know
Thai or know the prayers.
§ 3. Membership
PCS. 1. Anyone who has the desire and willingness to work for the purposes of the congregation is
admitted to the congregation, either as a participant or as a paying member.
PCS. 2. Congregation participants can become members by registering with the association.
Members can make a voluntary membership fee ( 149kr / year) and will be invited to attend general
meetings. All registered members will be counted as full congregation members
PCS. 3. Registration as a member of the congregation can be done on the congregation's
registration form, or via MobilePay.dk.
PCS. 4. Withdrawal can be done by writing to the treasurer with effect from the end of a
quarter / half year / financial year.
PCS. 5. Paying members of the congregation, pay a voluntary membership fee determined by the Board.
The quota is charged prior to each quarter / half year / financial year. 2022 and 2023 DKK 149.00
§ 4. The general meeting
PCS. 1. The general meeting is the highest authority of the association.
PCS. 2. The Annual General Meeting is held once a year, normally before the end of July each year and is
convened with at least 2 weeks' notice.
The meeting can be attended in person or online by invitation.
PCS. 3. All members attending the general meeting are entitled to vote as long as they have paid the
membership fee at least one week before the meeting.
Voting by proxy is permissable.
PCS. 4. The agenda for the annual general meeting must contain at least the following items:
1. Chairman's report
2. Financial reporting
3. Processing of received proposals
4. Determination of quota
5. Approval of budget
5. Election of chairman
7. Election of Vice-Chairman
8. Election of 2 board members
9. Election of auditors
PCS. 5. Proposals that are to be considered at the general meeting must be received by the board
of directors no later than 8 days before the general meeting. Proposals for amendments to the articles
of association that are to be considered must be received by the Board of Directors no later than 2 months
prior to the end of the month in which the annual general meeting is to be held.
PCS. 6. The general meeting is orchestrated by a chairman.
PCS. 7. The general meeting takes its decisions by a simple majority (more than half of the validly cast votes)
and by show of hands. Written voting or voting by proxy, however is used when requested by just
one meeting participant. In the case of personal elections where more than the number to be elected
has been proposed, a written vote is always taken. Each board member can only cast one vote.
§ 5. Extraordinary general meeting
PCS. 1. An extraordinary general meeting may be held when the board of directors deems it necessary,
and must be held when at least 1/3 of the members submit a written reasoned request to the chairman.
In such cases, the extraordinary general meeting shall be held no later than four weeks after the request
has come to the notice of the chairman.
PCS. 2. The notice period for an extraordinary general meeting is 2 weeks.
§ 6. The association's ”board” - daily management
The board consists of a minimum of 5 members, which can include monks.
PCS. 1. The daily management of the congregation consists of the board, which in addition to the chairman,
vice-chairman consists of the treasurer and members. Board members are elected or re-elected by
”general meeting” for one year at a time. So that new Board members are elected each year, unless a
board member wishes to be re-elected.
PCS. 2. The board leads the congregation in accordance with these articles of association
and the resolutions of the general meeting.
PCS. 3. No later than 14 days after new elections to the Board, a constituent meeting is held,
where the Board elects the treasurer and secretary from among its members. All positions of
trust are valid until the next general meeting.
PCS. 4. The Board also determines its own rules of procedure. It may set up subcommittees
and working groups to carry out specific tasks.
PCS. 5. The chairman or secretary convenes and chairs the meetings of the board. Convening is done
in writing stating the agenda when the chairman or secretary deems it necessary, or at least two
members of the board
§ 7. Finance, accounting and auditing
PCS. 1. The Association/Forenings fiscal year follows the calendar year.
First financial year 01.01.2019-31.12.2019
PCS. 2. The Board of Directors is responsible to the general meeting for the budget and accounts.
PCS. 3. The Association/Forenings accounts are kept by the treasurer, who also keeps the association's
membership register.
PCS. 4. The accounts are assisted at the general meeting by elected auditors.
§ 8. Subscription rules and liability
PCS. 1. The congregation is signed externally by the signature of either the chairman, vice-chairman,
secretary, cashier or treasurer and at least one additional board member jointly. When taking
out a loan and when selling / mortgaging real estate, the congregation is subscribed by the entire
board.
PCS. 2. The treasurer, together with the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman, shall be responsible
for the management of the congregation's assets, including the collection of membership fees and
the payment of bills. The treasurer/cashiers, the chairman and the vice-chairman are all permitted
indipendant control of the congregation's accounts, including payment cards and online banking for
the congregation's accounts, as well as enter into an agreement to this effect.
PCS. 3. Every Board member always has the right to view the congregation's account arrangement
and assets.
PCS. 4. The board members of the Forening/association are not personally liable for the obligations
incumbent on the Forening/association.
§ 9. Amendments to the articles of association
PCS. 1. These articles of association may only be amended by a 2/3 majority at a general meeting or
extraordinary general meeting, where the proposed amendment appears on the agenda.
PCS. 2. The amendments to the articles of association shall enter into force with effect from the
general meeting at which they are adopted.
§ 10. Resolution
PCS. 1. Dissolution of the congregation can only take place with a 2/3 majority at two consecutive
general meetings, one of which must be ordinary.
PCS. 2. In the event that the general meeting decides that the congregation shall cease, the assosiations
assets shall be in the first instance used to repay any debts outstanding. Any remaining assets after all
creditors have been settled will be transferred to a beneficiary that shall be decided at the time by the
board after a majority vote in favour has been held.
§ 11. Dates
These revised articles were adopted at the annual general meeting on the 18th June 2022
These articles superceed articles dated 30th May 2021
Agenda for general meeting 18th June 2022
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Vote for election or re-election of the board. New board was selected and the new board have signed
these new articles.
The association consists of the following board members 18th June 2022
Chairman: Phra Sutthichai Thakong _________________________________
Next Chairman: Phra Uthai Mukthawat _________________________________
Secretary/2nd Cashier: Kevin Fraser _________________________________
1st Cashier/Treasurer : Vilai Frederiksen _________________________________
