 During his years in Thailand, he became close friends with the country's foremost Buddhist thinker, Chaokhun Prayudh Payutto, and the Buddhist social activist, Sulak Sivaraksa, who founded the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB).In due course, Piya introduced a number of his students to Buddhist social work.In 1970, Piya co-founded The Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia as Vice-President just before leaving for his monastic training in Thailand.