Klosterbeschreibungen (Thailand)


Descriptions:

Name/Address

Wat Khao Sanamchai (Mountain of Victory)

Pet Kasem Road

Tambon: Nong Kae

Amphoe: Hua Hin

Prachuab Kirikan 77110

Thailand

 

Tel.: +66 (0) 32-536604

 

Effective February 2019

Tradition: Thai Mahā-Nikāya, of Myanmar descent. Member of the Dhamma-Vinaya Protection Network.

 

Founded: In 1969 by Phrakhru Anurakkhajīnavaṃsa.

 

Teacher/Method: The monastery is partitioned into two sections, the lower and the upper monastery. The current abbot is Ajahn Sombun, an expert in abhidhamma, ­Pāli and vinaya of 22 years standing as a Buddhist monk (bhikkhu). He speaks no English but at least Thai and Pāli. The abbot stresses an authentic alignment with the scriptures (tipiṭaka), both, in terms of monastic discipline (vinaya) and meditation (bhāvana). The main method of meditation is mindfulness on the four postures (four postures: iriyāpatha) but since the monastery has a strong focus on scriptual knowledge, other meditaion techniques are permitted as they are found in the texts of the pāli-canon. Although the lower monastery allows only the four postures as meditation approach.

 

General Features: Around 50 monks and a few lay people are staying usually at the monastery. Only on special and sanctioned occasions is the use of the internet permitted on prior request to the community as a whole. Bhikkhus from six years standing are allowed to use a personal phone but phone calls can be made via the landline monastery apparatus by everey resident, also on request. For monks there exists a fund for medical and itinerary purposes. The min. stay at the lower monastery is seven days and no limit as to the maximum. No limit (min. or max.) is given for a residence at the upper monastery. On weekends music is generally heard but it is quiet apart from audible street traffic which is also visible.

 

Vinaya: Very strong and rigorous alignment with the textual sources of the pāli-canon in combination with the commentaries (aṭṭhakathā) and sub-commentaries (ṭīkā). The vinaya is well emphazised, understood and taught and therefore present in daily life. A unique place for living and receiving training in authentic vinaya.

 

Dhamma Study and General Training:

 

Upper Monastery: The upper monastery has a strong focus on textual studies, with potentially extensive curriculum (just around two hours of vinaya as subject are bare min.) but meditation is well possible too in ones free time. If one wishes one could fill the whole day with studies. There are eight professional teachers for scriptual studies at Wat Khao Sanamchai. Four are teaching Pāli, three abhidhamma and one vinaya. One teacher is available for vipassanā (insight meditation) instructions. Seemingly no English books are available. Optionally one may choose training in manual skills too: making all of the three robes, brooms, bowl-stands, bowl-bags etc.

 

The Lower Monastery: No study whatsoever is permitted.

 

Syllabus and Daily Schedule:

 

Upper Monastery: Everybody is expected to join the chanting in the morning and either to go on alms-round or help clean the monastery in the morning instead. Afternoon chores are also to be done at the same time without general exceptions. This is the default schedule with available syllabus. The syllabus changes annually and stretches altogether over a four-year period and is conducted in several classrooms.

 

05:00—06:00 Chanting

06:00—07:00 Alms-round

07:30—08:00 Dhammatalk

08:00—09:00 Breakfast

09:00—10:45 Classes: 1st year: Abhidhammaṭṭhasaṅgaha; 2nd year: Visuddhimagga; 3rd year: Visuddhimagga; 4th year: 2nd group: 

   Padarūpasiddhi (advanced Pāli grammar); 3rd group: beginners fundamental Pāli Grammar.

11:00—12:00 Lunch

13:00—14:30 Classes. 

  1st group: 1st year (split): Dhammapada + anumodanagāthā; 2nd year (spilt): Abhidhammaṭṭhasaṅgaha +

  Suttanta; 3rd year: Visuddhimagga; 4th year: Free.

14:30—16:00 Classes. 

  1st group: It is the only mandatory subject for all residents; compr. of bhikkhu- and bhikkhunīpāṭimokkha (1st, 2nd, 3rd and   4th year). In the 4th year from 14:00—16:00. 2nd group: bhikkhu- and bhikkhunīpāṭimokkha

16:00—17:30 Chores (mostly sweeping)

17:30—20:00 Classes. 2nd group: Padarūpasiddhi (advanced Pāli grammar);

18:00—20:00 Classes. Smalls groups (other groups can join): Pāli Sikkhā (Pāli grammar); Abhidhammaṭṭhasaṅgaha; vinaya sekhiya

   rules and khandaka duties; Pāli Sikkhā (Pāli grammar); beginners fundamental Pāli Grammar; intermediate translation 

   training of the commentaries (aṭṭhākathā) (Pāli—Thai).

20:00—22:00 Classes. Small groups: bhikkhu- and bhikkhunīpāṭimokkha discussion; advanced translation training of the

   sub-commentaries (ṭīkā) (Pāli—Thai).

 

Lower Monastery: The lower monastery is dedicated to practice only. Neither reading nor doing chores is permitted in this full retreat area, just meditation on the four postures and a group discussion every four days make up the schedule here.

 

Costs: Teaching, food, and accommodation are rendered free of any charge for monastics and laity alike. The centre's expenses are met according to the Buddhist principle of voluntary charity. No one is anticipating from anybody to give a donation (you are nonetheless warmly welcome to do so if you like) but just stringently to study and practice. Monks can get access to the properly equipped store-room.

 

Food: At the lower monastery homegrown veggies are served and specifications due to food allergies etc. can be made without problem and very specifically. Vegetarian food is offered alongside a meat including cuisine. Food is brought to ones hut. The food is of wide variety and of Western standard. The food hygiene is good. Above said holds true for the upper monastery as well, except for the food delivery. Food is set out in buffet style to pick for oneself.

 

Locality/Facilities: Wat Khao Sanamchai is situated on ca. 2,5 ha area of fully or partly forested land. The upper monastery is set on top of a hill, the lower one at its bottom. Two highways are visible as well as the the ocean. Some vantage points are features of the upper monastery offering scenics views. The upkeep of the monastery surrounding is generally well. Some huts are somewhat old and not especially clean but at the same time not squalid—they have some dirt on the walls perhaps. There are also some newer ones and generally better upkept huts. Several halls and larger and smaller classrooms are on the monastery precincts. A 10 m golden stupa was build and stands now on top of the hill.

 

Climate: Hua Hin has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). Temperatures are very warm to hot throughout the year, with only small variations. The year begins with the dry season (December–April), before the monsoon arrives in May. Rains ease somewhat from June to August before the heaviest rains begin in September and continue through November. Temperatures range from average highs of 29 ° to 33 ° to average lows from 22 ° to 26° throughout the year. (Source: Wikipedia) 


Name/Address:

Tipaksong Mangalasiddhi Yagon (shorthand: Tipaksong Mongkun)

3/3 Moo 6

Tambon: Ai Nalai

Amphoe: Viangsa

Changwat (Province): Nan

 

Tel.: +66 (0) 961933910 (Brother of abbot ven. Ekarat)

 

Effective June 2019

Tradition: Affiliated with Thai Mahā-Nikāya, of Myanmar descent. Member of the Dhamma-Vinaya Protection Network. Originally Dhammayuttika Nikāya


Founded: 2015

 

Teacher/Method: Ekarasa Bhikkhu (Thai: Phra Ekarat) is of four years standing (vassa age) as a Buddhist monk and is in his thirties. He ordained at Wat Pah Darapirom within the Dhammayutika Nikāya with Ajahn Ñānavaro as his preceptor. He learned for four years at Wat Khao Sanamchai the Dhammapada, Abhidhammatthasaṅgaha, Anumodanagāthā (verses of giving thanks) under Ajahn Sombun, the Visuddhimagga, its commentary and sub-commentary under Ajahn Amonchai, the entire canonical Vinaya collection (vinayapiṭaka), its commentary and sub-commentary under Ajahn Sampan and Pāli under Ajahn Dtoa. He is very kind and helpful and has as his personal approach in practice the deliberate attempt to speak softly. He also intends his monastery to be a place of dhūtaṅga practice (mild asceticism) in that the community has to go for alms and live in the forest as well as other forms of the entire set of 13 altogether. He encourages but does not demand to be devoted to wakefulness (Pāli: jagara) and so to reduce sleep to just four hours within the middle watch of the night. He is very flexible in allowing practices which accord with the Buddhist scriptures and its commentaries. As his guide he takes a commentarial explanation of the Maṅgala-sutta in that he allows for individual approaches. This is of course perfectly in line with the root texts themselves.

Dhamma Study: Self initiated and self directed studies are possible, in full- or part-time. There are no English books available.

General Features: Up to six monks can stay at Tipaksong Mangalasiddhi Yagon. Four huts and two rooms can be given out for accomodation. The rubber tree plantation of his parents was dedicated for religious purposes and a open hall newly constructed with the additional help of the villagers. Internet is generally not available but some of his relatives or general supporters may lent theri devices for short term use. There is no music from the villages around audible in the monastery though a nearby major road in modest magnitude—which is, for example, easily cancelled out by a fan if needed. No limit (min. or max.) is given for a residence. Most helpful to call in advance so that a lift may be arranged from Nan's bus terminal if needed. Otherwise one may just give it a spontaneous visit unannounced though at the risk that accomodation is not available for long term use. Not many people come to the monastery. It has a very secluded and serene atmosphere.

 

Directions: From Bankok's bus terminal Mochit 2 take a direct bus to Nan. It takes an arduous 15 hours. Flights to Nan from Bangkok are also available as a fast and convenient alternative (about 1 hour). The monastery lies in around 40 km distance from Nan.

 

Vinaya: Very strong and rigorous alignment with the textual sources of the pāli-canon in combination with the commentaries (aṭṭhakathā) and sub-commentaries (ṭīkā). The vinaya is well emphazised, understood and taught and therefore present in daily life. A unique place for living and receiving training in authentic vinaya.

 

Sugessted Daily Schedule:

02:00—04:00 Unstructured meditation or study

04:00—06:00 Freestyle Meditaion

06:00—07:15 Alms round in two sections of the nearby village

07:30—08:30 Only official meal one may eat twice if one wishes, perhaps more often

09:00—11:00 In-depth Vinaya class in Thai. Mandatory for bhikkhus below five years standing (vassa). Possibly with exceptions for foreigners

11:00—16:00 Unstructured meditation or study

16:00—17:00 Chores

17:00: Drinks

17:15—18:30 Unstructured meditation or study

18:30—19:00 Chanting

19:00—19:30 Dhamma talk

19:00—02:00 Unstructured meditation or study

Costs: Teaching, food, and accommodation are rendered free of any charge for monastics and laity alike. The monastery's expenses are met according to the Buddhist principle of voluntary charity. No one is anticipating from anybody to give a donation (you are nonetheless warmly welcome to do so if you like) but just stringently to study and practice. For monk requisites are obtainable upon request. Lay people may get items too.

 

Food: Limited but sufficient variety of a Thai cuisine in part suitable for Westerners though there may be daily variations as to this. Enough fruits, vegetables and sweets are available. Food hygiene is good.

 

Locality/Facilities: Tipaksong Mangalasiddhi Yagon is located on an around three ha spanning rubber tree plantation and is surrounded by forested hills and plain fields. Waterfalls and caves are within driving or hiking distance. One cave (around 9 km away from the monastery) is regularly used for intensified dhūtaṅga and meditation practices. The facilities are all clean but not throughout with a neat but acceptable finish, speaking from a Western perspective—most Thais find their standards probably all met. A hall for vianya proceedings and meditation etc. is under construction but is expected to be completed around October/November 2019.

 

Climate: Nan city has a tropical savanna climate. Winters (from November to March) are rather dry and very hot. Temperatures rise until April which is the hottest month of the year. The monsoon season extends from April to October. There are from almost no rainfall during the winter months (in December just around one day of rain) up to 22 rainy days in August. Average highs range from ca. 29 ° in December up to 37 ° in April. Average lows extend from ca. 14 ° in January to 24 ° in June. Record low was 2.7 ° and the record high 43 °. 


Name/Address

Samnaksong Suan Thamm Phra

Phahonyothin 64/1

Soi Kum Khrong 3

Tambon: Ku Kot

Amphoe: Lam Luka Pathum Thani

Thailand (Near Future Park, Rangsit)

 

Effective June 2019

Tradition: Thai Dhammyuttika Nikāya

 

Founded:

 

Teacher/Method: Ajahn Savaeng is a welcoming and kind monk. The generally suggested method of meditation, following the lineage of the Dhammayutika order, is the mental reptition of the word "Buddho" (in Pāli the nominative form of the founder of the Buddhist creed, the Buddha) in order to develop calmness and collectedness of mind and body contemplation to initiate insight. The approach to practice is not rigidly taught and one is free to practice ones own preferred approach to the Buddhist path. There are no formal teachings.

 

Dhamma Study: Self initiated and self directed studies are possible, in full- or part-time. There are no English books available.

 

General Features: The number of monks is very much subjected to fluctuation since Samnaksong Suan Tham Phra is designed mainly as a temporary residence for monks travelling through and having some business to do in Bangkok. A stay is permitted up to seven days only. Wi-Fi is freely accessible in certain areas of the compound. Though being situated within a residential district, the monastery is reasonably quiet. No music is audible from the surrounding neighbors. Airplanes have their flight lane above the gounds but in some distance so as to be of little nuisance to none. No dogs on the compound. Some are within hearing range from the neighbors but they are rather rarely barking. The structure is not demanding uniformity in all areas as in other Dhammayutika monasteries. Monks who do not shave their eyebrows are not enforced to do so for example. No need to call or write in advance. Best time to arrive is either the morning or afternoon. 

 

Directions: From the Don Mueang airport take the bus no. 59 to the Mueang market. There cross the bridge and proceed to the Zeer department store. From there change to bus no. 522 and get off at Phahonyothin 64/2.  Either ask the bus attendant for assistance or watch out for the road signs. From that point it is around another kilometer. 

 

Vinaya: In some respects not closely aligned to tipiṭaka, commentaries (aṭṭhakthā) and sub-commentaries (ṭīkā). Some monks at least a doubtful attitude towards accepting money but tit is without difficulty possible to maintain strict standards as the structure is not demanding uniformity in all areas. The facilities were donated by layity and not purchased by monks,

 

Daily Schedule: Apart from the morning alms round around six o'clock, a communal meal shortly after and some 30—40 min chores (practically only sweeping) there is no given structure.

 

Costs: Teaching, food, and accommodation are rendered free of any charge for monastics and laity alike. The centre's expenses are met according to the Buddhist principle of voluntary charity. No one is anticipating from anybody to give a donation (you are nonetheless warmly welcome to do so if you like). Requisites are readily available upon request.

 

Food: The monastery provides a sufficient diet: rice, varying curries, vegetables, fruits and sweets are part of the regular menue and usually sufficiently supplied. The Westener may find enough variety to choose from apart from some potentially peculiar Thai dishes. The community usually eats only once daily, and it is not welcomed if food is eaten on other occasions than the only communal meal (excepts in cases of sickness).

 

Locality/Facilities: The monastery is situated within a residential area and encompasses an area of roughly 0.25 ha. It is pleasantly lush in vegetaion, with some large trees spending lots of shade throughout the grounds. The impression that one is actually not diretly in the city is easily gained. The facilities are near Western standard and mostly neat and clean. Estimated eight rooms and six huts as well as a small meditation hall are available for accomodation. Some huts and rooms and the hall too are equipped with air conditioning.

 

Climate: Like most of Thailand, Bangkok has a tropical savanna climate under the Köppen climate classification and is under the influence of the South Asian monsoon system. It experiences three seasons: hot, rainy, and cool, although temperatures are fairly hot year-round, ranging from an average low of 22.0 °C (71.6 °F) in December to an average high of 35.4 °C (95.7 °F) in April. The rainy season begins with the arrival of the southwest monsoon around mid-May. September is the wettest month, with an average rainfall of 334.3 millimetres (13.16 in). The rainy season lasts until October, when the dry and cool northeast monsoon takes over until February. The hot season is generally dry, but also sees occasional summer storms. The surface magnitude of Bangkok's urban heat island has been measured at 2.5 °C (4.5 °F) during the day and 8.0 °C (14 °F) at night. The highest recorded temperature of Bangkok metropolis was 40.1 °C (104.2 °F) in March 2013, and the lowest recorded temperature was 9.9 °C (49.8 °F) in January 1955. The Climate Impact Group at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies analyzed climate data for major cities worldwide. It found that Bangkok in 1960 had 193 days at or above 32 °C. In 2018, Bangkok can expect 276 days at or above 32 °C. The group forecasts a rise by 2100 to, on average, 297 to 344 days at or above 32 °C (Source: Wikipedia)


Name/Address:

Wat Phu Sangko

Tambon Kut Mak Fai

Amphoe Nongwuaso

Province Udon Thani, 41220

Thailand

 

Effective April 2017

Tradition: Thai Dhammayutika-Nikāya

 

Founded: 1992

 

Teacher/Method: Luang Por Wanchai, the current abbot of Wat Phu Sangko, has spent the last 39 years as a bhikkhu (a fully ordained buddhist monk) in the thai forest tradition and guides and governs at his monastery usually around 25–30 bhikkhus and a few Mae Chees (white-robed female practicioners) and lay practitioners. The generally suggested method of meditation, following the lineage of the dhammayut order, is the mental reptition of the word "Buddho" (in Pāli the nominative form of the founder of the Buddhist creed, the Buddha) in order to develop calmness and collectedness of mind and body contemplation to initiate insight.

 

Dhamma Study: Self initiated and self directed studies are possible, in full- or part-time. There are only a few English books available, mainly non-academical.

 

Daily Routine: The bhikkhus converge in the early morning around five o'clock at the eating-hall for a brief clean up after which they go together downhill, for an approximately 50 minute walk, to be picked up by lay supporters for a ride to the nearby village (four kilometers after the mentioned walk). There they walk again around 15 to 20 minutes, but on this occasion they actually now walk for alms proper. Perhaps around 07:30 am they will have finished their meal. Lay people may partake in (though of course in a separate area) the meal, after it has been offered to the bhikkhus. After the meal one is free to practice or study at one's individual lodging or at other designated areas. Around 01:00 pm the community (all residents) gathers for chores, at the latest around 01:30 pm they will finish, but usually they do so earlier. This work period consist mainly of sweeping and other rather related cleansing. Having finished the chores one is again free to attend to one's meditation practice or dhamma study. Twice a week in the evening, on Wednesday and Saturday, there is a communal chanting at around 06:30 pm held for a bit more than an hour. One may take allowable provisions in the afternoon (soft-drinks and juices and certain other edible medicines, which are de jure merely for the sick, de facto for everybody), these are available without restrictions regarding time of the day or amount. 

 

Costs: Teaching, food, and accommodation are rendered free of any charge. The centre's expenses are met according to the Buddhist principle of voluntary charity. No one is anticipating from anybody to give a donation (you are nonetheless warmly welcome to do so if you like), but just to stringently practice Buddhist dhamma.

 

Food: The monastery provides a sufficient diet: rice, varying curries, vegetables, fruits and sweets are part of the regular menue and usually lavishly supplied. The community usually eats only once daily, and it is probably not welcomed if food is eaten on other occasions than the only communal meal (excepts in cases of sickness). Bhikkhus are expected to finish their meal before the most senior – they eat with bare hands only from their bowls, without utilizing separate dishes.

 

Locality: The monastery grounds circumscribe a rather dense forest area of approximately 1186 ha and is situated around 55 km from Udon Thani, Northern Thailand. Udon Thani itself is around 560 km in distance from Bangkok and might comfortably be reached by train, bus or airplane from Bangkok or many other cities in Thailand. 

 

Facilities: The monastery has 41 simple huts in the forest, mostly these are not connected to the power grid. Bhikkhus and general practitioners may easily be accommodated in them, in some more than only one person, if necessary. There are several small sized halls, for chanting and eating, rooms for storage and sewing and a workshop, as well as one for the intake or takeaway of afternoon drinks and other allowable provisions. There is, even though not in most of the huts themselves, the possibility to access electricity at several localities in order to charge one's devices and there is electric light at some places – solar panels supply the general need.  Good amount of quietude: occasional light bass might be heard at times from the villages around. The monastery is clean, hygienic and well kept up. 

 

Busyness: Little. There are occasional work projects, such as construction work, but I was told, that these are kind of optional, since there are usually people around who like to do this kind of work voluntarily.

 

Vinaya Observance: Close to Tipiṭaka, Commentary and Sub-Commentary but with cultural deviations.  


 Name/Address:

Pa Auk Tawya Meditation-Centre (Thailand)

3501, Champa Lo, Mueang Ang Thong District,

Ang Thong, 14000

Thailand

 

Tel.: 061-8354445; 095-8847979

Fax: 02-3080729

E-mail: paauktawyathailand@gmail.com

Line: @paauktawyathailand

Web: https://www.paauktawyathailand.org/en/

 

Effective March 2019

Teacher/Method: Three to four different teachers are available for dhamma-vinaya instructions: Vens. Vimala, Revata, Kumārābhivaṃsa and ven. Bodhiñāna. They usually are available every alternate day to answer questions and give practical guidance. The main source of practical reference are the works of ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw, in whoms tradition this monastery was established. They are based firmly on the ancient scriptual tradition (Tipiṭaka, Commentaries, Sub-Commentaries). English is medium for teaching. The teachers combine qualities of great learning and leadership as well as kindness.

 

Dhamma Study: Dhamma studies in full time are possible, though the centre focuses mainly on meditation. 

 

Daily Routine: In correlation to the main Pa Auk monastery in Myanmar. One may attend the official chantings and group- meditation-sittings or alternatively engage in practicing for oneself in one´s personal quarter or at one of the centres several public localities opportune for this. The meals are to be taken only in the designated dining areas. The schedule is as follows:

 

04:00–05:30: Chanting and group sitting meditation

06:00–07:00: Breakfast 

07:30–09:00: Group sitting meditation

10:30–11:30: Lunch

13:00–17:00: Group sitting meditation (break possible)

18:00–19:30: Chanting and group sitting meditation

 

Costs: Teaching, food, and accommodation for monastics are rendered free of any charge. 

 

Food: The centre's kitchen provides a sufficient diet: rice, varying curries, vegetables, fruits and sweets are part of the regular menue and sufficiently supplied. Breakfast and luch are served.

 

Locality: The meditation-centre lies in 5–7 km distance from the city of Ang Thong, which itself is located around 100 km from Bangkok. Lotus ponds and plain lakes embellish the landscape of the centre, as well as several nicely upkept lawns, which are situated between many recently build facilities on the centres premises. Many trees were newly planted. The centre is surrrounded by much water (mainly lakes and ponds), fields and also wasteland. The monastery residents may enjoy very little sound disturbance.

 

Facilities: The centre can accomodate around 70–80 bhikkhus, 50 sayales, 20 male and 140 female practitioners. The oncoming yogis are usually given a single room with attached bathroom. There are also many free standing huts (some with four rooms, two storey; some with two room one storey). There are several public places facilitating meditation (in the open–roofed–or in four conventional halls). The general standard is acceptable/good and the upkeep but it varies from lodging to lodging.

 

 

Vinaya Observance: Close to Tipiṭaka, Commentary and Sub-Commentary.


 Name/Address:

Wat Phra That Nong Sam Muen

Tambon Ban Kaeng

Amphoe Phu Khiao

Province Chaiyaphum

Thailand

  

Effective March 2019

Tradition: Thai Mahā-Nikāya, of Myanmar descent. Member of the Dhamma-Vinaya Protection Network.

 

Founded: 1957

 

Teacher/Method etc.: Phrakhru Palat Somphot (Ajahn Pan), the current abbot of Wat Phra That Nong Sam Muen, has spent the last 34 years as a bhikkhu (a fully ordained buddhist monk) in the Thai Mahā-Nikāya and guides and governs at his monastery usually around 5 bhikkhus and at times several sāmaneras (young novice monks under the age of twenty), a few Mae Chees (white-robed female practicioners) and some lay practitioners. The general method of meditation is the practice of the four foundations of mindfulness (satipaṭṭhāna), which encompasses practically all applicable methods and aims of ancient Buddhist meditation. The abbot stresses an authentic alignment with the scriptures (Tipiṭaka), both, in terms of monastic discipline (vinaya) and meditation (bhāvana).

 

Dhamma Study: Self directed studies are possible, in full- or part-time.

 

Daily Routine: If one wishes and requires a more solitary approach to practice and study, than this is very well possible here. In this case one may simply not attend to the following routine and stay at one's place of preference for study and practice within the monastery: 

 

04:00–05:00: Chanting 

06:00–06:20: Light breakfast is served, mainly consisting of a conjey (light rice porridge), fruits and sweats

06:20–07:00: The bhikkhus go on alsmround to the nearby villages, lay people may attend, but might also chose to stay

07:30–08:15: Main meal in buffet style

08:15–11:30: Individual time

11:30–12:00: Secondary Meal

12:00–16:00: Individual time

16:00–17:00: Chores

17:00–18:30: Individual time

18:30–19:15: Chanting

19:15– Individual time

 

Wishing to practice in a stricter solitary style one may also take food from the buffet and leave to one's dwelling to eat there apart from the community, of which many eat in the eating-hall.

 

Costs: Teaching, food, and accommodation are rendered free of any charge. The centre's expenses are met according to the Buddhist principle of voluntary charity. No one is anticipating from anybody to give a donation (you are nonetheless warmly welcome to do so if you like), but just stringently to practice.

 

Food: The monastery provides a sufficient diet: rice, varying curries, vegetables, fruits and sweets are part of the regular menue and usually sufficiently supplied, although a person accustomed to a Western cuisine might find some dishes in need of getting used to (sometimes rather bitter vegetables and/or spicy meat). The community eats more than once daily (although still in the permissible time before sun's apex). 

 

Locality: The monastery is embedded in around 62 ha of forest, field and grassland. It lies approximately 10 kilometers outside from the small town of Phu Khiao, itself situated in 420 km distance from Bangkok. The surrounding villages do not disturb the serenity of the monastery precincts. Several ponds and lakes are dispersed throughout the grounds. Quietude is good. Rare light music might be heard at times from the villages around. If one is in one's hut a little off the main buildings and other huts, one may enjoy rather little general sound nuisance.

 

Facilities: An approximately 400 year old stupa, perhaps containing relics of the Buddha, and a large lying Buddha statue (approx. 30 m in width and 15 m in height at the highest point elevation), dating from around 50 years ago, are prominent features of the monastery. There are around 20 huts, some closely spaced, some secluded in the forest, mostly individually to be occupied, in part hut for more people. Some of the buildings are quite in disrepair, the last renovation is probably as long ago as the foundation of the monastery, but a great part is also acceptably or well upkept. Several large hall, both in open style and closed style, are used for multiple purposes, including the teaching of the bhikkhus and sāmaneras, and lay people, chanting and other religious ceremonies and, as well as eating. One may use all of these structures for individual study and meditation. Middling. The monastery is partly acceptably clean and upkept, partly slightly to middling untidy.

 

Busyness: Little. No Expectation to join any of the activities, although one is welcome to join the necessary general upkeep.

 

Vinaya Observance: Close to Tipiṭaka, Commentary and Sub-Commentary.

 


Name/Address:
Wat Tom Thong
Udon Thani

Tradition: Thai Dhammayutika Nikaya

Founded: 1940

Teacher/Method: 
Since 38 years Phra Banjong, abbot of Wat Tom Thong, is a bhikkhu in the Thai Dhammayutika tradition. At his monastery in Udon Thani he is head of a small community of around seven bhikkhus, two or three mae chees and lay practitioners, but the numbers change according to season and day. He is friendly and welcomes Thai as well as Western practitioners. He speaks little English, not sufficient to give adequate and detailed guidance, but usually there is someone around who might help in translating. The generally suggested method of meditation, following the lineage of the dhammayut order, is the mental reptition of the word "Buddho" (in Pāli the nominative form of the founder of the Buddhist creed, the Buddha) in order to develop calmness and collectedness of mind and body contemplation to initiate insight.


Dhamma Study: Even though in this tradition emphasis is not primarily set on study, one is still able to pursue dhamma studies in full- or part-time. This is due to the fact that the individual monastery resident is very little controlled pr checked in matters of this nature. One may inquire for further information. There are to my knowledge no English books available, nor printed materials in other European languages.

Daily Routine: The only more or less mandatory activities are the morning almsround around 06:00 am (for bhikkhus), the meal shortly after, an hour general clean-up period in the afternoon around 04:00 pm and the evening chanting at 06:00 pm. The chanting goes approximately for one straight hour. Mae chees and lay practitioners are not expected to assist the bhikkhus on their touring for alms in the neighboring villages. They might be freed from having to attend to the evening service also. The short period of chores encompasses the community as a whole. The rest of the day is left free for the individual to be structured. As far as I remember there are afternoon drinks and other akin tonics and medicines available.

Costs: Teaching, food, and accommodation are rendered free of charge. The centre's expenses are met according to the Buddhist principle of voluntary charity. No one is anticipating from anybody to give a donation (you are nonetheless warmly welcome to do so if you like), but just to stringently practice Buddhist dhamma.

 

Food: A sufficient diet is offered: rice, varying curries, vegetables, fruits and sweets are part of the regular menue and sufficiently supplied. The food is served to the monks on small wheeled platforms, which they push along to their neighbor while seated, having taken their required portion.

 

Locality: The monastery is situated a few kilometers outside the city of Udon Thani, northern Thailand and lies within mostly typical Thai grassland countryside, with some dispersed woods also to be found. Wat Tom Thong lies near a relatively busy road, but the many trees on its precincts give despite of this a pleasant forest atmosphere and some huts have been built also further off the road.    The quietude is good to middling, depending on where one's allocated quarters will be located.

Facilities: There are 9 huts on the grounds (grounds measuring approximately 5 acres of land) of which one at least has a room with an air conditioning system installed, altogether several people may be able to stay in this two storied new building. Some more rooms will also be available, when the almost finished, around 500 m2 main hall will be completed. A small eating hall and a shrine may be found as well in this monastery. The capacities are exhausted, when around 60 people have to be accommodated at Wat Tom Thong. General standard is nearly Western. The upkeep is mostly middling but the hygiene is good.