Wat Pah Nanachat
Encyclopedia
Wat Pah Nanachat is situated in a small forest in north-east Thailand
about fifteen kilometres from the city of Ubon Rachathani. The late Ajahn Chah
established the monastery
in 1975 to serve as a training community for non-Thais along traditional monastic lines. Its monks
, novices and postulants include a wide range of nationalities. The primary language of communication and instruction is English.
, in the theravadin
forest tradition
of Thailand. The first abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat was Ajahn Sumedho
, an American bhikkhu
trained by Ajahn Chah at Wat Nong Pah Pong
, the mother house of Wat Pah Nanachat. Today, as a consequence, students of the Thai forest tradition are found in branch monasteries around the world under the collective label of The Forest Sangha. The largest monastery of this network is Amaravati Monastery
about 30 miles north of London
. Its abbot is Ajahn Sumedho.
predominates. In the spirit of Ajahn Chah's teachings, vipassanā
or insight, and samatha
or concentration, are regarded as two sides of a coin rather than two distinct categories. Lay visitors are expected to observe the eight precepts version of sila
, or the practice of virtue
. For monks, strict adherence to the Vinaya
, the 2,500-year-old code of discipline, is not only required but is the distinguishing characteristic of the lineage. For lay visitors, no formal meditation teaching is available beyond Dhamma talks and what may be derived from freely available reading matter, the priority being the formal training of the full-time mendicants.
are advised to write well in advance, as facilities are somewhat limited. Men staying for more than a few days are required to shave their heads, as well as facial hair and eyebrows. Laypeople dress in modest white clothing, borrowed from the monastery if necessary. Some laywomen wear black skirts with a white blouse. Venerable Ajahn Kevali, abbot since 2007, encourages a more communal atmosphere than perhaps earlier had been the case. Guests are expected to take part in all daily activities. Following is a summary of a typical daily schedule:
On Observance Days (uposatha
), the schedule may vary somewhat as monks and laity alike struggle to sit in meditation all through the night till five in the morning.
, the north-eastern region of Thailand, in the district or amphoe
of Warin Chamrap
, Ubon Ratchathani
Province, Tambon
Bung Wai.
To Ubon Ratchathani: Thai Airways
offers flights to Ubon from Don Mueang in Bangkok
. Overnight sleeper from Bangkok, as well as other trains and buses are available. To Wat Pah Nanachat: Once in Ubon, going to Wat Pah Nanachat is straightforward and there are a few options. Any buses in Ubon bound for Si Saket drive past the Wat, simply ask the driver to be let off there. Another option is to take a bus to Warin Chamrap, where you can take a Songthaew
to the Wat. It's also possible to hire a tuk-tuk or taxi to the wat from the airport, bus or train stations.
Mailing address: Wat Pah Nanachat, Bahn Bung Wai, Amphoe Warin Chamrap, Ubon Ratchathani 34310, Thailand (Thai:
วัดป่านานาชาติ
บ้านบุ่งหวาย
อำเภอวารินชำราบ
จังหวัดอุบลราชธานี
๓๔๓๑๐)
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
about fifteen kilometres from the city of Ubon Rachathani. The late Ajahn Chah
Ajahn Chah
Venerable Ajahn Chah Subhaddo was an influential teacher of the Buddhadhamma and a founder of two major monasteries in the Thai Forest Tradition....
established the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in 1975 to serve as a training community for non-Thais along traditional monastic lines. Its monks
Bhikkhu
A Bhikkhu or Bhikṣu is an ordained male Buddhist monastic. A female monastic is called a Bhikkhuni Nepali: ). The life of Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis is governed by a set of rules called the patimokkha within the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline...
, novices and postulants include a wide range of nationalities. The primary language of communication and instruction is English.
History
The monastery was founded in response to increasing international interest, particularly from the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, in the theravadin
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
forest tradition
Thai Forest Tradition
The Thai Forest Tradition is a tradition of Buddhist monasticism within Thai Theravada Buddhism. Practitioners inhabit remote wilderness and forest dwellings as spiritual practice training grounds. Maha Nikaya and Dhammayuttika Nikaya are the two major monastic orders in Thailand that have forest...
of Thailand. The first abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat was Ajahn Sumedho
Ajahn Sumedho
Luang Por Ajahn Sumedho is the senior Western representative of the Thai forest tradition of Theravada Buddhism. He was abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery just north of London from its consecration in 1984 until his retirement in 2010...
, an American bhikkhu
Bhikkhu
A Bhikkhu or Bhikṣu is an ordained male Buddhist monastic. A female monastic is called a Bhikkhuni Nepali: ). The life of Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis is governed by a set of rules called the patimokkha within the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline...
trained by Ajahn Chah at Wat Nong Pah Pong
Wat Nong Pah Pong
Wat Nong Pah Pong is the main monastery of the late Thai Forest Tradition meditation master, the Venerable Ajahn Chah...
, the mother house of Wat Pah Nanachat. Today, as a consequence, students of the Thai forest tradition are found in branch monasteries around the world under the collective label of The Forest Sangha. The largest monastery of this network is Amaravati Monastery
Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
Amaravati is a Theravadin Buddhist monastery at the eastern end of the Chiltern Hills in south east England. The centre, in practice as much for ordinary people as for monastics, is inspired by the Thai forest tradition and the teachings of the late Ajahn Chah....
about 30 miles north of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Its abbot is Ajahn Sumedho.
Meditation
Buddhist meditation practice of all types is encouraged at Wat Nanachat, though breathing meditationAnapanasati
Ānāpānasati , meaning 'mindfulness of breathing' , is a form of Buddhist meditation now common to the Tibetan, Zen, Tiantai, and Theravada schools of Buddhism, as well as western-based mindfulness programs.According to tradition, Anapanasati was...
predominates. In the spirit of Ajahn Chah's teachings, vipassanā
Vipassana
Vipassanā or vipaśyanā in the Buddhist tradition means insight into the true nature of reality. A regular practitioner of Vipassana is known as a Vipassi . Vipassana is one of the world's most ancient techniques of meditation, the inception of which is attributed to Gautama Buddha...
or insight, and samatha
Samatha
Samatha , śamatha "calm abiding," comprises a suite, type or style of Buddhist meditation or concentration practices designed to enhance sustained voluntary attention, and culminates in an attention that can be sustained effortlessly for hours on end...
or concentration, are regarded as two sides of a coin rather than two distinct categories. Lay visitors are expected to observe the eight precepts version of sila
Sila
Śīla or sīla in Buddhism and its non-sectarian offshoots, is a code of conduct that embraces self-restraint with a value on non-harming. It has been variously described as virtue, good conduct, morality, moral discipline and precept. It is an action that is an intentional effort...
, or the practice of virtue
Virtue
Virtue is moral excellence. A virtue is a positive trait or quality subjectively deemed to be morally excellent and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being....
. For monks, strict adherence to the Vinaya
Vinaya
The Vinaya is the regulatory framework for the Buddhist monastic community, or sangha, based in the canonical texts called Vinaya Pitaka. The teachings of the Buddha, or Buddhadharma can be divided into two broad categories: 'Dharma' or doctrine, and 'Vinaya', or discipline...
, the 2,500-year-old code of discipline, is not only required but is the distinguishing characteristic of the lineage. For lay visitors, no formal meditation teaching is available beyond Dhamma talks and what may be derived from freely available reading matter, the priority being the formal training of the full-time mendicants.
Visiting
Prospective visitors to the WatWat
A wat is a monastery temple in Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos. The word "wat" means "school".- Introduction :...
are advised to write well in advance, as facilities are somewhat limited. Men staying for more than a few days are required to shave their heads, as well as facial hair and eyebrows. Laypeople dress in modest white clothing, borrowed from the monastery if necessary. Some laywomen wear black skirts with a white blouse. Venerable Ajahn Kevali, abbot since 2007, encourages a more communal atmosphere than perhaps earlier had been the case. Guests are expected to take part in all daily activities. Following is a summary of a typical daily schedule:
- 3:00 a.m. Wakeup
- 3:30 a.m. Meet in the main hall for morning chanting
- 6:00 a.m. Sweeping the grounds, helping in the kitchen (laypeople), and PindabatAlmsAlms or almsgiving is a religious rite which, in general, involves giving materially to another as an act of religious virtue.It exists in a number of religions. In Philippine Regions, alms are given as charity to benefit the poor. In Buddhism, alms are given by lay people to monks and nuns to...
(Alms) for the monks - 8:00 a.m. Dana (offering food to the monks), followed by the daily meal
- 3:00 p.m. Work such as getting water, cleaning, and community projects
- 5:00 p.m. Meet in the Abbot's kuti for tea
- 7:00 p.m. Meet in the main hall for evening chanting and a Dhamma Talk
- 9:30 p.m. Sleep
On Observance Days (uposatha
Uposatha
The Uposatha is Buddhist day of observance, in existence from the Buddha's time , and still being kept today in Buddhist countries. The Buddha taught that the Uposatha day is for "the cleansing of the defiled mind," resulting in inner calm and joy...
), the schedule may vary somewhat as monks and laity alike struggle to sit in meditation all through the night till five in the morning.
Abbots
- Ajahn SumedhoAjahn SumedhoLuang Por Ajahn Sumedho is the senior Western representative of the Thai forest tradition of Theravada Buddhism. He was abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery just north of London from its consecration in 1984 until his retirement in 2010...
(1975–1977) - Ajahn Pabhakaro (1977–1979)
- Ajahn Jagaro (1979–1982)
- Ajahn Pasanno (1982–1996)
- Ajahn Jayasaro (1996–2002)
- Ajahn Nyanadhammo (2002–2007)
- Ajahn Kevali (2007–present)
Getting there
The monastery is in IsaanIsan
Isan is the northeastern region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, by Cambodia to the southeast and the Prachinburi mountains south of Nakhon Ratchasima...
, the north-eastern region of Thailand, in the district or amphoe
Amphoe
An amphoe is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as district, amphoe make up the provinces, and are analogous to a county seat...
of Warin Chamrap
Amphoe Warin Chamrap
Warin Chamrap is a district in the western part of Ubon Ratchathani Province, northeastern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Mueang Ubon Ratchathani, Sawang Wirawong, Na Yia, Det Udom, Samrong of Ubon Ratchathani Province and Kanthararom of Sisaket Province.The important water...
, Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani is a city on the Mun River in the south-east of the Isan region of Thailand. It is known as Ubon for short. The name means "Royal Lotus City." The provincial seal features a pond with a lotus flower and leaves in a circular frame. Ubon is the administrative centre of Ubon...
Province, Tambon
Tambon
Tambon is a local government unit in Thailand. Below district and province , they form the third administrative subdivision level. As of the 2009 there are 7255 tambon, not including the 169 khwaeng of Bangkok, which are set at the same administrative level, thus every district contains 8-10 tambon...
Bung Wai.
To Ubon Ratchathani: Thai Airways
Thai Airways International
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited is the national flag carrier and largest airline of Thailand. Formed in 1988, the airline's headquarters are located in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, and operates out of Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thai is a founding member of the Star Alliance. Thai is a...
offers flights to Ubon from Don Mueang in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. Overnight sleeper from Bangkok, as well as other trains and buses are available. To Wat Pah Nanachat: Once in Ubon, going to Wat Pah Nanachat is straightforward and there are a few options. Any buses in Ubon bound for Si Saket drive past the Wat, simply ask the driver to be let off there. Another option is to take a bus to Warin Chamrap, where you can take a Songthaew
Songthaew
A songthaew , also known in English as a baht bus, is a passenger vehicle in Malaysia, Thailand and Laos adapted from a pick-up or a larger truck and used as a share taxi....
to the Wat. It's also possible to hire a tuk-tuk or taxi to the wat from the airport, bus or train stations.
Mailing address: Wat Pah Nanachat, Bahn Bung Wai, Amphoe Warin Chamrap, Ubon Ratchathani 34310, Thailand (Thai:
วัดป่านานาชาติ
บ้านบุ่งหวาย
อำเภอวารินชำราบ
จังหวัดอุบลราชธานี
๓๔๓๑๐)