On January 6, 2561/2018 Luang Por Anek Yasadinno (Phrakhru Nikrodthammaphorn) of Wat Pah Sai Ngam enshrined a tooth of Ven Ajahn Chah and some of his shaven hair in the top of the sandstone pillar commemorating Ajahn Chah's place of birth in Bahn Gor Village near Wat Nong Pah Pong. He was assisted by Ajahn Kevali (Phrakhru Ubonbhavanaviteht) while many senior monks lead by Luang Por Liem (Phra Rachabhavanvikrom), gave their blessings by chanting auspicious chants.
New Years Chanting 2561/2018
On December 31st, 2017 the Sangha and the laypeople of Wat Pah Nanachat gathered in the main Sala to meditate into the new years and chant "parittas", the traditional protective chants as a blessing for the all sentient beings.
ฉลองปีใหม่ ๒๕๖๑ โดยการเจริญพุทธมนต์
วันที่ ๓๑ ธค ๒๕๖๐ คณะสงฆ์ วัดป่านานาชาติ ได้ฉลองปีใหม่โดยการนั่งสมาธิภาวนาและเจริญพุทธมนต์ เป็นศิริมงคลแก่สัตว์ทั้งหลาย ที่ธรรมศาลาวัดป่านานาชาติ
Rice Donation from Bung Wai to Villagers in Flooded Areas in Yasothorn
With the generous help and sharing of rice supplies by the farmers of Bung Wai Village (Wat Pah Nanachat's main supporters), and many donors from town, it was possible to donate many tons of rice to the villages around Wat Pah Bahn Jaeng Noi in Yasothorn province, who had been heavily hit by the flooding of the Chee River, that destroyed thousands of acres of rice paddies around the monastery. Tan Ajahn Boonrueang, the abbot of Wat Pah Bahn Jaeng Noi, a disciple of Luang Por Liem helped to coordinate the offering in skilfully choosing some of the worst hit families, schools and village centers.
Almsround on the Road
When travelling across the country, the Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat usually leaves the monastery early in the morning and then, as it gets light, stops by at a local market place on the road for collecting almsfood. These occasions are usually beautiful expressions of faith of the local villagers that rush out to give food spontaneously when the monks turn up by surprise.
The following photos were taken by our monastery secretary Thirawud Cholasuek (Ton) on August 30, 2017 in Ampher Kueang Nai, Ubon Rachathani Province.
Paying Respects at the Beginning of the Rains Retreat 2017
At the beginning of the rains retreat ("pansah") the Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat goes on a tour to pay respects to senior monks in the area. Usually this includes both the senior monks from the Sangha administration and the forest monks of the Wat Nong Pah Pong group of monasteries. This year started with a special trip to pay respects to the Buddha's chest bone relics enshrined in the Chedi of Phra That Phanom in Nakhorn Phanom, one of the most venerated holy-sites of northeast Thailand and Laos.
Umbrella Installation for Wat Pah Nanachat Buddha Image
After gold-leafing the main Buddha statue "Phra Buddha-Karuna" of Wat Pah Nanachat, a classical ceremonial umbrella to crown the head of the Buddha image was generaously offered to the monastery on April 28, 2017, protecting the image from dust and various droppings from the ceiling, and enhancing the shrine with a warm traditional feel to it.
Gilding Buddha Statues at Wat Pah Nanachat
In April 2017 a group of skilled lay Buddhists experienced in the traditional techniques of gilding Buddha images offered to re-coat the two main Buddha statues of Wat Pah Nanachat with gold leafs. The joint effort took about a week. Initially the old layers of gold and paint were carefully removed, and various irregularities on the statues brass surface were repaired, until a new grounding of an orange lacquer made according to an ancient recipe was applied. This needed to be done under a wide mosquito-net allowing the coating to dry without insects sticking to it. Then, with many calm, helping hands the tiny pieces of gold-leaf were gently rubbed on - square inch by square inch, and neatly polished such that the joints between them became nearly invisible. Finally, on April 10th, 2017, the whole monastic and lay-community of Wat Pah Nanachat gathered in a little ceremony to finish the process together by gilding the top flame of “Phra Buddha-Karuna”, the Buddha statue in the main Sala, using this auspicious opportunity to enshrine Buddha-relics in the head of the statue before putting the flame back up in place
