New Uposatha Hall of Wat Pah Nanachat

The new Uposatha Hall of Wat Pah Nanachat is getting ready for the inauguration ceremonies from December 25th to 27th. The Sangha and all the laypeople of Wat Pah Nanachat feel fortunate to be able to determine a proper sima and perform ordinations and other sangha transactions in this classic setting.
We are also overjoyed to host a piece of traditional Northeastern-Thai/Laotion architecture on our monastery grounds. Here are some photos of the building about to be completed.

Visit by Most Ven. Somdet Phra Mahathirachan

On August 31st the monastic and lay community of Wat Pah Nanachat felt truly honored by the kindness of Most Ven. Somdet Phra Mahathirachan, Abbot of Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimonmangklaram (Wat Bho), Bangkok, the head of the Thai Overseas Buddhist Mission, on a visit to give Wat Pah Nanachat inspiration and support for the upcoming opening ceremony of the new Uposatha Hall (Bot).

On arrival the Most Ven. Somdet planted two trees as an auspicious sign in front of the new Uposatha Hall, gave the Sangha the opportunity to pay respects, presented a brief overview of the development of the spread of Buddhism around the world, expressed his veneration for Luang Por Chah as the founder of Wat Pah Nanachat and it’s various associated monasteries abroad, and kindly concluded with giving a blessing to the community of Wat Pah Nanachat, expressing his well wishing to all of us.

Roof-Top Ceremony for the nearly finished new Uposatha Hall

Today the Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat was blessed by the presence of Luang Por Liem, Luang Por Sopha, and Luang Por Jayasaro leading many monks and laypeople in the ceremony of installing the last two pinnacles on the roof-top of Wat Pah Nanachat’s nearly finished new ordination hall (“Bot” or “Uposatha-Hall”).
The traditional structure marking the peak of the roof in Isahn and Lao architecture called “Sattaboripan” or “Chor Fah” symbolizes Mount Meru as the center of the classic ancient Indian universe and the various major and minor divine abodes with their heavenly palaces grouped around it. The installation of the gilded pinnacles in combination with the Naga-like curved top front- and back gable-peaks of a temple building is considered an auspicious accomplishment within the construction process of the hall and thus accompanied by chanting and the offering of blessings by senior Buddhist monks.

Sattaboripan or Chor-Fah of the new Uposatha Hall of Wat Pah Nanachat

The new Uposatha Hall of Wat Pah Nanachat in the last stages of it’s completion on the night before the installation of the roof-top-pinnacles.

Coming together on this special occasion felt especially dear to many of the disciples of the monastery after a long stretch of very little public activity during the two years of the pandemic. It also served as a promising preview of the planned inauguration ceremony of the new Uposatha Hall from December 25th to 27th this year.

Luang Por Liem, Ajahn Kevali, and Luang Por Jayasaro holding the ceremonial strings attached to the gilded pinnacles as they are being sent up to the roof-top in a gondola lifted by a crane.

Renovation of the Chedi on the old Bot/Vihara

In 2006 the top of Wat Pah Nanachats old Bot/Vihara has been crowned by a little chedi enshrining Buddha relics. The gilding of the chedi has since withered away and the re-applying of a new layer of the traditional tiny little gold leafs was due to be done in 2021. Due to the pandemic the project needed to be postponed until finally from April 9-10, 2022 a team of skilled volunteers offered the renovation.

Magha Puja Celebration

With due precautions the Sangha and a small group of layguests on Feb 16th, 2022 were able to traditionally commemorate the auspicious occasion of the Buddha giving a well known teaching called “Ovada Patimokkha” to an assembly of his early disciples on the full moon day of the month of Magha, in the Bamboo-Grove in Rajagaha. Magha Puja day is a public holiday throughout Thailand.

Going Forth

On the morning of Jan 4, 2022 the Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat was happy to hold a “Going Forth” - ceremony (Pabbajja) for the new novice “Samanera Suvipulo”, who had been with the Sangha as an Anagarika (Eight-Precept practitioner) since April 2021.

New Years Chanting at the New Uposatha Hall

The Sangha and the lay community of Wat Pah Nanachat spent an auspicious new years eve meditating and chanting blessings over midnight at the building site of the new uposatha hall (“bot”) of Wat Pah Nanachat.

Happy New Year 2022

May the year 2022 (2565 B.E.) bring all of you much peace, happiness and good health.

Reopening Almsround and Offering Food in the Monastery

Today the Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat happily took up going to Bung Wai Village for almsround again. The gates of the monastery are open in the morning, so people can come in, quietly sit in the meditation hall and receive the Sangha’s blessing or short Dhamma-reflections. We require our visitors to register, keep distance and wear masks all the time. Unfortunately for now the kitchen still needs to remain closed for visitors.

Kathina Ceremony 2021

Keeping various restrictions and safety measures the Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat was overjoyed to be able to hold the traditional annual end-of-rains robe-offering ceremony (Kathina) in a reduced version.

งานกฐินวัดป่านานาชาติ ๑๓ พ.ย. ๒๕๖๔

การเจริญพุทธมนต์ พิธีกรรมทอดกฐิน ธรรมเทศนาพระธรรมพัชรญาณมุนี (พระอาจารย์ชยสาโร)

Kathina Ceremony Wat Pah Nanachat 2021:

Paritta Chanting, Offering of Kathina-Cloth, and a Dhamma-Talk in Thai by Tan Ajahn Jayasaro

Visit of Ven. Ajahn Jayasaro

From October 3rd to 5th Wat Pah Nanachat felt very fortunate to be able to host Ven. Ajahn Jayasaro, who generously gave teachings and moral support to the monastic and lay-community in small and well-protected settings during the ongoing pandemic.

Ven. Ajahn Jayasaro meeting with monastery supporters in the morning at the gate, as Wat Pah Nanachat is still not open for the public.

Ven. Ajahn Jayasaro meeting with monastery supporters in the morning at the gate, as Wat Pah Nanachat is still not open for the public.

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Please see the Dhamma Talk Ajahn Jayasaro gave to the monastic community on Oct 4th, 2021 on Dhamma-Qualities that provide refuge.

Entering the Rains

Asalhapuja, the full moon day of July/August, when we commemorate the first teaching the Buddha gave in the deerpark of Sarnath close to Benares, has in Ubon Rachathani, Northeast Thailand been thoroughly blessed with heavy rain this year. Indeed, the day after Asalhapuja Theravada monks all over the world enter their traditional rains retreat (“vassa” in Pali, or “pansah” in Thai, which means “rains”). Thus many faithful lay supporters wish to make offerings of food and requisites to the sangha at this time. Wat Pah Nanachat is unfortunately still closed for the public, due to the ongoing spread of the Corona virus, and so this morning many inspiring acts of generosity and devotion had to take place outside the monastery gate under umbrellas, well equipped with face masks - keeping the interactions with the sangha brief, but more than ever touching - deep down in the hearts of all expressing their faith on such a grey day.

The sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat truly wishes everyone good practice and a peaceful and healthy time during this upcoming rainy season of 2564 (2021).

Two New Bhikkhus in the Sangha

Early in the morning on July 19th Luang Por Liem presided over the ceremony of Upasampada (acceptance into the monastic community) of Venerable Anavajjo and Venerable Hitayo in the midst of the combined sangha of Wat Nong Pah Pong and Wat Pah Nanachat in the Uposatha Hall of Wat Nong Pah Pong. The Sangha wishes them much happiness and inspiration on their journey through the bhikkhu life at Wat Pah Nanachat.

Commemorating Ven Ajahn Chah's 103rd Birthday

With chanting and meditation at the stone-pillar marking the birth place of Ven. Ajahn Chah in Bahn Gor Village near Wat Nong Pah Pong, the Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat quietly commemorated the precious birth of the founder of Wat Nong Pah Pong and Wat Pah Nanachat. During the day there had been meetings of the Elders-Committee of Wat Nong Pah Pong and it’s branches. The usual big gathering of disciples of Ven Ajahn Chah had to be cancelled for the second time due to the ongoing pandemic.