Source: Information letter from Wat Pah Nanachat (as of January 2006)
Address: Wat Pah Nanachat
The Guest Monk
Ban Bung Wai
Ampher Warin Chamrap
Ubonratchathani 34310
Thailand
Tel: +66 45 400 015
Fax: +66 45 400 016
Internet: www.watpahnanachat.org
Arrival: From Bangkok:
In the morning, two trains go to Ubon (departure 05:45 and 06:40, scheduled arrival 14:05 and 17:45). The night train with sleeper car is recommended (departure 21:00, arrival 07:20, approx. 500 Baht). The train station of Ubon is in the neighboring town of Warin (the affordable Rivermoon Guest House is within walking distance). From Warin then take a Songtaew to Bung Wai (approx. 20 Baht).
From the northern bus terminal in Bangkok, about 15 buses depart daily to Ubon (from 04:30 to 21:00). From the bus terminal, take the pink city bus for 5 Baht to Warin, then take a Songtaew to Bung Wai (approx. 20 Baht).
In the morning and evening, there is a flight for approx. 1400 Baht from Bangkok to Ubon. A taxi to the Wat costs approx. 200 Baht. In the city center of Ubon, there is a very good tourist information (free city map, informative brochures), Tel.: +66 45 243 770.
Description: Wat Pah Nanachat is located on the road between the towns of Warin and Si Saket near the village of Ban Bung Wai in a small forest. The Wat is about 15 km from the city of Ubon Ratchathani in northeastern Thailand. It is about 600 km to Bangkok and about 80 km to the Laotian border.
Tradition and Teacher: The Wat was founded in 1975 by Ajahn Chah, a highly respected Theravada meditation teacher in Thailand. Ajahn Sumedho was the first abbot.
Meditation Technique: Living and practicing according to the strict guidelines of the Thai forest monastery tradition. No specific technique is propagated. Practitioners are invited to draw from the rich offerings of recommended reflections and meditation practices (e.g., Anapanasati, 32 parts of the body …) of the Theravada tradition.
Rules: All guests commit to observing the eight Silas (precepts). Clothing should be white, comfortable, and appropriate (no shorts or sleeveless T-shirts). Female guests traditionally wear a white blouse and a black skirt.
Daily Schedule:
Dawn: Monks and novices go on alms round, guests sweep paths or help in the kitchen
08:00: Meal
09:00: Cleaning up
09:30: Individual practice
15:30: Community work period
16:30: Afternoon drink (sometimes Sangha meeting)
18:30: Individual practice
Course Duration and Dates: Since the monastery is not designed as a retreat center for laypeople, no special meditation courses take place. Therefore, there are no dates to observe. However, for six male and six female guests, there is the possibility to be accommodated in the monastery for some time and participate in the daily monastery life. Since there is keen interest, early registration is highly recommended. Usually, guests have the opportunity to practice individually for several hours a day.
With Wat Pah Nanachat, a place was created that offers interested people the opportunity to lead an authentic life as a monk in the Thai forest tradition. Laypeople who wish to be accepted into the Sangha undergo about 18 months of novitiate before being fully ordained as a monk.
There is no nuns’ community at Wat Pah Nanachat. Interested women can contact the following monastery in England:
Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
Gt. Gaddesden
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire HP1 3
BZ
United Kingdom
Language(s): English.
Accommodation: For the first three days, guests are accommodated in the dormitory (shared room); if they wish to stay more than three days, they must consult the abbot. Men are then asked to shave their heads, wear white clothing, and move into a Kuti (hut) in the forest. A light sleeping bag is very useful, especially in the cooler season. The monastery provides mosquito net and bedding.
Meals: The only daily meal is at 08:00 in the morning. Laypeople receive a portion of the food offered to the monks. Higher safety of drinking water by bringing your own water purification agent.
Medical Care: Good by Asian standards. In the provincial capital Ubon, there are hospitals and pharmacies. The area is not considered a malaria area, but malaria is prevalent in other parts of Thailand.
Costs: Guests have the opportunity to give a donation.
Climate: Humid-warm climate, best travel time November to February.
What to Bring: Before the retreat, an alarm clock, a good flashlight (if necessary spare bulb and spare batteries), bathing slippers, water bottle, insect repellent, toiletries, candles, and matches should be procured. These items are all available in Warin or Ubon. A warm jacket can be useful for morning meditation.
Note: Especially interesting for men who wish to live according to the rules of the Thai forest monastery tradition for a longer period and possibly ordain, or for people who want to inform themselves about it.
Day visitors should ideally arrive before 8 a.m., are warmly invited to participate in the offered meal, and can then speak with the abbot.
A visit to the memorial site (stupa and museum) of Ajahn Chah in Wat Nong Pa Pong is quite interesting.
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