The center is a quiet place for meditation. It covers about 100 Rai of land on the Chao Phraya River. Many trees, ponds, and beautifully landscaped gardens make you forget that you are so close to Bangkok. In the Uposoth Hall, the Buddha image Luangpho Toh is housed. This image is about 200 years old, measures 10 m in height and 4 m in width, and is the sanctuary of Wat Sanghathan.
It is possible to ordain as a monk or nun. However, one should have spent a certain period of time as a lay meditator in the temple beforehand.
Size: Monks: 100–300, Novices: 10–300 (only during school holidays), Nuns: 30, Lay meditators: 40–100
Tradition and Teacher: Ajahn Sanong, he speaks Thai and also some English. Several monks and nuns live in the temple who help with translation.
Meditation Technique: Practice of the four foundations of mindfulness (Satipatthana), contemplation of breathing (Anapanasati), and other methods mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures.
Beginners are first introduced to the technique. Later, regular interviews follow. Sitting and walking meditation also take place in the group (see daily schedule).
Rules: All participants commit to observing the eight Silas (moral precepts). Clothing should be white, comfortable, and appropriate (no shorts or sleeveless T-shirts). There is a shop on the temple grounds where you can buy white clothing and the essentials. It is allowed to stay at Wat Sanghathan for seven days to meditate and study the Buddhadhamma. If you wish to stay longer, permission must be obtained from Acharn Sanong. On your first visit to Wat Sanghathan, please bring two passport photos. Smoking is not allowed in the temple, and you should strive to adhere to the schedule, noble silence, and gender separation. There is only one meal per day.
Daily Schedule
04:00 AM – Morning chanting until 04:30 AM – then sitting meditation
06:00 AM – Hot drinks in the kitchen
07:30 AM – Walking meditation in the grove
09:30 AM – Main meal (buffet)
12:30 PM – Chanting and meditation behind the hall
03:30 PM – Work meditation
04:30 PM – Walking meditation behind the hall
05:30 PM – Afternoon drinks + washing and rest break
07:00 PM – Evening chanting
08:00 PM – Sitting meditation in the Dhamma hall
Accommodation: Lay meditators are assigned their own room or sleep in the dormitory. Women in the nuns’ section of the monastery, men in the monks’ section.
Meals: Once a day, a rich variety of Thai dishes is offered at the buffet; the selection also includes some vegetarian dishes.
Costs: Everything is free – donations to cover the running costs of the temple are welcome.
Note: A branch monastery of Wat Sanghathan is Wat Pah Namtok Khemakko, near Suphanburi. The German Mae Chee Maria lives there. Contact is organized through Khun Puky. There are 2 kutis for female guests. For men, it may happen that they are accommodated in a tent on a platform in the forest, or sleep in a hall at the top of the mountain.
Another branch monastery, also Wat Sanghathan, is now located in Berlin.