WAT PAK NAM

Meaning of Name: "Monastery at the mount of the river"
Name in Thai : วัดปากน้ำภาษีเจริญ
Address : Therdthai Rd., Khet Phasi Charoen, Bangkok 10160
Address in Thai : ถ.เทอดไทย เขตภาษีเจริญ กรุงเทพฯ 10160
Telephone : (02)467-0811

Direction : Located west across the Chao Pharaya River in Thonburi, part of metropolitan Bangkok. Easily reached by city buses #4,9 or 103 . If you don't mind some spray (the water isn't to clean), you can take a long - tailed boat to the wat from Rajinee (Rachni) and saphan Phut jetties north of the Memorial Bridge on the east side of the Chao Phraya.

Meditation System : The technique begins by concentrating on a point inside the body in the center of the abdomen, 2 finger-widths above the navel. This point is said to be the place where consciousness has its seat. The words "Samma Arahan" can be repeated mentally to aid initial development of concentration. A luminous nucleus appears at the center point, then develops into a still and translucent sphere ab about 2 cm in diameter. Within the sphere appears another nucleus which emerges in to a sphere . The process continues with increasingly refined spheres of forms appearing in succession. The high levels of concentration achieved are used in vipassana to develop penetrating insight. A qualified teacher is important in this practice. The late abbot Ven. Chao Khun Mongkol-Thepmuni (B.E. 2427-2502 or C.E. 1884-1959) popularized this meditation system. The wat has a book in English, Sama Samadhi by T. Magness, that explains the technique in detail.

Teaching Method : Individual interviews as needed. Talks in Thai by a monk or a tape recording of Ven. Chao Khun Mongkol-Thepmuni are given 2 or 3 times a day at group sittings in the meditation hall.

Teachers : Phra Kru Dhammathara-Samruay and others

Language : Teachers speak some English adn people who can translate are usually around. It is easiest for one who can speak Thai.

Description : The bot and many large, multi-story buildings are tightly packed on the 17 - rai (7-acre) grounds. Urban Setting. Large crowds of worshippers com on weekends and Buddhist holidays. The wat dates back to the early 18th century in the Ayuthaya period.

Size : monks : 200-400 (one of the largest populations in Thailand during the Rains Retreat ) novices : 80-90 , nuns : 200-300, laypeople : about 100 (half practice meditation)

Daily Routine : Mediators can practice individually or attend group sessions.

Food : Good quality and variety; offered in the temple at daybreak and at 11 a.m. Monks and novices can go on pindabat if they wish. Laypeople eat after monks and novices.

Accommodations : Monks and novices usually stay individual rooms, some with attached Thai - or western style bathrooms. Nuns have shared rooms. Laypeople may be able to stay except during the Rains Retreat.

Write in Advance? : Not necessary.

Ordination : Ven. Chao Khun Mongkol-Thepmuni revived this system of meditation, sometimes called "Dhammakaya." He's very highly venerated by the Thais. A shrine room in the wat contains his coffin and a life- like wax statue. Laypeople practicing meditation normally follow 8 precepts and wear white clothing; visitors staying a week or two can follow 5 precepts and wear regular clothing.

The rooms for meditation practice are

1. Vipassana Hall whice is air - conditioned on the second floor. Time for meditation practice varies according to one's preference as (1) everyday except the Holy Day from 8.00 to 9.30 a.m. (2) saturdays, Sundays and noo-official days from 10.00 to 11.30 a.m. and from 1.00 to 2.00 p.m. (3) everday from 6.00 to 7.30 p.m.

2. Sangvejani-mongkol-tepniramit Hall on every Tuesday from 14.00 to 15.00 hrs.

3. Bovara-tepmuni Hall everday from 4.00 to 4.45 p.m.

Website : http://watpaknam.buddhavihara.org/
Email: samakng@hotmail.com or kritcha@haube.org