Tracing Buddhadasa bhikkhu at Suan Mokkhabarama in Syrat Thani |
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Located on a shady area of 310 rai (124 acres) around Khao Buddha Thong (Golden Buddha Hill), Suan Mokkhabalarama (the Grove of the Power of Liberatin), known in short as Suan Mokkh, is a Buddhist center in southern Thailand. It is a place where people study and practice Dhamma on the ground in the natural environment. By practicing in this way, people will learn how to get close to nature and bring their mind to Dhamma. This has been the major principle at this forest temple since the lifetime of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, the former abbot of Suan Mokkh. The late Buddhadasa Bhikkhu was originally called Ngueam Panich, a local resident of Surat Thani. After his ordination, he became famous for his preaching. Later he conti n ued h is study of Dham ma in Bangkok and then grew disillusioned and discovered that studying alone did not lead to the essence of Dhamma. So he decided to return to his hometown to find a peaceful place to practice Dhamma. He settled at a deserted temple full of Mokkh and Bala trees. That was why this temple was renamed Suan Mokkhabalarama. During this period, he began to call himself Buddhadasa, the Slave or Servant to the Buddha. Later, Buddhadasa relocated Suan Mokkh to Wat Than Nam Lai in the Khao Buddha Thong area, the present-day location. Inside Suan Mokkh is found Buddhasada's kuti, or cell, used as a place for his Dhamma study and for keeping books and various tools and articles. Next is the Dhammaghosa Hall, a library containing Buddhasada's works and recognized as the monument of his perseverance in propagat¬ing Buddhism. Lan Hin Khong, the curved stone court, is the place where monks have meals and both monks and visitors practice Dhamma. The Spiritual Theater houses murals illustrating the Buddha's teachings. The Dhamma Ship is a multi-purpose building replicating a ship which takes all living things away from suffering. The Dhamma Hall is an open-air wooden structure, where hang three real skeletons of a man, a woman, and a boy. Nearby is a board telling the history of Suan Mokkh. Nalike (Coconut) Pond is used as a medium to teach Dhamma. Than Nan Lai, is a stream and the origin of the name of Wat Than Nam Lai. Another attraction is the ubosot on Khao Buddha Thong, located on a hilltop area, where people practice Dhamma as they did in ancient times. |
