A short teaching given by Ajahn Kevali on the occasion of the United Nations Virtual Commemoration of the International Day of Vesak 2022; streamed on UN Web TV on May 13, 2022
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.
Opening for international guests
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
End of rains Group Photo
Wat Pah Nanachat in the Rains
Some impressions from this year's extensive rainy season with a few words in Thai by Ajahn Kevali on not letting one's mood sink along with the continuous downpour…
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.
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.
Planting Trees in the Pouring Rain
On the plot of land parallel to the road from Bung Wai to Tung Bon Village, adjoining the western wall of Wat Pah Nanachat, a group of dedicated helpers volunteered to plant 400 trees in the pouring rain on Saturday June 12th. This patch of land is designated for the development of a future monument commemorating Wat Pah Nanachats first abbot, Luang Pu Sumedho (Phra Brohmvajiranyan).
Two New Novices in the Sangha
On May 9th, 2021, the Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat welcomed two new novices (Samaneras) in the yellow robes into the community, in a ceremony of “Going Forth” in the old uposatha hall.
New Anagarikas at Wat Pah Nanachat
In the morning of April 15, 2020, the Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat happily accepted three new “Anagarikas” — literally meaning “homeless ones” (locally also called “pakaos” due to their white-robes, which indicate a formal commitment to the eight precepts, and express the aspiration to become a novice or monk in the future). Perhaps all attending the little in-house precept-taking ceremony of theses three Anagarikas, and most of all the postulants themselves, may have felt the particular preciousness of an opportunity to leave worldly life behind within a raging global pandemic. The Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat wholeheartedly wishes them all the best on the training path towards liberation from old-age, sickness and death.
Temporarily not possible to accept international guests
Unfortunately the situation with the pandemic is presently becoming more and more uncertain in Thailand. Thus the monastery remains shut down from the public for the time being. Unfortunately, reaching the limits of our capacities in this situation, we can also not accept visitors from abroad, even if they have already passed the respective quarantines, tests, or vaccinations. By practising restraint on all levels, we hope to be able to contribute to the relief of this difficult situation and wish all people related to the monastery a safe and happy Thai New Year with much grounding in Dhamma.
Wat Pah Nanachat temporarily closed to the Public due to Corona-Virus Pandemic
At a special meeting on April 12, 2021 at 18:00 regarding the present rise in numbers of cases infected with the Covid-19 Coronavirus throughout Thailand, Ajahn Kevali representing the Sangha of Wat Pah Nanachat, and the monastery’s lay disciples decided to temporarily close the monastery again, in order to reduced the risk of infections in within the monastery grounds.
Similar to the situation in 2020, this means that presently all almsrounds are cancelled. However there is the opportunity to deposit food —especially raw and uncooked— at the monastery gate between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m., which will then be cooked and processed by a team of in-house kitchen volunteers, and presented to the monastic community for their daily meal.
Ajahn Kevali would like to genuinely apologize for any inconveniences caused by the shutting down of the monastery —especially on such short notice. May these acts of caution and restraint support the subduing of the pandemic and guarantee the safety of the Sangha, all faithful lay supporters, and the wider population of Thailand. The Sangha would like to express their wholehearted appreciation for all the support it is receiving, and wishes that it may be a cause for long lasting peace, happiness and safety for all.
Poster in Thai announcing the temporary closure of Wat Pah Nanachat and the stopping of the traditional alms round for the local community.
Magha Puja Celebrations at Wat Pah Nanachat
As is customary in Thailand, the full moon of the third lunar month called “Magha”, the Sangha and laypeople of Wat Pah Nanachat celebrated quietly with a candle-procession around the Vihara, recollecting the “Ovada Patimokkha” - the brief summary of the Dhamma that the Buddha gave on this day:
”To not commit any unwholesome or bad deed, bring to perfection the good, and purify the mind - these are the teachings of all Buddhas”.
Ajahn Kevali gave talks both in Thai and English on the value of “Khanti” (patient endurance, tolerance and forbearance), as expressed in a further part of the Ovada Patimokkha, and the Sangha and lay-practitioners enjoyed a long night of practice throughout this beautiful full-moon night.
