Wat Thung Samakkhitham, Buddhist temple in Suphanburi province, Thailand
Wat Thung Samakkhitham is a registered historic temple in Nong Phak Nak covering about ten acres with numerous buildings, including a two-story ordination hall built in 1980, an open-sided sala structure, and an ancient viharn dating to the Ayutthaya period. The grounds feature approximately twenty-five monastic residences and a central ceremonial zone bordered by trees and boundary walls.
The temple originated during the late Ayutthaya period and remained abandoned until monk Luang Pu Sangwan arrived in 1956 to develop it into a meditation center. Official recognition as a temple came in 1967, the two-story ordination hall was constructed in 1980, and the temple received its current name Wat Thung Samakkhitham in 1990.
The temple is a place where traditional Buddhist practices unfold daily, and visitors can observe the rhythms of monastic life and local devotion. Communities gather especially during important festivals like the Kathin ceremony in October to make offerings and express their shared commitment to faith.
The temple sits in a quiet rural area surrounded by fields, where walking through the grounds and exploring at your own pace is straightforward. The open spaces and large grounds make it easy to wander and observe the monks' daily activities, particularly during quieter times of day.
The temple is known for practicing Gammadhana and Vipassana meditation methods that monks and lay visitors use to deepen their spiritual understanding. The connection to Luang Pu Sangwan, who revived this abandoned site in the 1950s, remains central to the spiritual identity of the place today.
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