A Short Visit to Wat Pah Tam Wua

While I was looking up images for international meditation center brochures, I surprisingly found a meditation temple I had not heard of before- Wat Pah Tam Wua. I recently was able to stop by and speak with the abbot, who is also the main meditation teacher, but I will be back to stay longer because of the beauty of this forest temple and the warmth of the meditation teacher. This temple was built around 10 years ago and began by the abbot known as Ajahn Luangta. He had spent many years on tudong (wandering and practicing strict ascetic discipline) and considers many of the forest tradition masters his teachers such as Luangta Mahabua, Ajahn Chah, and Ajahn Kao.

Ajahn Luangta learned English from the many Americans who stumbled upon his temple while visiting the touristy spots along Highway 1095 of Northern Thailand, the route that runs from Chiangmai to Pai, and through to MaeHongSon. After this, other foreigners learned about this temple through word of mouth and websites with information from peoples travels. Ajahn Luangta welcomes anyone to the temple, people of any faith and nation. There have been people from over 100 countries who have stayed to practice here. He teaches the many foreigners through chatting with them about their lives, and teaching the basic meditation technique of mindfulness of breathing. His discussions usually focus on relationships, the nature of karma, stress, and the forest lifestyle.

Ajahn Luangta also teaches through stories of past meditators. He tells of a man from Denmark who happened by Wat Pah Tam Wua during his honeymoon when his wife ended their marriage after one week. Ajahn Luangta taught this man some basic meditation and he felt better within a few hours. Ajahn Luangta also has students who come for a month or two every ye! ar and w ho invite him to teach them in the USA.

The schedule for meditators at Wat Pah Tam Wua includes three group practice times. These include group walking and group sitting. The walking periods are done sometimes in a circle with everyone walking together around the sala, and sometimes outside the temple or in the forest on the temple grounds. There is also an offering of alms to the monks for both meals of the day as well as time for individual practice and chores. The schedule also allows time for simply enjoying the beauty of the temple and its surroundings.

The information and guidelines pamphlet for Wat Pah Tam Wua state that the practice here should be relaxed and enjoyed. One should check for themselves what is conducive to calm and what hinders it. It also states that prior meditation experience is not necessary as most sessions are guided by Ajahn Luangta. However, all meditators should participate fully in the monastery life by attending all group meditation sessions and helping with chores.