About us | Contact | Getting Here | Links

Picture Gallery

Exploring the monastery life at Wat Luang Phor Sodh

Image Gallery

The Ubosota Hall is a three-story building located on its own island, surrounded by trees.

Like most Wat Luang Phor Sodh buildings, it is all white, with a white roof to indicate purity.

Designed by the king’s architect in the late Ayutthaya style, it won the award for Outstanding Preservation of Architecture in 1996.

The Meditation Hall, located in the lake, near the Abbot’s residence, is the Wat’s most beautiful building. Four equal wings join in sweeping upward curves into a tall central tower with an onion-shaped cap. Inside, one wing is devoted to Buddha statues and another to Buddha relics.

Inside the Meditation Hall - the remainder seats about 130 meditators sitting cross-legged. Accessible from both banks of the lake by two bridges, the hall is occupied twenty-four hours a day by shifts of advanced meditators cultivating world peace. It is open on weekends for visitors to pay homage to the large golden Buddha statue and Buddha Relics.

The Vihara of Luang Phor Sodh is located at the center of its own sacred island right by the central fork. It is surrounded by rare trees with historical significance for Buddhism.

There are two images of Luang Phor Sodh, a large, ferocious standing image and a relatively small, approachable sitting statue that devotees love to honor with gold leaf and offerings.

The Information Center, situated at the central fork as the first building to receive visitors, is a white two-story enclosed pavilion with an extremely steep white roof. Its main Buddha image is in blessing position.

Originally, this was a multipurpose hall for all temple activities. It has now become a museum filled with Buddha relics, Buddha statues, and related displays.

Sala Somdej Dining Hall is a three-story white building which can serve up to 500 monks and novices on the second level. The first level provides both dining hall and sleeping quarters for large numbers of Laity. The top floor is an assembly hall for up to 500 persons, used for morning and evening chanting, Sunday Dhamma practice, and major special events.

The Two Twin School Buildings are three-stories high and constructed of red brick. Monks study Dhamma and Pali for the national exams. For Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, the Wat teaches Bachelors and Masters Degree programs in Buddhism. Most popular is the library with its internet connection.

The following are the daily routine of monks at Wat Luang Phor Sodh:

At 05.30, monks do morning chanting on the 3rd floor of Sala Somdej Dining Hall.

Right after that, they meditate and share merits to all beings, especially their supporters. After meditation, they will go down to the 2nd floor for breakfast.

At sunrise some monks go out on their alms round.

After offering food, they receive blessing from monks

When they come back, they share food with other monks at lunch.

Between 8.30 and 10.30, some monks find a quiet place to meditate.

Lunch starts at 11.00. Some food from alms will be shared here.

For Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, school usually starts around 13.00 in the Two Twin School Buildings. Some study for their Bachelor or Master’s degrees.

Dhamma study starts at 9.00 – 10.45 during the Buddhist lent.

Wat Luang Phor Sodh has been the Provincial Pali Studies Center since 1997. Pali School usually starts at 15.00 from June to January next year.

Around 19:30, it is time for evening chanting.

Again, meditation is right after that.

Hello, novices.

Print this page

Home | Meditation | 3 Trainings | Bojjhanga | Nirvana | Dhammakaya | Retreat | Downloads | Cetiya Construction

About us | Contact | Getting Here | Links | Site Map

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons
and sponsored by Thai Koon Steel Co., Ltd..